Monday 24 April 2023

Biodiversity targets may be slipping out of reach

A recent study has revealed some extremely worrying news regarding the biodiversity crisis facing the UK and the rest of the world.

The has suggested that ambitious targets to halt the decline in nature may already be slipping out of reach.

Scientists say the effects of climate change and habitat loss on animal populations have been under-estimated. They say bringing back wildlife may take longer than expected and that unless we act now global biodiversity targets will be out of reach.

In December almost 200 countries agreed to halt the decline in nature by the end of the decade. They set ambitious goals to halt the loss of biodiversity and protect 30% of lands and seas by 2030.

Doctor Robin Freeman of ZSL's Institute of Zoology in London said …. "What this analysis is highlighting is that it's even harder than we think [to meet the targets]. We need to act more urgently and more quickly, and tackle more things to achieve them."

The study, published in the Royal Society journal, Proceedings B, analysed trends in populations of more than 600 different species of birds and mammals. The scientists found that past modelling work had largely ignored time lags of decades before the effects of drivers such as climate change and habitat loss kick in.

This means we may be further down the line towards biodiversity loss than we thought.

Doctor Robin Freeman said …. "We've seen delayed effects of up to 40 years for large mammals and birds and that means that the longer we wait to take action the longer it will take to see any kind of response."

On the plus side, the research suggests immediate action on such things as unsustainable hunting and over-exploitation of natural resources will have immediate and far-ranging benefits.

More plants and animals are going extinct than at any other point in human history.

In December 2022, countries signed up to a landmark agreement setting global goals to address biodiversity loss.

#DefendNature .... Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife 

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Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

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