How scientist and countries work to recover lost biodiversity | DW News

Summary

The United Nations biodiversity summit in Colombia brings together nearly 200 countries to discuss urgent measures for protecting and restoring ecosystems. A key project focuses on the restoration of the Rhine River between Switzerland and Germany, aiming to balance flood protection and biodiversity recovery. With wildlife populations declining and many species at risk of extinction, the summit addresses challenges like biopiracy and climate change. The conference emphasizes the need to meet ambitious 2030 targets for conserving habitats and ecosystems, recognizing the essential role of biodiversity in sustaining life on Earth, from food security to climate resilience.

Takeaways

• 😀 The United Nations biodiversity summit has opened in Colombia, where nearly 200 countries are discussing measures to safeguard and restore plant and animal species.
• 🌍 Wildlife populations have dropped by more than 70% in the last 50 years, with around 1 million species at risk of extinction.
• 🌱 The Rhine River restoration project between Switzerland and Germany aims to prevent flooding and boost biodiversity by restoring river islands and habitats.
• 🌧️ The initiative comes in response to climate change, which has made flooding risks more frequent and severe in the region.
• ⚖️ Efforts to restore the Rhine River face resistance from farmers, particularly in Switzerland, who fear losing agricultural land.
• 🌳 Environmental advocates urge more space for riverbank forests and islands to help restore natural landscapes and increase climate resilience.
• 🛠️ The project aims to bring the Rhine River closer to its natural state, enhancing flood resilience and supporting wildlife habitats.
• 🦋 The biodiversity summit focuses on global commitments, including protecting 30% of Earth’s habitats and restoring degraded ecosystems like rivers.
• 🌿 Biodiversity loss and climate change are closely linked, with healthy ecosystems playing a crucial role in reducing carbon dioxide levels and combating climate change.
• 💰 Biopiracy is another issue being addressed at the summit, where Western companies exploit genetic materials from developing countries without benefiting those nations.
• 🌏 The summit emphasizes the need for urgent action to meet biodiversity targets by 2030, with countries being urged to implement their action plans swiftly.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the United Nations biodiversity summit mentioned in the script?

The summit focuses on discussing measures to safeguard and restore animal and plant species, with the aim of addressing the ongoing biodiversity crisis and reversing the loss of wildlife populations.

What alarming statistic about wildlife populations is highlighted in the script?

Wildlife populations have plunged by more than 70% in just 50 years, with approximately 1 million species at risk of extinction.

What is the proposed solution to the biodiversity challenges faced by the Rhine River?

Engineers are planning to restore parts of the Rhine River by creating more space for river islands to help manage floodwaters and recover biodiversity. This project aims to improve flood prevention while also addressing the ecological health of the river.

Why is there resistance to the proposed river restoration project from Swiss farmers?

Swiss farmers are concerned about losing valuable agricultural land, as some of the land would be repurposed for the river restoration project and could no longer be used for farming, such as cattle fodder production.

What additional measures do environmental advocates want to see in the Rhine River restoration project?

Environmental advocates are calling for more space to be allocated for riverbank forests and islands, which would contribute to restoring a natural, diverse landscape and enhancing climate resilience.

How does the biodiversity summit in Colombia relate to the previous conference's decisions?

The biodiversity summit in Colombia builds upon the decisions made at the previous conference, particularly the commitment to conserve 30% of Earth's habitats and oceans, and to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems like rivers.

What specific challenge will the biodiversity summit address regarding biopiracy?

The summit will discuss biopiracy, a practice where corporations from developed countries take genetic materials from plants in developing countries, using them in medicines and making profits without sharing the benefits with the countries where the genetic materials were sourced.

Why is the relationship between biodiversity and climate change so important?

Biodiversity and climate change are closely linked because healthy ecosystems help regulate carbon dioxide levels, which are a key driver of climate change. Protecting biodiversity is essential for mitigating the effects of climate change.

What is the Jenga analogy mentioned in the interview, and what does it signify?

The Jenga analogy compares biodiversity loss to removing blocks from a Jenga tower, where each species is a block. Removing one species might seem insignificant, but over time, the loss of multiple species can cause the entire ecosystem to collapse.

What is the target year for the countries to meet their biodiversity protection and restoration goals?

The target year for countries to meet their biodiversity protection and restoration goals is 2030, and there is a strong push for action to ensure these targets are met before the deadline.