Study #33

Illustration: Charlotte Ager/The Guardian.

Nature-based solutions insights - Five silent drivers of nature loss

In 2021, scientists working with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), reported globally via The Guardian, identified five key drivers of biodiversity loss.

Imagine a world where wildlife has already declined by over two-thirds since 1970. Forests cleared, oceans overfished, and ecosystems reshaped. Humans have altered 75% of land and 66% of marine environments.

The story unfolds through five threats: land-use change, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, and invasive species. Plastic alone adds 14 million tonnes to oceans yearly, while invasive species have driven 40% of animal extinctions.

But Nature-Based Solutions, like restoring wetlands, protecting forests, and sustainable agriculture, can reverse damage, store carbon, and rebuild ecosystems!

Greenfield, P., & Weston, P. (2021, October 14). The five biggest threats to our natural world … and how we can stop them. The Guardian.
theguardian.com