Biodiversity Loss and the Push for ‘Nature Positive’ Solutions
1. Introduction:
Biodiversity loss is a global crisis, with ecosystems, species, and habitats disappearing at an alarming rate. The degradation of natural environments threatens not only wildlife but also human livelihoods and the stability of the global climate. As a response, the concept of ‘Nature Positive’ solutions is gaining momentum, emphasizing the need to restore, regenerate, and protect natural ecosystems. This push for ‘Nature Positive’ aims to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and create a net positive impact on nature, reversing decades of environmental degradation.
2. Biodiversity Loss-What we understand?
Biodiversity encompasses the variety of life on Earth, including plants, animals, microorganisms, etc and the ecosystems they form. However, this diversity is rapidly diminishing due to:
l Deforestation and habitat destruction for agriculture, urban development, and mining.
lOverexploitation of resources, including overfishing and unsustainable hunting.
l Pollution affecting land, water, and air quality, contributing to species extinction.
l Climate change, which alters habitats and food sources, putting species at risk.
l Invasive species that out-compete native species, disrupting ecosystems.
This loss of biodiversity reduces ecosystem resilience, leaving them more vulnerable to environmental changes and diminishing their ability to provide essential services like water purification, pollination, and climate regulation.
3. The Push for ‘Nature Positive’ Solutions
In response to the biodiversity crisis, there has been a global call for ‘Nature Positive’ solutions. These strategies aim not just to stop biodiversity loss but to reverse it by promoting practices that regenerate nature and create sustainable ecosystems.
Key elements of ‘Nature Positive’ approaches include:
² Rehabilitating degraded ecosystems, such as reforesting areas cleared for agriculture or industry i.e. Habitat Restoration
² Strengthening protected areas and creating wildlife corridors to ensure the survival of endangered species so that species are conserved.
² Promoting agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and other methods that support biodiversity while maintaining human productivity.To get our need without damaging our common future.
² Encouraging businesses and governments to adopt ‘Nature Positive’ policies, ensuring that economic activities do not come at the expense of biodiversity.Also at individual level to keep the nature Positive policy.
These solutions are in line with the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Global Biodiversity Framework which aim to halt biodiversity loss and achieve a ‘Nature Positive’ world by 2030.
4. Global Initiatives for Nature Positive Solutions:
Several global initiatives are leading the charge for ‘Nature Positive’ solutions:
v The 30×30 Initiative: A global pledge to protect 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030.
v The Bonn Challenge: A global effort to restore 350 million hectares of deforested and degraded land by 2030.
v The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: A decade-long initiative (2021–2030) aimed at preventing, halting, and reversing ecosystem degradation.
v Business for Nature: An international coalition of companies committed to taking action on biodiversity, demonstrating that ‘Nature Positive’ practices can coexist with economic growth.
A. What we got till September 2024.
Above we discussed what we targeted and now what we achieved till September 2024, significant progress has been made on several global initiatives aimed at promoting ‘Nature Positive’ solutions:
Ø The 30×30 Initiative:
This global pledge, which seeks to protect 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030, has seen increasing international commitments. More than 100 countries have pledged to meet this target, and various protected areas have been established. However, some challenges remain in financing and governance, especially in regions with high biodiversity but limited resources.
Ø The Bonn Challenge:
This initiative aims to restore 350 million hectares of deforested and degraded land by 2030. By mid-2024, over 210 million hectares have been committed to restoration efforts globally, making significant strides towards the 2030 goal. Regions like Latin America, Africa, and Asia have shown notable progress in land restoration efforts under this initiative.
Ø The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030):
This campaign has accelerated restoration activities worldwide, with over 170 million hectares already under restoration, a major milestone. The initiative focuses on improving ecosystems’ health, which is crucial for biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation, and supporting livelihoods globally.
Ø Business for Nature:
An increasing number of businesses are aligning their practices with biodiversity goals, showing that nature-positive actions can go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Many companies are adopting sustainable supply chain practices and making biodiversity commitments, though more action is needed to scale these efforts globally.
These global efforts are progressing, but continued focus on political support, scientific research, and financial resources will be key to fully realizing their potential by 2030.
5.Nature Positive Solutions in Pakistan(Efforts From Pakistan)
In Pakistan, biodiversity loss is particularly concerning due to deforestation, climate change, and unsustainable agricultural practices. However, there are efforts to embrace ‘Nature Positive’ strategies:
n The Billion Tree Tsunami:
Pakistan’s ambitious reforestation project aimed at restoring degraded forests and enhancing biodiversity.
n Protected areas expansion:
Increasing the number and size of protected areas, such as national parks and wildlife reserves, to safeguard critical habitats.As of 2024, Pakistan has a total of 477 protected areas, with 454 of these designated at the national level. These include various categories such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and marine protected areas. Notably, marine protection efforts have gained traction in recent years, exemplified by the designation of Churna Island as Pakistan’s second marine protected area.
