UN Biodiversity’s Post

Wild animals are crucial for natural climate solutions and not the opposite. We must change our mindset and appreciate that focusing on indirect and significant determinants of natural carbon capture systems is as important as the mechanism itself. Wild animals play a significant role in enhancing natural carbon capture and storage. Protecting and restoring these animals can transform landscapes and seascapes from carbon sources to carbon sinks. For example, the Serengeti wildebeest migration helps manage fire regimes and promotes soil carbon storage. When wildebeest populations were restored, the Serengeti became a carbon sink, storing up to 4.4 MtCO2 more than before. Globally, restoring animal populations like elephants, bison, and whales could add up to 6.41 GtCO2 per year to carbon storage. The 431 terrestrial and 37 marine ecosystems worldwide would benefit directly from trophic rewilding, and certain species have a high potential to expand natural climate solutions (page 328). Ongoing and future nature-based solutions should integrate wild animal conservation as a building block of natural climate solutions to animate the carbon cycle. #ClimateAction #TrophicRewilding #Sustainability #NaturalClimateSolutions cc. Oswald Schmitz et al. Yale School of the Environment; Global Rewilding Alliance; Harvard University; Nelson Mandela University; and many more.

🌊💚 Did you know that underwater forests—also known as kelp forests—are some of the ocean's most powerful allies in conservation? These towering, lush ecosystems aren’t just beautiful; they play a vital role in supporting ocean health! Kelp forests provide shelter, food, and nursery grounds for countless marine species, from fish to sea otters to invertebrates. They help maintain biodiversity and even improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients. What's more, kelp is a climate champion! These underwater giants capture carbon from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate climate change impacts. But kelp forests are under threat from warming waters and rising sea urchin populations, especially in areas where natural predators like sea otters are missing. Restoring and protecting these ecosystems is essential to a resilient ocean. #seaotter #kelp #kelpforest #Oregon #california https://lnkd.in/g3Z5qyZf

🦜Welcome, nature enthusiasts, conservationists, and bird lovers alike! As we gear up to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day in 2024 on 11 May, with this year’s slogan of “Protect insects, protect birds”, let’s shine a spotlight on a group of tiny yet mighty creatures that play a crucial role in the lives of our feathered friends – insects!   🐛 For many migratory bird species,  insects serve as a primary food source providing essential nutrients and energy needed for their long and arduous journeys. However, factors such as habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and pollution have all contributed to the rapid decline of insect species worldwide, which not only jeopardizes the survival of migratory birds but also poses a threat to the delicate balance of ecosystems.   🌍By focusing on the interconnectedness of insects and birds, , this year's campaign aims to raise awareness about the delicate balance of nature and the cascading effects of climate changes. Together, let's spread our wings of conservation and ensure a brighter future for both migratory birds and the tiny creatures that sustain them.   Reporter: yihang HE Designer: ZHANG Zhibo   #GAUC #ClimateChange #WorldMigratoryBirdDay #WMBD2024 #BirdsMatter #InsectsMatter

🚨 Nature in NDCs guide - launched!!  The clock is ticking and countries need to deliver updated climate action plans now. The third five-year cycle of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), due in 2025, is a pivotal moment to enhance global emissions reductions and bolster the resilience of communities and ecosystems.   The Nature4Climate coalition has released the second edition of the Guide for Including Nature in NDCs to support national policymakers and technical experts in revising and implementing 2025 NDCs. Launched at COP 29, this guide offers 15 key recommendations, along with resources and case studies, to effectively integrate environmental integrity and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into NDCs. 📘 Read the full guide and join the movement by sharing it with policymakers and experts: https://lnkd.in/ej8Dz6md Acknowledgement: This guidance was produced with the supervision and input of experts. Our own Kiryssa Kasprzyk, director of international climate policy, was instrumental in its creation, alongside experts from The Nature Conservancy, BirdLife International, Crowther Lab | ETH Zurich, Restor, Fauna & Flora, IUCN, National Wildlife Federation, ifaw, Rare, Tree Aid, Wetlands International and Youth4Nature.

