Relevance: GS-3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation.

Key Phrases: 6th Assessment Report of IPCC; IPBES; IPCC; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; human well-being; Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, 2019; our collective excesses; live in harmony with nature.

Context

• As per the 6th Assessment Report of IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel For Climate Change), biodiversity will suffer irreparable loss. Though the effect will be universal but will adversely impact some areas more than others.
• IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) suggests significant steps will be required to reverse the loss of biodiversity and protect and restore ecosystem services.

Key Highlights

What is Biodiversity?

• Biodiversity is the living fabric of our planet.
• Biodiversity, for a specific region, refers to the number and variety of living organisms in that area.
• It underpins human well-being in the present and in the future, and its rapid decline threatens nature and people alike.

Ecosystem Services and their types

• These are services that are necessary for the sustenance of living organisms in a particular system. Sustainable usage of these services is a must to sustain nature and people.
• The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), identified four major categories of ecosystem services:
  • Provisioning Services
    • This includes any type of benefit to people that can be extracted from nature like fruits, oil and natural gas, fuelwood etc.
  • Regulating Services
    • These are basic services that make life possible for living organisms. plants purify the air, carbon sequestration, mangroves filter the water, etc.
  • Cultural Services
    • These are non-material benefits that contribute to the development and cultural advancement of people.
    • It includes Eco-tourism, wellness retreats, etc.
  • Supporting Services
    • These are the most essential and fundamental of all services, without which life forms can’t be sustained.
    • For instance photosynthesis, Pedogenesis, Nutrient cycling and the Water cycle.

Threats to Biodiversity

As per the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (2019 ) of IPBES, the prominent reasons for biodiversity loss are

• Climate Change
  • This has significantly caused changes in the behaviour of several species.
    • Polar bears have to struggle to catch fish due to melting ice caps.
    • Changes in the behaviour of migratory birds.
• Invasive species
  • Water Hyacinth has choked lakes and ponds causing several native species to die.
• Over-exploitation of natural resources and destruction of habitats
  • Due to our collective excesses, the ecological carrying capacity of planet earth has largely been exceeded.
  • The existence of Great Indian Bustards and Red Sanders has been threatened.
• Pollution
  • This involves changes in the composition of air, soil and water, causing several species to perish.
  • For instance, corals and migratory birds have been affected.
• Urbanisation
  • This has caused deforestation on a large scale, thereby causing unbearable consequences for many species.

What are Biosphere Reserves?

• As per UNESCO, these are learning places for sustainable development.
• These are places that provide local solutions to global challenges.
• Biosphere reserves are places where humans live in harmony with nature. There is an effective combination of sustainable development and nature conservation. It consists of:
  • Core areas - consists of Protected Area Networks, which comprises Wildlife sanctuary or National Parks.
  • Buffer areas - Native humans reside here.

Status of Biosphere Reserves (BR)

• There are 18 Biosphere Reserves in India.
  • Out of this, 12 have been inducted into the Man and Biosphere Program (MAB) of UNESCO.
• The World Network of Biosphere Reserve Program was initiated by UNESCO in 1971.
• Nilgiri BR was the 1st biosphere reserve to be inducted as MAB.
• Recently, Panna BR was inducted into MAB as the 12th BR.
• In South Asia, over 30 BR have been established.
  • In 1977, Hurulu Biosphere Reserve (Sri Lanka ) became the 1st one to be designated as a BR.

Why Biosphere Reserves are regarded as Pockets of hope?

• Represent pockets of hope and proof of human commitment to leading a sustainable life.
  • An increase in the number of BRs points to this commitment.
• Balance the need and rights of people and nature.
• Involve the local community in the preservation and conservation of natural resources.
  • Maladharis have been ensuring the conservation of lions of Gir Forests for centuries.
• Comprehensive conservation efforts
  • As it consists of a variety of ecosystems BR includes terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems.

Way Forward:

• Increasing number of BR in South Asia.
  • Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal do not, yet have any biosphere reserves.
  • Due to climate change and rising sea levels, South Asian countries, and their coastal ecosystems have become more vulnerable.
    • Increase in the area of the coastal biosphere to include offshore regions as well.
  • India, Srilanka, and Maldives require more such environmental protection measures.
• Scientific practices of conservation must be shared with similar ecosystems.
  • This will help in mainstreaming conservation efforts.
• Conservation efforts shouldn't jeopardize sovereignty and preserve the right of countries to choose their path of development.
  • Sovereignty is not diluted by BRs, as they are nominated by countries themselves.
• Climate Finance with regards to adaptation must be invested in the opening of more BRs.
  • This would bolster the political will to undertake such conservation measures.
  • This would popularise environmental measures as a political tool and garner sufficient attention during elections.

Conclusion

• With an increase in area under BRs, millions of people will get hope that a better future is truly possible, one where they can truly live in harmony with nature.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Question:

Q. What are biosphere reserves? How are they different from other Protected area Networks? Suggest a suitable way forward after mentioning the challenges faced by Biosphere Reserves.