30/06/2010
From the UNEP Office in Brasília
The United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador Gisele Bündchen
recorded two short films in support of the
United Nations International Year of Biodiversity.
In the films, the Brazilian
model speaks of the importance of protecting
and conserving the variety of life on the
planet, which is what the term biodiversity
refers to.
Of the estimated 5 to
100 million species that inhabit the earth,
only two million species have been identified
by scientists.
But the earth's biodiversity
is being lost at an accelerated rate. Today,
approximately 17.291 species are threatened
with extinction.
In an interview with
UN Radio, Ms. Bündchen, who was appointed
UNEP Goodwill Ambassador in September 2009,
emphasized the importance of conservation
and rehabilitation.
She urged her countrymen
in Brazil to take responsibility for the
conservation of natural assets, stressing
that Brazil has one of the most biologically
diverse ecosystems, providing habitats to
around twenty per cent of the earth's species.
"First of all,
I believe that every Brazilian has to be
proud for being born in this country [...]
with the greatest rate of biodiversity of
the world", she said.
"I think it is
extremely important that people become aware
of the things that have been happening with
our planet. This is our home, if we don't
take care of it, where will we live? We
have to understand that we cannot continue
the pattern of destruction and deforestation,
regardless of the consequences 50 years
on", she added.
Although, biodiversity
is the foundation of life on our planet,
it has been gravely threatened by development
choices that ignore its inherent value.
The global economy loses
between US$2 - $5 trillion annually due
to the degradation and destruction of natural
resources. Reversing this negative trend
is possible, and essential for our well
being.
For the last six years,
the UNEP Goodwill Ambassador has been calling
attention to environmental issues. In 2008,
Gisele with the support of her family created
the Agua Limpa (Clean Water) Project which
aims to implement sustainable environmental
management activities and promote the restoration
of the riparian forest and the watershed
area of Horizontina and Tucunduva (Rio Grande
do Sul), the region where the supermodel
was born.
Ms. Bündchen also
writes a socio-environmental blog that is
regularly updated in both English and Portuguese
(her native language).
For the environment
month, Mrs. Bündchen's official website
launched a special movement entitled Take
an Attitude that motivates and mobilizes
individuals to take small actions that will
ultimately help save the planet. According
to Gisele, individuals, companies and governments
have to work together in order to reduce
their negative impact on the environment.
The material, produced
in partnership with the Brazilian Ministry
of Environment, will be widely broadcasted
on TV and over the internet.
Note to Editors:
The UN Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD)
http://www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/
Project Agua Limpa (Clean
Water)
http://www.projetoagualimpa.org.br/
Gisele Bündchen
Blog
http://www.giselebundchen.com/blog
Interview with Gisele
Bündchen for the UN Radio
http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/portuguese/detail/181053.html
Brazilian Ministry of
the Environment Website
http://www.mma.gov.br
UNEP Brazil Office Website
http://www.pnuma.org.br