The Crucial Role of Sharks in Marine Ecosystems 🦈🌊 Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of marine ecosystems. As apex predators, they help regulate the populations of other marine species, ensuring that no single species dominates the ecosystem. This regulation maintains the biodiversity essential for a resilient and healthy ocean. For instance, sharks prey on weak and sick fish, promoting stronger fish populations and preventing the spread of disease. Without sharks, the balance of marine life would be disrupted, leading to overpopulation of certain species and the depletion of others. This imbalance can cause the decline of important habitats like coral reefs and seagrass beds, which many marine organisms depend on for survival. Moreover, healthy shark populations contribute to the carbon cycle by regulating the prey species that feed on carbon-storing organisms, thereby playing an indirect role in mitigating climate change. However, sharks face numerous threats, primarily from overfishing, bycatch, and habitat destruction. Every year, millions of sharks are killed for their fins, meat, and liver oil, pushing many species to the brink of extinction. The loss of sharks could have cascading effects on marine ecosystems, leading to less productive and less resilient oceans. On this World Shark Awareness Day, it is crucial to raise awareness about the importance of sharks and the need to protect them. By supporting sustainable fishing practices, establishing marine protected areas, and enforcing anti-poaching laws, we can help ensure that sharks continue to thrive and play their crucial role in marine ecosystems. #WorldSharkAwarenessDay #ProtectSharks #MarineEcosystems #GreenCrate

73% decrease in wildlife populations over 50 years 🤯 The latest WWF Living Planet Report, which tracks population trends for over 5,000 vertebrate species, indicates a staggering 73% decline in monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020. Nature is vanishing at an alarming pace. While changes in ecosystems may seem slow, their cumulative impact can lead to "tipping points"—sudden, often irreversible, shifts with catastrophic consequences for both people and nature. The WWF warns that 5 global tipping points are approaching, threatening food security, triggering natural disasters like wildfires and floods, and destabilizing economies worldwide. 🌴Amazon rainforest: potential to release massive amounts of carbon, disrupting global weather patterns. 🐠 Coral reef collapse: could decimate fisheries and coastal storm protection. ⛸️ Melting ice caps: may result in significant sea level rises. 🌊 Atlantic ocean circulation: the collapse of the subpolar gyre south of Greenland could severely alter weather in Europe and North America. 🧊 Permafrost thaw: could release vast quantities of carbon dioxide and methane. In many cases, tipping points can still be avoided. We have a chance to intervene now and strengthen ecosystem resilience. There are global agreements and solutions aimed at setting nature on a path to recovery by 2030, yet progress has been slow and lacking urgency. At darwin. we believe we need actions that match the scale of this challenge. Link to report in comments 👇

Shark conservation must go beyond simply protecting shark populations—it must prioritize protecting the ecological roles of sharks, according to new research at the University of Hawaiʻi. The largest sharks of many of the biggest species, such as tiger sharks and great whites, play an oversized role in healthy oceans, but they are often the most affected by fishing. The big sharks help maintain balance through their eating habits. Sometimes their sheer size is enough to scare away prey that could over-consume seagrass and other plant life needed for healthy oceans. Sharks also help shape and maintain balance from the bottom-up. That means a variety of sharks in a variety of sizes are needed, yet their many and diverse contributions are under threat from overfishing, climate change, habitat loss, energy mining, shipping activities and more. The study, led by Florida International University (FIU) with partners at UH Mānoa’s Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) and others, was published this week in Science and sheds new light on how sharks- and their size- contribute to healthy oceans. “New tools and technologies have enabled us to make huge strides in recent years in understanding the diverse—and critically important—roles that sharks play in the world’s ocean ecosystems,” explains Elizabeth Madin, co-author of the paper and associate professor at HIMB. “It’s clear now that protecting shark populations is a wise investment in ocean health, and one which ultimately benefits people and the planet.” Read the article in Science: https://lnkd.in/gnS_-vvG #sharks #conservation #fishing #ocean

From clean air and water to food, biodiversity forms the foundation of our existence. Yet, countless species face extinction due to habitat loss, climate change, and human actions. It’s on us to create a future where endangered species thrive. We at Vizzuality are determined to ensure data can be used to help protect our wildlife and the ecosystems they rely on. Through open-access platfroms such as Half-Earth, Wildlife Insights and Marxan. Explore these projects and more: https://lnkd.in/eMq7yWPz #EndangeredSpeciesDay #Biodiversity #ExtinctionCrisis #ConservationSolutions

A WWF report says that there has been a 69% average decline in wildlife populations since 1970. The key drivers of biodiversity decline include habitat loss and climate change. It’s our responsibility to keep our world thriving. Here at Plantd, we are taking action through tree-planting. It starts with one sapling to create a forest. Download the Plantd app to start planting now. #plantd #doyourpart #climatechange