Nature is humanity’s lifeline. Human health, food, economies and well-being depend on nature. Yet nature is in crisis. One million of the world’s estimated 8 million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction. Meanwhile, ecosystem degradation is affecting the well-being of 40 per cent of the global population.
The spotlight on nature and biodiversity highlights updates from around the UN System, from partners and others, helping to call attention to the need for a just, prosperous and sustainable future for all.
30 Sep
2024
10:34
Wildfires consume the Pantanal, the largest tropical wetland in the world
Photo: IBAMA/ASCOM
Since May, wildfires have ravaged across Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru as drought has created tinderbox-like conditions. The wildfires have been particularly devastating to the Pantanal, the largest tropical wetland in the world and a key warehouse of planet-warming carbon.
Stretching across three South American countries — Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay — the Pantanal supports millions of people and is home to a large concentration of rare wildlife, such as crocodiles, jaguars and the hyacinth macaw, the biggest parrot on the planet.
Wetlands are some of the planet’s most important ecosystems. They are a haven for wildlife, they filter pollution and they’re important stores of carbon.
Globally, the risk of extreme wildfires could increase 30 per cent by 2050 as result of climate change and what are known as land use changes, which include, slash-and-burn agriculture, found a UNEP 2022 report.
At COP 16, governments will review the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
06 Sep
2024
10:55
UN launches first-ever live map of large mammal migrations
🚨Groundbreaking online map launched🚨 @BonnConvention and @migratinghooves, with a team of 8️⃣0️⃣ international scientists, launch the Atlas of Ungulate Migrations, an interactive tool showing migration paths of hooved mammals (or ungulates) 🌐🦓🦌
In the DRC, new sustainable agroforestry framework bolsters finance, climate adaptation
Protecting forests is important to improving global air quality. New research shows that, besides storing carbon and removing ozone and particulate matter from the air, trees serve as a net sink of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that pollutes the air.
The Caribbean island nation at the forefront of the climate litigation push
Countries most affected by climate change—as well as citizens and non-profit groups—are increasingly turning to courts to compel governments and fossil fuel producers to address the climate crisis.
One Caribbean island nation, Antigua and Barbuda, is at the forefront of this push. It has backed a UN General Assembly resolution requesting the International Court of Justice to weigh in on the obligations of states in respect of climate change.
This video explains how climate change is affecting Antigua and Barbuda and why the country is using the international court and tribunal system to gain redress.
19 Aug
2024
13:09
Seven years of the Minamata Convention fighting toxic mercury and trade
Since the ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury in August 2017, its Parties have been making efforts to tackle the pressing issues surrounding toxic mercury. This highly hazardous chemical, found in many sectors, from skin-lightening cosmetics to artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), poses serious risks to both human health and the environment.
Watch the 7th anniversary video of the Convention covering pressing issues surrounding toxic mercury, with a special focus on the visit of the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention to the Philippines in early June.
15 Aug
2024
14:04
GFCR Supports Landmark ‘Debt-For-Nature’ Swap to Protect Indonesia’s Coral Reefs
In the heart of the Amazon, a forest-friendly model for development takes root
Credit: UNEP/Florian Fussstetter
Every year, the world loses enough forest cover to fill Portugal, with much of that deforestation happening in 20 tropical countries, including Brazil. In the wildlife rich Amazon, home to 9 per cent of mammals and 14 per cent of birds, deforestation is threatening the survival of tens of thousands of species. It is also driving climate change: when trees decay or are burned, they release carbon dioxide, a planet-warming greenhouse gas.
Brazil: a historical moment for urban and peri-urban agriculture
Credit: Ricardo Stuckert
Brazil endorsed the National Policy of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture, which President Lula signed on 26th, July. The policy is part of a broader effort to increase food production in urban areas, in line with national programmes for urban agriculture and food security.
The new law seeks to promote food security, minimize waste, and expand local economies through better utilization of urban spaces. Key measures include technical support; financial support for farmers in the city; and the creation of unique credit facilities to encourage direct sales through local markets. In addition, the policy encourages environmental education, organic farming practices, and recycling of organic waste.
UNEP, through the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) initiative, collaborated with the Brazilian government on this policy. TEEB's coordination brought together stakeholders, including ministries, academia, and civil society, to advance the agenda of sustainable urban farming. The draft policy bill underwent rigorous consultations and revisions, until its final approval in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate – thus ensuring all stakeholder concerns were addressed.
The framework sets the stage for a sustainable future in urban agriculture by aiming to scale up food production in and around metropolitan areas while promoting environmental conservation and economic resilience.