These protected areas are crucial in conserving Pakistan’s biodiversity, helping mitigate environmental degradation, and supporting global conservation efforts. They also reflect Pakistan’s commitment to the global targets of initiatives like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15, which focuses on life on land
n Sustainable agriculture:
Efforts to promote biodiversity-friendly farming practices that support both food security and ecosystem health.Sustainable agriculture efforts in Pakistan have been evolving in response to the country’s pressing environmental challenges, such as soil degradation, water scarcity, and climate change. By 2024, several initiatives and projects have been launched to promote sustainable farming practices, ensuring food security while preserving the environment.
a) National Zero Hunger Programme: This initiative, launched in collaboration with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity through sustainable methods like water-efficient irrigation and climate-resilient crops.
b) Climate-Smart Agriculture: The FAO and Pakistan’s government have worked to promote climate-smart agricultural practices that reduce emissions and increase resilience to climate change. These efforts include improving crop varieties, soil conservation, and efficient water use. Many farmers have adopted technologies such as drip irrigation and crop rotation to conserve resources.
c) Organic Farming: The adoption of organic farming has gained momentum in Pakistan. Several NGOs and private organizations have been supporting farmers in shifting to organic methods, which reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Organic farming also enhances soil fertility and biodiversity.
d) Punjab Agriculture Commission’s Initiatives: In Punjab, several programs focus on enhancing sustainable agriculture by promoting precision farming, water-saving technologies, and better pest management. The government also provides training and financial support to encourage sustainable practices.
e) Green Pakistan Programme: While primarily aimed at reforestation, this initiative also includes promoting agroforestry—integrating trees with crops—which helps enhance biodiversity and improve soil health while boosting farmers’ livelihoods.
f) UNDP and GEF Projects: Several Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) projects focus on supporting sustainable land management practices in Pakistan. These projects help improve soil health, reduce erosion, and promote water conservation through sustainable agricultural techniques.
g) Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP): Pakistan is a major rice exporter, and efforts are underway to make rice farming more sustainable. The SRP promotes water-saving technologies, the reduction of chemical inputs, and the use of renewable energy in rice production.
h) Conservation Agriculture: This approach is gaining traction, with a focus on reducing soil disturbance, maintaining soil cover, and rotating crops to improve soil health and water retention.
5. Challenges to Achieving a ‘Nature Positive’ Future
Achieving a ‘Nature Positive’ future, which involves reversing biodiversity loss and restoring ecosystems, presents unique challenges for both developing and developed countries. These challenges are shaped by economic, social, political, and environmental factors, and they vary significantly between the two contexts.
A. Challenges in Developing Countries:
u Lack of Financial Resources:
Developing countries often face significant economic constraints, which limit their ability to fund biodiversity conservation and restoration efforts. These countries typically prioritize economic growth over environmental sustainability, leading to insufficient investment in ‘Nature Positive’ initiatives.
u Weak Governance and Policy Frameworks:
Environmental governance in many developing countries is often weak due to corruption, lack of enforcement, or political instability. Poor implementation of environmental laws makes it difficult to effectively manage protected areas or halt activities that harm biodiversity.
u Dependence on Natural Resources:
Many communities in developing countries rely heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods, such as through agriculture, logging, and fishing. Efforts to conserve biodiversity may conflict with the need to provide income and food security for these communities, making it difficult to implement large-scale conservation projects without causing economic hardship.
u Land-Use Changes and Deforestation:
Rapid population growth, urbanization, and agricultural expansion in developing countries lead to land-use changes that degrade natural ecosystems. Deforestation, driven by the demand for agricultural land and timber, poses a major threat to biodiversity in regions like South Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
u Climate Change Vulnerability:
Many developing countries are highly vulnerable to climate change, which exacerbates biodiversity loss through extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and changing rainfall patterns. The ability to adapt to these changes and protect ecosystems is often limited by a lack of resources and technology.
B. Challenges in Developed Countries:
v Industrialization and Over consumption:
Developed countries are often characterized by high levels of industrialization and consumption, leading to significant environmental degradation. The demand for natural resources, including fossil fuels, has contributed to habitat destruction, pollution, and species extinction. Changing consumption patterns to support a ‘Nature Positive’ future is a major challenge.
v Inadequate Policy Coordination:
While many developed countries have established environmental laws, the lack of coordination between different sectors, such as agriculture, energy, and infrastructure, often results in conflicting priorities. This can hinder efforts to integrate biodiversity conservation into broader development strategies.
v Biodiversity in Decline Despite Protections:
Even with protected areas and biodiversity policies, developed countries face challenges in reversing biodiversity loss. Habitat fragmentation, pollution, and invasive species continue to pose significant threats to ecosystems. Moreover, species in some regions are declining at a faster rate than they can be restored, due to pressures from urbanization and climate change.
v Balancing Economic Growth with Conservation:
Developed countries face the challenge of balancing economic growth with the protection of biodiversity. High levels of consumerism, transportation infrastructure, and urban development often lead to trade-offs between economic activity and environmental sustainability.
v Public and Political Will:
Achieving a ‘Nature Positive’ future requires significant political will and public support. In many developed countries, the political landscape can be divided over environmental issues, which can slow down or undermine conservation efforts. Public awareness and advocacy for biodiversity must be strengthened to push for stronger actions.
C. Shared Challenges Across Both Contexts:
² Global Trade and Supply Chains:
Both developing and developed countries are interconnected through global trade, which can drive environmental degradation. The demand for raw materials, food, and energy in developed countries often leads to unsustainable resource extraction in developing regions.
² Climate Change:
The impact of climate change on biodiversity is a shared challenge globally. Rising sea levels, changing ecosystems, and extreme weather events threaten both tropical and temperate ecosystems, requiring coordinated international efforts to address the crisis.
² Funding and Resources:
Conservation efforts globally require significant financial investment. While developed countries may have more resources, there is often insufficient funding allocated to biodiversity projects. International cooperation and innovative financing mechanisms are necessary to overcome these barriers.
Efforts like the 30×30 Initiative, the Bonn Challenge, and the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aim to address these challenges, but continued collaboration, political will, and public engagement will be essential to achieving a truly ‘Nature Positive’ future.
6.Conclusion
The push for ‘Nature Positive’ solutions offers a beacon of hope in the fight against biodiversity loss. By restoring ecosystems, adopting sustainable practices, and strengthening conservation efforts, we can reverse the tide of environmental degradation and ensure a healthier planet for future generations. However, this requires global cooperation, sustained commitment from governments and businesses, and meaningful action from individuals to create a world where nature thrives alongside human development.