Newton Library Hosts Wildlife Session on Local and Global Endangered Species – bcheights.com

Report on Biodiversity Conservation and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Educational Outreach on Environmental Sustainability

An information session at the Newton Free Library served as a community education initiative, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by raising public awareness of endangered species and conservation. Naturalist Joy Marzolf presented information and live animals to an all-ages audience, aiming to translate awareness into actionable steps that support global sustainability targets.

The Global Biodiversity Crisis and SDG 15 (Life on Land)

The presentation underscored the urgency of the global biodiversity crisis, a central concern of SDG 15 (Life on Land), which seeks to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss. The report highlighted the following statistics and challenges:

• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, 41,459 of 147,517 cataloged species are currently threatened with extinction.
• This number is increasing, with accelerated rates of loss in specific global regions.
• The session aimed to counter feelings of helplessness by providing concrete actions individuals can take to contribute to conservation efforts.

Local and Global Ecosystems Under Threat

The report detailed threats to biodiversity at both local and global scales, directly impacting the targets of SDG 15 and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Threats to Massachusetts Wildlife

Several species in Massachusetts are categorized as endangered, threatened, or of special concern. Key examples include:

• The Monarch Butterfly
• Five distinct types of amphibians
• Multiple species of snakes
• Two species of turtles

Primary Drivers of Species Endangerment

The primary threats to these species were identified as:

1. Habitat Loss: Directly compromises the targets of SDG 15. The deforestation affecting the Crested Gecko in New Caledonia was cited as a global example.
2. Climate Change: Changes in temperature and climate patterns disrupt ecosystems, a core issue addressed by SDG 13.
3. Chemical Pollution: The widespread use of pesticides and herbicides poses a significant threat to insects and amphibians.
4. Plastic Pollution: Large quantities of plastic in marine environments harm wildlife, a challenge addressed by SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Interconnections: Biodiversity, Food Security, and Human Health

The report emphasized the critical link between biodiversity and other Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

• Impact on Food Systems (SDG 2): Pesticides and herbicides are devastating to pollinator populations, such as bees and butterflies. The decline of these species directly threatens the pollination of crops essential for human food supplies. This issue was famously highlighted by marine biologist Rachel Carson in her 1960s book, Silent Spring.
• Benefits to Human Health (SDG 3): The ecological roles of many species contribute directly to public health. For instance, snakes help control rodent populations that carry diseases like Lyme disease and hantavirus, while salamanders consume mosquitoes, which are vectors for various illnesses.

Recommended Actions for Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)

To address these challenges, the session proposed several lifestyle changes and community actions that align with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), as well as SDG 14 and SDG 15.

1. Reduce Chemical Use: Avoid using pesticides and herbicides in favor of natural alternatives to protect vital insect and pollinator populations.
2. Promote Native Habitats: Plant native flora, such as milkweed for monarch butterflies, to restore local ecosystems. Additionally, practice mindful yard care by preserving leaf litter, which serves as a crucial habitat for many insects.
3. Eliminate Single-Use Plastics: Reduce plastic waste that pollutes terrestrial and marine environments.
   • Switch from liquid soaps and shampoos in plastic bottles to solid bars.
   • Utilize reusable containers and bags instead of single-use plastic bags.
   • Avoid disposable items like balloons and products with excessive plastic packaging.

The report concludes that individual and collective actions are essential for protecting biodiversity. Preventing harmful substances from entering the environment and adopting sustainable consumption habits are fundamental to achieving the global objectives outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This is the most central SDG addressed. The article focuses extensively on the protection of terrestrial species, the threats they face from habitat loss and pesticides, and the importance of biodiversity. It explicitly mentions the rising number of threatened species on the IUCN Red List and discusses specific endangered animals in Massachusetts and other regions like New Caledonia.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The article connects to this goal by highlighting the threat of plastic pollution. It mentions “large amounts of plastic in the ocean” as a challenge for animals and promotes actions like beach clean-ups and reducing single-use plastics to protect marine and coastal ecosystems.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This goal is addressed through the article’s emphasis on individual action and lifestyle changes. It advocates for reducing waste generation by avoiding single-use plastics (e.g., Ziploc bags, balloons) and making conscious consumer choices (e.g., switching to bars of soap). It also touches upon the environmentally sound management of chemicals by criticizing the widespread use of pesticides and herbicides.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  A clear link is made to this SDG through the discussion of pollinators. The article states that pesticides are killing “bees and butterflies, without which we wouldn’t have many of the foods that we actually eat that depend on pollination,” directly connecting biodiversity conservation to sustainable food production and food security.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article connects biodiversity to human health by explaining the ecosystem services provided by animals. It notes that snakes help control rodent populations that carry diseases like “Lyme disease, hantavirus, and bubonic plague,” and salamanders consume mosquitoes. This illustrates how protecting wildlife can indirectly contribute to preventing human diseases.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

     The article directly supports this target by quoting the IUCN Red List figure of “41,459 [species] are threatened with extinction” and discussing the need to protect them. It also mentions habitat loss due to deforestation (“people are cutting down forests”) as a primary threat.

2. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.

     This target is identified through the article’s concern over “large amounts of plastic in the ocean” and its promotion of solutions like beach clean-ups and reducing single-use plastics, which are land-based sources of marine debris.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle…and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

     The article highlights the danger of “pesticides and herbicides” as one of the “biggest problems” for insects and references Rachel Carson’s work on the impact of chemicals like DDT, aligning with the goal of managing chemicals soundly.

   • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

     The call to action to reduce waste is explicit, with suggestions to switch “to bars of soap and shampoo, using stashers instead of ziplock bags, or eliminating the use of balloons and plastic packaging.”

   • Target 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.

     The entire event described in the article—an “information session” to “learn about endangered animals and understand ways to help them”—is a direct implementation of this target, aiming to educate the public and promote sustainable lifestyles.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index

  This indicator is explicitly referenced in the article. The naturalist Joy Marzolf states, “The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List now includes 147,517 species, of which 41,459 are threatened with extinction.” This directly uses the Red List, which is the basis for this indicator, to measure the status of biodiversity and the threat of extinction.

• Indicator 14.1.1 (b): Plastic debris density

  This indicator is implied rather than directly mentioned. The article’s discussion of “large amounts of plastic in the ocean” and the promotion of beach clean-ups and reduction of single-use plastics point to the problem of plastic debris. Measuring the density or amount of this debris is the logical way to track progress on the issue highlighted.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bcheights.com