Submitted by joshua on Fri, 2006-07-21 23:20.
Policy & Operational Implications
Re: The Domain of Life, P and OI; "Shape land use patterns to reduce human encroachment on other forms of life" --This does not offer much practical guidance relative to the 6th great extiction crisis that is unfolding on planet earth as we speak.
If current trends continue, one half of all species of life on Earth will be extinct in 100 years. (E.O. Wilson, The Future of Life, p. 102) The rate of extinctions has reached 100 times higher than the natural background rate. Fortunately, scientists and biologists have determined the major causes of the accellerated extiction rates. They have also precisely located 25 critical biodiversity hotspots which still contain upwards of 50 % of the world's remaining land based species.
In these fragile and species rich environments (mostly forested and tropical areas) over 70% of the original vegetation has been removed! The primary causes of bio-diversity loss are:
1. Habitat loss; fragmentation and destruction of rich biotic corridors due to resource/food extraction, farming (land and sea) and development
2.Global Warming; now impacting land and ocean based concentrations of biodiversity at levels perhaps equal to present human land use practices. In addition, hunting of endangered species and spread of invasive species play a significant role in the accelerating loss of biodiversity.
The biodiversity remaining in these hot spots must be preserved and the same goes for the ocean based hotspots.
The P & OI should reflect these scientifically determined priorities.
I suggest something along these lines as revisions/additions:
*Establish economic incentives to prevent further destruction of the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots in order to preserve the earth's remaining variety of species.
*Incorporate the identification, preservation and creation of biotic corridors into all land planning and development.
I think that several other related P & OI could be added here but this would require further research. stay tuned
Resources:
http://www.speciesalliance.org/links.php
Species Alliance is a 501c3 non-profit organization formed in 2005. Its primary undertaking, in association with the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, is a multifaceted, national public education and community outreach campaign designed to increase public awareness of the impending threat to the Earth's life support systems caused by dramatic extinction rates. Through the creation of a documentary film, curriculum, and outreach campaign we aim to raise public awareness of the mass extinction and ignite a sense of empowerment and purpose.
http://chge.med.harvard.edu/publications/index.html#reports
BIODIVERSITY: ITS IMPORTANCE TO HUMAN HEALTH:
A Project of the Center for Health and the Global Environment, Harvard Medical School under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)