Source: World Wildlife Fund
In response to today’s release of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) report, The Sustainable Use of Wild Species Assessment Report, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued the following statement from Pablo Pacheco, IPBES Lead Author and WWF Global Forest Lead Scientist:
“Without wild species, our whole planet unravels. Billions of people rely on wild species for food, medicine, energy and clean water. They are especially critical for the livelihoods of vulnerable people in rural areas, who depend on them for subsistence, income and cultural needs. Our modern global economy increases the threats to biodiversity due to pressures from local demand and global trade.
“We live on a planet with limited resources, and we must treat it that way. It is critical to recognize the sustainable use practices of Indigenous peoples and local communities and support their tenure and access rights. We must co-create policies with Indigenous peoples and local communities who manage approximately 40% of terrestrial conserved areas and have developed a rich, generational knowledge of these biodiversity-rich landscapes. This should be part of a wider alignment of global processes and national policies and targeted local actions.
“Rapid behavior and economic transformations are necessary across all levels of society if we are to sustain the lifegiving resources that wild species provide us.”
