19/05/2005- 19“Biodiversity
is the strength of the web of life, binding
together all living things. It is the greatest
expression of the truth that diversity holds
the key to life. It is also one of the most
important and threatened assets left to humankind.
The protection, promotion, and wise utilisation
of biodiversity may very well form the cornerstone
of our future global survival.” These were
the words of Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South
African Minister of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism, speaking in Cape Town on Thursday
19 May.The Minister was welcoming the launch
of the Biodiversity Synthesis Report of the
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) in advance
of the worldwide celebrations of International
Biodiversity Day on Sunday, 22 May.
Entitled “Ecosystems & Human Well-Being”,
the report was officially launched today in
Montreal , Canada by the Secretariat of the
Convention on Biological Diversity. It assesses
the state of global biodiversity resources
and takes a critical look at the implications
of biodiversity loss. Amongst the key findings
are that:
Changes in biodiversity due to human activities
were more rapid in the past 50 years than
at any time in human history;
Over the last 100 years, human-caused species
extinction has multiplied as much as 1,000
times;
Some 12% of birds; 23% of mammals; 25% of
conifers and 32% of amphibians are currently
threatened with extinction; and The world's
fish stocks have been reduced by an astonishing
90% since the start of industrial fishing.
“What makes this report unique and of unprecedented
global importance is the scope of its enquiry,”
said the Minister. “It examines biodiversity
simultaneously, for the first time ever, at
almost every possible level from local to
regional to global. We are very proud that
one of the pioneering regional assessments
was the southern African Millennium Assessment
(1) , which was itself conducted at three
scales: all of Africa south of the equator;
within two major river basins, (the Gariep
and Zambezi); and in several sites at the
scale of local communities.Amongst the most
significant results of this regional study
is the conclusion that at least four of the
eight Millennium Development Goals (reducing
hunger and child mortality, combating diseases
and ensuring environmental sustainability)
will not be met in the southern African region
unless decisive action is taken to stabilise
our ecosystem services.”
Congratulating the local, regional and international
authors of the report, the Minister added:
“This work dovetails perfectly with our own
recent South African initiatives on biodiversity.
Earlier this year we launched the results
of our National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment
(NSBA) - the first-ever comprehensive spatial
evaluation of biodiversity across South Africa
. The results were a warning to us all, with
34% of our terrestrial ecosystems threatened
and 5% critically endangered; 82% of our river
ecosystems are threatened with 44% critically
endangered; three of our thirteen groups of
estuarine biodiversity in critical danger;
with 12% of marine bio-zones under serious
threat.This report placed us in a position
of scientific authority to identify which
areas of our country need the most urgent
attention and protection. Perhaps more importantly,
the report made specific recommendations as
to how best to link conservation with development
in these threatened areas - ensuring sustainable
conservation and community upliftment.”
“It is this link between communities and
the environment that holds the key to reversing
biodiversity losses,” said the Minister. “The
new global data supports our own local research
showing that our poorest and least developed
communities are most vulnerable to the impacts
of biodiversity loss - whether locally, regionally
or globally. As ecosystems collapse, and supplies
of fresh water and agricultural production
dwindle, it is our most at-risk citizens who
suffer first and most deeply. Our South African
response is to place communities at the centre
of the environmental equation. Conservation,eco-tourism
and environmental developments are all powerful
sources of sustainable job creation and economic
growth. The interests of people and ecology
are one and the same - our shared challenge
is to educate our citizens and direct our
programmes to reflect this reality.”
(1) The Southern African component can be
accessed at
http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/subglobal.safma.aspx
