Scientists urge for a biodiversity ‘safety net’

The United Nations' Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has drafted new biodiversity goals, after it was discovered that none of its 20 targets for 2020 has been reached. 

A group of scientists have been put in charge of the analysis of these new biodiversity goals which aim to prevent the decline in nature.

This group contains 60 leading biodiversity experts from 26 countries, including Philip McGowan, a professor from Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

Despite the fact that the goals for this year have not been met, McGowan remains hopeful for the future: “we do have good foundations to build upon”. He explains that what is needed now is “to aim for holistic and joined up action, looking beyond emergency action”.

The objectives that have now been drafted for 2030 and 2050 look at several areas of nature, including ecosystems, species, genetic diversity and nature’s contributions to people.

Lead author of the study Professor Andy Purvis said: “The wellbeing of future generations depends on saving nature now”. 

He went on to explain that a safety net “could secure the future of habitats, species, genetic diversity and the benefits we get from all these” and “would even help in the fight against climate change”.

The scientists have outlined three crucial points to take into account regarding the new biodiversity targets:

• There must be more than one goal for each area of nature
• The goals must be delivered together since they all affect each other
• All of the goals must be ambitious in order to “give a realistic chance of “bending” the curve of nature’s decline by 2050”

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