BIODIVERSITY LOSS

Habitat loss through human encroachment and agriculture is the biggest threat to biodiversity. Biodiversity loss and the irreversible destruction of natural habitats has a large impact on ecosystem function and services. Ecosystems provide vital services for life on earth. They help regulate the climate, act as a carbon store, provide food and fisheries for humans. The link between loss of natural habitats and biodiversity and climate change is fundamental. It needs to be a first step priority on all climate agendas. 

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 UN Sustainable Development Goal 15 outlines the importance for the protection and the sustainable use of natural areas. Europe has the EU Biodiversity strategy as a long term plan to protect Europe's biodiversity by 2030 and the IUCN guides the majority of international policy on nature conservation and biodiversity. In addition to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species the IUCN also produces the Red List of Ecosystems for biodiversity risk assessment. A more recent addition is the IUCN Green list which provides a global standard for area based conservation.