What Are The Consequence Of Biodiversity Loss? | Earth.Org

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Biodiversity Loss

In the course of pursuing societal development, human activities including deforestation, overfishing, massive greenhouse gas emission, water pollution and plastic contamination have led to an excessive depletion of the Earth’s resources, causing the disruption of ecological balance and biodiversity loss.

Biodiversity describes the richness and variety of life on earth. Encompassing three key aspects known as genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity, the definition of biodiversity has expanded to include the variety of all living organisms within ecosystems. It spans multiple levels, from genes and individuals to populations, habitats, ecosystems, ecological processes, and the interconnections between these forms of diversity. Without biodiversity, the intricate web that sustains all forms of life would not be able to exist. 

What Is Biodiversity Loss?

In recent years, the world has witnessed large-scale biodiversity loss caused, among other factors, by human-induced climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, overhunting, and overfishing. As the name implies, biodiversity loss refers to the decline or disappearance of biological diversity. This phenomenon encompasses the diminishing variety of living organisms, from genes to species to ecosystems, across the planet. 

In 2019, the United Nations, in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), released a report on biodiversity warning that out of the estimated eight million species on Earth, approximately one million are now threatened with extinction, with many at risk of disappearing within decades, marking a higher number than ever recorded in human history.

This is not the only study that reveals the stark reality of biodiversity we are currently confronted with. In 2022, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London used the Living Planet Index (LPI) to measure the average decline in monitored wildlife populations. They found that between 1970 and 2018, on average, there was a 69% decline in population size across the 31,821 species studied. Additionally, the report found that 75% of the land surface is significantly altered, 66% of the ocean area is experiencing increasing cumulative impacts, and over 85% of wetlands has been lost.

Consequences of Biodiversity Loss

Biodiversity loss has far-reaching and long-lasting destructive consequences.

• Loss of Ecosystem Stability and Resilience

Just as every piece is vital in a detailed jigsaw puzzle, each element within an ecosystem contributes to its balance and functionality. Biodiversity is key to sustaining the strength and adaptability of ecosystems, enhancing their stability and resilience to challenges like climate change, disease outbreaks, and invasive species. Consequently, a decrease in biodiversity can diminish an ecosystem’s ability and resilience to recover from such disruptions, heightening the risk of ecosystem collapse. This can lead to increased soil erosion, which not only affects agricultural productivity but also impairs the ecosystem’s ability to support plant and animal life.

• Decline in Ecosystem Services

Biodiversity offers essential goods and services crucial for life on Earth. These ecosystem services, encompassing the direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being, are pivotal for our survival and quality of life. They include functions like water and air purification, soil formation, pollination, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation, all of which are provided by biodiversity. The decline of biodiversity can impair these services, leading to a decline in environmental quality. For example, forests act as carbon sinks, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and returning the oxygen to the atmosphere through a process known as photosynthesis. Deforestation can massively increase greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which trap more heat and exacerbate global warming.

• Harm to Human Health

Beyond its effects on ecosystems, the decline in biodiversity also influences human health. We are fundamentally dependent on ecosystems’ goods and services, such as the provision of fresh water, food, and fuel sources, for maintaining our well-being and ensuring sustainable livelihoods. The loss of biodiversity can result in significant direct impacts on human health when ecosystem services no longer adequately meet social needs. For example, in some regions, up to 95% of wetlands have been lost and two-thirds of the world’s largest rivers are now moderately to severely fragmented by dams and reservoirs. These diminishing ecosystems pose a significant threat to those who are directly dependent on wetlands for essential supplies such as freshwater and fish.

Final Thoughts

Defined by the richness and interconnectedness of genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity, biodiversity represents the very essence of our planet’s resilience and vibrancy. Yet, in the face of human-induced climate change, we find ourselves witnessing a precipitous decline in this critical biodiversity, which can lead to severe impacts including a diminished ecosystem stability and resilience, a reduction in ecosystem services, and adverse effects on human health. These consequences exacerbate the current climate crisis and pose a threat to the safety and vitality of our planet. It is crucial to take immediate and collaborative actions to reverse the trajectory of biodiversity loss, preserving the diverse web of life and securing a balanced future for the planet.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues

   • SDG 13: Climate Action
   • SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • SDG 15: Life on Land

2. Specific Targets Based on the Article’s Content

   • SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
   • SDG 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts
   • SDG 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

   • Percentage decline in population size of monitored wildlife species
   • Percentage of land surface significantly altered
   • Percentage of ocean area experiencing increasing cumulative impacts
   • Percentage of wetlands lost

Source: earth.org