According to a groundbreaking study, one in five people throughout the world depends on wild animals, plants, and fungi for food and a living.
The survey showed that many wild species are not harvested responsibly, putting food security at risk.
In 2019, specialists believe that one million species of plants and animals may become extinct in the decades to come.
And a large portion of this is caused by unsustainable fishing, hunting, and logging.
Now, a new assessment by the same powerful organization says that the sustainable use of wild animals is crucial for both humans and the environment.
And climate change and rising demand are likely to drive more species to extinction, threatening food security.
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is comparable to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for conservation experts.
The focus of their most recent evaluation, which was adopted by 139 nations in Bonn, Germany, is on how fishing, hunting, and logging may be conducted more sustainably without compromising biodiversity and food security.
It was determined that billions of people depend on 50,000 species of wild animals, plants, and fungi for food, medicine, fuel, and other uses.
About a third of wild fish in the ocean are overfished, more than 10 percent of wild forests are threatened by unsustainable logging, and more than 1,300 mammals are driven to extinction by unsustainable hunting, according to the assessment.
It was stated that a crackdown on illegal fishing and wildlife trade, improved forest management and certification, and recognition of the rights of indigenous people who care for land and forests will assist in addressing these issues.
Dr. Jean-Marc Fromentin, the co-chair of the evaluation for France, stated that rural populations in developing nations were most at risk from unsustainable use since they had few choices, “frequently driving them to further exploit already endangered wild animals.”
The study found:
Approximately 50,000 species of wild plants and animals are utilized for food, fuel, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and other purposes.
More sustainable use of wild animals is crucial for both humans and nature, as billions of people in every corner of the world depend on them.
The future sustainability of wild species may be threatened by climate change, rising demand for such items, and technological developments in hunting, logging, and fishing techniques.
To address these issues, “transformative reforms” will be required.
Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, commented on the study by stating that more sustainable use of animals and plants can give a powerful incentive for conservation and living in harmony with the environment.
“One million species are currently threatened with extinction,” she stated. “And the illegal, unsustainable, and unregulated usage of species is a significant contributor to the issue. Illegal wildlife trading, for instance, is a 23 billion dollar per year industry that supports the deep coffers of a few unscrupulous individuals. These individuals acquire wealth at the price of nature and ecosystems.”
The 2019 IPBES global assessment warned the world that direct exploitation of species is one of the leading causes of the extinction of one million species of plants and animals.
The new report will provide evidence for promoting the sustainable use of wild species to decision-makers and will contribute to negotiations in Montreal later this year on establishing global targets to halt the loss of biodiversity.
