Why did we not achieve our aim to stop the loss of biodiversity?

Dr. Stig Johansson, Vice-Chair WCPA (Pan-Europe) says:

"Here are some reasons discussed at the EU conference on protected areas beyond 2010 in Madrid in late January this year.

1. Natural Capital

Biodiversity and climate change is closely linked to our way of life, the way we use resources, and to our ecological footprint. The EU has initiated a process to look at development beyond GDP and has set a target to provide indicators, which measure progress in delivering social, economic and environmental goals. The value and changes in biodiversity and ecosystem services must be incorporated in revised standard national accounting systems, and be integrated into national development indicators that will have to complement GDP as our “only” measure of progress and development. We also need to be able to communicate this to ordinary people.

2. From Sites to Systems

Our focus generally tends to be on individual protected areas. The rapid changes in land use, and especially the challenge of climate change, force us to look beyond the sites to the network of protected areas, and in fact even to the green infrastructure, beyond our protected areas. The establishment of the Natura 2000 network, covering 17% of the European Union under a common legal regime, is a unique global achievement, and a powerful, potential foundation for looking at issues in a system wide manner. Now we need management from this broader angle. PAs are core life zones for biodiversity but without a broader matrix, a green infrastructure, it will be difficult to meet especially the climate change challenges. Green infrastructure must become equally important as traditional development infrastructure in society and for human well-being.

3. From Representation to Ecological Functionality

Our traditional focus has been on representation – species and habitats. Climate change will force us to focus on natures’ resilience to change, and the adaptation to the pressures on species and habitats. While these of course still are the crucial elements of biodiversity, we need to view protected areas more from the point of view of the ecological, social and economic functions and services that they deliver to our societies. Conservation of biodiversity must move beyond the species and habitats to consider the ecosystem services they provide, with the aim to maintain and restore their functions, resilience, and the connectivity in nature."

What we don't ever mention is that human existence on the planet has reached such levels that whatever we do we cannot save unless we change our social and economic structure dramatically, we do need a green revolution it seems more and more to me...

Did you ever have some pants that you wore for years... after a while they get so thin, however you patch it rips around or somewhere else... you are only left with one option, although they are the most comfy pants you ever had, you go and buy yourself new trousers...

uygar