Connecting conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity with poverty reduction

Declines in biodiversity weaken attempts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. But some approaches to reducing poverty are likely to increase the rate at which biodiversity is lost. Biodiversity considerations must be integrated into poverty alleviation strategies.<br /><br />Biodiversity refers tothe variety of life on earth. It includes genes, individual species andecosystems. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment recently reported thatbiodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate. Factors causing this lossinclude land use change, climate change, the spread of alien invasive species,the over-use of nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorous) and the over-exploitationof resources.Global BiodiversityOutlook 2, a report by the Secretariat of the Convention on BiologicalDiversity, examines the links between poverty reduction and biodiversity. Aloss of biodiversity – such as the loss of species or changes to habitats – canbe bad for poor people, who often depend on these resources for food, a supplyof fresh water and resources from which to make a living. However, actions toachieve poverty reduction, such as expanding agriculture and improving rural transportnetworks, are likely to accelerate the loss of biodiversity in the short term.For this reason, biodiversity considerations need integrating into povertyalleviation strategies.The report also findsthat:Reducingpoverty is the priority for developing countries. Protecting biodiversity isoften not well integrated into development plans, with little funding for this.This trend must change to reach the 2010 target for reducing biodiversity loss.Tradeliberalisation, such as that associated with the Doha Development Round, mayencourage land conversion and a loss of biodiversity in areas of low land andlabour costs. Southern Africa and Latin America are high-risk areas in thisrespect.It is important thatefforts to reach one MDG do not undermine progress towards another.Biodiversity conservation must feature in trade and economic policy andplanning (particularly in relation to energy and agriculture), and in povertyreduction strategies. This would help to ‘mainstream’ biodiversity within developmentthinking and planning. There are several elements to this:It isimportant to recognise the value of biodiversity, especially to poor people,including the goods and services not currently traded in existing markets.Environmentalassessments should be made more sensitive to the concerns facing poor people.Agriculturalstrategies should concentrate on improving productivity and minimisingpost-harvest losses, rather than bringing more land into production. Soilconservation, integrated pest management and improved water and nutrient usecan all help.Guidelinesfor good agricultural practice, certification and labelling schemes canencourage more sustainable farming practices.‘Landscape-level’planning, which involves managing large geographical areas, is necessary toprotect areas of high biodiversity value, or areas that provide important ecosystemservices for poor people.Well-managednetworks of protected areas can help to protect biodiversity. Paying people tonot convert biodiversity-rich areas can be effective.Policiescan encourage greater responsibility by purchasers and processors ofagricultural commodities. For example, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oilagreed that there would be no conversion of primary forests to palm oilplantations after November 2005.