Written by Rachael Glasgow Wednesday, 17 February 2010 16:05
2010 aims to be a greener year than any before, being dubbed by the United Nations as the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB).
This year coincides with the 2010 biodiversity target adopted by countries, including Australia, which signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.
The 2010 biodiversity target was aimed at significantly reducing the rate of global biodiversity loss by this year.
The Convention on Biological Diversity’s website lists the main threats to include land clearing, climate change, the introduction of alien species and pollution. According to the CBD, an estimated 34,000 plant and 5,200 animal species face extinction due to these threats.
The aim of the IYB is to join together the international community to raise awareness of the threats to biodiversity and implications for human well-being, and to bring the issue to the forefront so that each country can assess its own success in their strategies for preserving biodiversity within the CBD.
The WA Scientific community gathered at Curtin University on Friday night for the official launch of support for the International Year of Biodiversity.
The event, hosted by Curtin and event partners Eco Education and the Science Teachers’ Association of WA, was officiated by WA’s chief scientist, Professor Lyn Beazley and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Curtin, Professor Jane den Hollander.
Prof. Beazley described current research projects aimed at finding hundreds of new species in WA and the Department of Environment and Conservation’s new eco-education program, which is providing curriculum-linked hands-on learning programs within the environment.
Prof. Beazley endorsed education as the main avenue of saving the world’s biodiversity, saying “I believe the most important group of humans on the planet are teachers.
“Education is absolutely essential, kids can even become the teachers. You’ve only got to look at the water-wise issue – kids tell their parents not to waste water and the message goes up through the levels.”
Western Australia has one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots in our South-West, the only one in Australia, and so we are not only the most at risk from biodiversity loss but are also in the prime location to increase awareness as well as benefit from the message being spread.
“We should be proud of what we have but realise the challenge to it. If we don’t have biodiversity we don’t have a healthy planet for us or any of the other creatures or animals, fungi and plants that live on it” Prof. Beazley said.
Events and celebrations marking the IYB will carry on across the globe throughout the year.
For more information on the International Year of Biodiversity visit http://www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/
