Food for Thought
The four case studies presented on the Sundarbans, agriculture, fracking and eco-tourism delves deeply into the adverse impacts of economic activity.Furthermore, the case studies on the Sundarbans and eco-tourism reflect that the issues are not isolated; rather, planning and regulating conservation approaches both in the forest and the Galapagos Islands require expertise,foresight and accountability. This also leads us to question the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation approaches that are currently being pursuedworldwide. The following quote is insightful:
In 2002, world leaders committed, through the Convention on Biological Diversity, to achieve a significant reduction in the rate
of biodiversity loss by 2010. We compiled 31 indicators to report on progress toward this target. Most indicators of the state of biodiversity (covering species’ population trends, extinction risk, habitat extent and condition, and community composition)showed declines,
with no significant recent reductions in rate, whereas indicators of pressures on biodiversity (including resource consumption, invasive alien species, nitrogen pollution, overexploitation, and climate change impacts) showed increases. Despite some local successes and increasing responses (including extent and biodiversity coverage of protected areas,sustainable forest management, policy responses to invasive alien species, and biodiversity-related aid), the rate of biodiversity loss does not appear to be slowing
--Stuart H. M. Butchart et al.,Science (AAAS)
The findings are worrisome. Yet,we should not despair. Instead of counting on a top-down approach to conserve biodiversity,we should start taking initiatives ourselves. Keeping in spirit with the motto "think globally, act locally", we can start looking into conservation projects in our own neighborhoods. Our proactivity today can help change the future tomorrow.