PROTECTED
AREAS FAIL TO HALT BIO DIVERSITY LOSS: ENVIRONMENT
NEWS:
Protected
Areas Failing to Halt Biodiversity Loss, New Study Reveals
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS?
A new study highlights that biodiversity is declining
faster within protected areas than outside, raising concerns about the
effectiveness of current conservation strategies.
Protected
Areas
- Definition: Areas designated to
protect ecosystems, conserve biodiversity, and benefit wildlife and human
communities.
- Purpose: Conserve natural habitats,
maintain ecological balance, and protect endangered species.
- Protected Area Network (PAN): A collection of Protected
Areas.
Key
Findings of the Study
- Study by Natural History
Museum (NHM):
Reveals that biodiversity is declining faster within Protected Areas than
outside them.
- Biodiversity Intactness
Index (BII):
Shows a global decline of 1.88 percentage points from 2000 to 2020.
- Critical Biodiversity Areas
(CBAs):
Protected CBAs show a slightly higher decline (2.1 points) than
unprotected CBAs (1.9 points).
- Implication: Protected status alone is
insufficient for biodiversity conservation.
Causes
of Biodiversity Decline in Protected Areas
- Inadequate Ecosystem
Coverage:
Focus often on specific species rather than whole ecosystems.
- Pre-Existing Degradation: Areas under ecological
stress before designation as protected.
- Resource Exploitation: Pressures from industrial
activities (e.g., oil, gas, mining); over 65% of Conkouati-Douli National
Park in Congo is occupied by oil and gas concessions.
- Climate Change: Severe impacts from
climate crises, such as wildfires and droughts, as observed in Australia’s
national parks in 2019.
Implications
for Conservation Policies
- Enhanced Management: Need for improved
management and enforcement in Protected Areas.
- Beyond Designation: Policymakers should
prioritize ecosystem-level protections.
- “30×30” Commitment: Reinforce the Biodiversity
COP15 commitment to protect 30% of the planet by 2030.
Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-protected-areas-are-seeing-faster-biodiversity-decline-9639045/