The State of Biodiversity

Clarissa C. AridaDirector, Programme Development and ImplementationASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

2nd Asian Judges Symposium on Environment: Natural Capital and the Rule of Law

2 – 5 December 2013 l ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines

Biodiversity Loss, Protected Areas and EncroachmentTrack 2 – Natural Capital: Biodiversity

Biodiversity plays an important role in enhancing ecosystems services. The degradation of ecosystems due to human activities has caused substantial and irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth.

Biodiversity encompasses ecosystems diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report (2005) has shown that changes in drivers that directly or indirectly affect biodiversity results to changes in ecosystems and the services they provide (provisioning services, regulating services, supporting services, and cultural service).

Provisioning Services (Goods)Food crops

livestock capture fisheries aquaculture wild foods

Fiber timber +/–cotton, silk +/–wood fuel

Genetic resources Biochemicals, medicines Fresh water

Biodiversity, ecosystems services and human well being (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005)

Biodiversity in Asia supports 3.8 billion people, representing 60% of the world’s population, and some 70% of the world’s poorest people.

Asia has seen rapid economic development and high levels of biodiversity .

Drivers of Biodiversity Loss

Habitat Change

Pollution

Over Exploitation

Invasive Alien Species

Climate Change

Global Environment Outlook 3 UNEP 2012, GBO3, ABO3

State of Biodiversity

The world failed to meet the 2010 biodiversity target. Pressures in biodiversity remains high leading to ecosystems degradation, reduction in species populations, increasing risk of extinctions and erosion of genetic variety.

Habitat loss and degradation from agriculture and infrastructure development continue to exert high pressure on biodiversity.

Globally: 100 M hectares forest loss 2000- 2005 20% of seagrass and mangroves

habitats lost since 1970-1980 38% decline in quality of coral reef since

1980 95% of wetlands lost in some areas

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MANGROVE Ecosystem

Mangroves occupy over 60,000 sq. km surface area in SEA, with 52 true mangrove species, in which two are listed as critically endangered and endangered.

Decreasing trend in the size of mangrove areas all over the Asian region

Drivers of mangrove degradation: deforestation due to domestic demand for fuel and materials for

housing conversion of mangrove forests to either fish or prawn ponds

for commercial consumption (ASEAN Biodiversity Outlook 2010)

Habitat Change

Climate change is likely to become the dominant direct driver of biodiversity loss by the end of the century (MA, 2005).

In Asia, up to 50% of biodiversity is at risk

As much as 88% of coral reefs may be lost.

(ADB, 2009)

Recent devastation by typhoon Yolanda caused ecological havoc to coastal environments.

Climate Change

It threatens species and habitats and may also affect invasive species and spread of disease.

Landsat image of Typhoon Yolanda: Tacloban Nov 2013 (news releases)

Climate Change

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Invasive Alien Species

Invasive alien species threatens natives species.

Spreading through deliberate and unintentional introductions through increased global travel and trade.

Economic costs of invasive alien species was estimated at 1.4 trillion annually in Asia (Pimentel in GEO5).

Transnational organized crime flows in East Asia and the Pacific shows value at US2.5 billion of illegally traded wildlife in East Asia and the Pacific – UN Office on Drugs and Crime - UNODC, 2013

Overexploitation of wild species to meet growing demand threatens biodiversity.Photos and Figures by WCS

Over Exploitation

From subsistence gathering to urban commercial hunting

Why do people illegally trade wildlife?

High profit Low punishment

The value of illegally traded wildlife in Vietnam– Weight for Weight

Beef$0.75 - $1

Gold$5200

Heroin$1500-2000

Amphetamine$100

Opium$50

Tiger bone balm$850

Rhino horn$2000-$6000

Golden Turtle$300-$500

Pangolin scales$200-400

Per 100g

Elephant ivory$50-$700

Protected areas have proven to be an effective tool in the fight to save biodiversity.

Asia currently has 7,043 protected areas covering and average of 15.97% of land area. UNEP-WCMC. (2013). World Database on Protected Areas., as cited in recent Asia Parks Congress, Japan 2013

“By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, are conserved and effectively and equitably managed, … through a well-connected systems of protected areas….” Target 11

CBD Strategic Plan Vision: By 2020, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people. �

vision: a world in harmony with nature

o Protected Areas as Natural Capital

The establishment and effective management of protected areas preserve an asset for the future. Protected areas form an important part of natural capital estimates, along with timber, cropland, energy and mineral resources, etc. The .Wealth of Nations, World Bank 2006, 2007

o Maintaining healthy ecosystems Healthy ecosystems restrict the spread of

disease vectors and invasive alien species . Protected areas are proven, cost-effective and

sustainable solutions reducing the impacts of climate change.

Mission: Take effective and urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity in order to ensure that by 2020 ecosystems are resilient and continue to provide essential services, thereby securing the planets variety of life, and contributing to human �well-being, and poverty eradication. …..

Growth of National Protected Areas1911-2011

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Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity (sectors, plans and programs)

Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use

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Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity

Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services

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Key messages: progress in achieving biodiversity targets expanding protected areas

addressing some direct drivers of biodiversity loss

community-based management

Some innovative financing, need for benefit sharing schemes

BUT scale of efforts remain insufficient .

Continue to change consumption patterns, capacity improvement, improving access to information and legal redress, enhancing governance (executive, legislative and judiciary)

2nd Asian Judges Symposium on Environment: Natural Capital and the Rule of Law

2 – 5 December 2013 l ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines

Thank you!

www.aseanbiodiversity.org