Protecting Wildlife: Urgent Call for Conservation Action
In his message for World Wildlife Day observed on March 3, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning on the part of the devastating impact of human activities on global biodiversity.
While affirming the threat of one million species surviving on the edge of extinction, Guterres underscored the potential of human ingenuity to save them. He pinpointed pollution, climate change, habitat loss and unsustainable resource exploitation as the key drivers of this alarming downturn. It highlighted not only the tragic loss of ecological diversity but also the direct threat to the health and livelihoods of billions.
Nonetheless, Guterres offered a glimmer of hope echoing the theme of this year’s World Wildlife Day: “Rethink. Recreate. Restore.” He stressed the potential of digital technologies to turn the tide, citing instances like satellite tracking of endangered animals and data-driven insights into wildlife migration.
Digital technologies, harnessed responsibility, ethically and equitably, hold the potential to revolutionize conservation efforts.
Collective action at all levels is paramount. Governments, businesses and individuals must collaborate to pull wildlife back from the brink and construct a sustainable future. At the forthcoming Summit of the Future, discussions on new metrics over and above GDP will provide a more holistic insights of progress.
Countries must drastically reduce emissions, adapt to climate change, prevent pollution and halt biodiversity loss. Acknowledging the pivotal role of Indigenous communities in conservation is essential. All governments should adopt national climate plans aligned with the 1.5°C target and implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
