Biodiversity and Climate Change
The issue of climate change is in line with the extinction of biodiversity. Whether we realize it or not, the biodiversity around us is decreasing. Maybe in the past we would easily find insects such as dragonflies, butterflies or bees around us. Currently, it will be difficult for us to find dragonflies around our homes, especially those of us who live in urban areas or around big cities. On a larger scale in several small islands, increasing temperatures as a result of climate change cause sea levels to rise so that several land areas/small islands sink and can wipe out endemic species on the islands.
According to the 2019 Global Assessment report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), it is known that one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. This is the highest number in human history1. Apart from that, the Living Planet Report in 2020 revealed that there has been an average decline of 68% in the global population of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians since 19702. This loss of biodiversity illustrates how interconnected everything is.
Before going any further, we need to know what biodiversity is. According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), biodiversity means "the entire diversity of creatures displayed in an area, starting from genetic diversity, types and ecosystems". In English, biodiversity is referred to as Biodiversity, which is an abbreviation of Biological Diversity, which has a similar meaning to that in Indonesian, namely "life on Earth, starting from a very small level such as microbes to a more complex level such as a rainforest"3. Broadly speaking, biodiversity also includes interactions between one living creature and other living things.
It is estimated that there are currently between 8 and 20 million species of living things (animals, plants and fungi) on Earth. Until now there is much that is unknown about these species. Only about 2 million species have been identified and named. 4. The diversity of living things on earth has continued to change throughout the history of the earth's formation. One of the factors that drives changes in biodiversity is abiotic factors such as air content, water content, temperature, changes in sea level height, and what really influences it is climate change. These things are still ongoing today.
Biodiversity has an important role for the environment and humans. One of the roles of biodiversity is to support ecosystem health. Several insects and other living creatures play a role in pollinating plants which directly plays a role in forest regeneration. Indirectly, biodiversity can also affect human health. Damage to ecosystems or forest cover makes it easier for outbreaks to spread5. Based on research by Griscom et,al (2017),
Biodiversity is an important part of the climate change solution. In this research, it is known that biodiversity can provide at least 30% of the emissions reductions needed by 2030 to prevent climate disaster6.
Biodiversity is also related to identity and culture in society. Like bird species that are symbols of a country or the people of a region. And what many of us don't realize is that biodiversity also has a positive impact on economic conditions. Millions of people still depend on nature and biodiversity for their daily needs, especially in developing countries. Where nature and biodiversity are the main sources of food, fuel, medicine and several other products.
One of the efforts currently being developed to help reduce the impact of climate change and biodiversity is the biodiversity credit system. ‘Biodiversity credit’ is an economic instrument used to finance activities that provide positive benefits for biodiversity. Voluntary biodiversity credits can help the private and public sectors to achieve an economic system that is positive for nature and must have transparent governance. 7. To achieve transparent governance, one way that can be done is by involving indigenous peoples and local communities. Biodiversity credit must also have added value (additionality), last in the long term (permanence), and through strict measurement, reporting and verification so that no leakage occurs.
When this article was written, several standards were developing methodologies that could be applied to biodiversity credit. Respectively, Plan Vivo and VCS Verra are currently developing a methodology for biodiversity credit. Plan Vivo develops biodiversity credits under the name PV Nature, while VCS Verra develops SDVISt Nature. These methodologies were developed to provide new funding options for anyone with a desire to protect and restore nature. These two standards are one of Gaia's references in developing activities for the protection and sustainable use of nature.
Seeing the current environmental conditions and the impacts that occur due to climate change, it is time to take steps. Biodiversity loss and rising temperatures could be even worse than now if real changes are not made immediately. The contribution of each individual will provide great benefits, especially if done together.
Achmad Alifianto/ Biodiversity Conservation Specialist Gaia Indonesia
