The overexploitation of wild species — land animals, fish, algae, fungi, plants and trees — threatens the well-being of billions of human beings. This is what a report by the IPBES and the UN revealed, released on Friday (8). The document, which relied on the experience of indigenous peoples, paves the way for more sustainable practices and values the knowledge of indigenous peoples.
Billions of people around the world, in both developed and developing countries, “depend on and benefit from wild species for food, medicine, energy, income and many other purposes”, note the IPBES biodiversity experts, in conjunction with the UN.
Intergovernmental Platform for Science Policies on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, the IPBES is an independent body established by States to strengthen policy science actions for biodiversity and ecosystem services, with the aim of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. In 2019, the agency revealed that one million species were threatened with extinction, one of the main reasons being their exploitation by man.
In this new report, 85 social and natural science experts and local and indigenous knowledge experts reviewed 6,200 sources. “About 50,000 wild species are used (…) through fishing, gathering, logging and hunting animals in the world”, including 7,500 species of fish and aquatic invertebrates, 7,400 types of trees or 7,500 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, the report details.
“The urban populations of rich countries don’t realize it, but wild plants are used in the composition of medicines or cosmetics; you eat wild fish and there is a good chance that your furniture comes from wild trees”, explains researcher Jean-Marc Fromentin, co-author of the report.
According to the research, wild species are the main source of wood worldwide. “They are a fundamental issue for food security”, underlines the French researcher. But “we will lose these resources with intensive exploitation, with a direct impact on human populations”.
Also according to the report, the poor are the most exposed to the consequences of this uncontrolled exploitation of resources. Marla Emery, co-author of the report, recalls that “70% of the world’s poor depend directly on wild species”, highlighting, for example, that 2.4 billion people depend on wood for cooking.
Tourism
Wild species are also important sources of income and employment, the research points out. Before Covid-19, tourism in protected areas generated US$600 billion a year. However, overexploitation affects 34% of fish stocks, endangers 1,341 wild mammals, 12% of wild tree species and seriously threatens sharks and rays.
Illegal wildlife trafficking is considered the third in the world, after trafficking in human beings and drugs, moving between US$ 69 billion and US$ 199 billion a year.
However, there are solutions. The report brings “a message of hope”, assures Jean-Marc Fromentin, a researcher at Ifremer (French Research Institute for the Exploration of the Sea). “We can have a use of wild species that is sustainable over time, for future generations,” he insists.
indigenous wisdom
Indigenous peoples better manage wild species, says the UN report, which emphasizes the importance of nature to these communities and their practices. “Often this goes through very simple rules of reciprocity, respect for nature and animals and sacred areas that, for us, are equivalent to protected areas”, explains Jean-Marc Fromentin.
The report proposes to reduce illegal fishing, eliminate harmful subsidies to nature, support small-scale fishing, establish certifications for logging, develop effective governance systems and a fair redistribution of the benefits and costs of wildlife.
“The illusion that humanity could exist separately or dominating the rest of nature (…) has led to major environmental crises, such as climate change and the decline of biodiversity”, summarizes the IPBES. “Seeing humanity as part of nature, that is, a member or citizen of nature among others, would lay the foundations for a more respectful and lasting relationship”, conclude the researchers, citing the example of indigenous peoples and the need for a ” transformative change”.
The report was validated by delegations from the 139 IPBES member countries meeting in Bonn, Germany. The document will feed the discussions for COP15 biodiversity, considered as crucial, and which will take place in December, in Montreal, Canada. The event is expected to establish a new regulatory framework to protect nature and its resources, globally, by 2050.