International day: UN Secretary General calls for halt to biodiversity loss to protect access to ecosystem services which help to eradicate poverty

The key to securing the welfare of current and future generations is protecting the rich diversity of life on earth.
 
As the world’s governments prepare to adopt a new set of sustainable development goals at a high level UN summit later this year. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has renewed calls for the international community to commit to reducing the rate of biodiversity loss. Speaking on International day under the 2015 theme ‘Biodiversity for Sustainable Development’ he stated that ‘protecting ecosystems and ensuring access to ecosystem services by poor and vulnerable groups are essential to eradicating extreme poverty and hunger’
 
The globally adopted Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and it’s Aichi Biodiversity Targets will provide a model for member states to use when considering how they will implement the post 2015 sustainable development agenda. Biodiversity plays an essential role in the life support system on earth underpinning ecosystem functions and benefits that we all rely on for our economies, health, food security, prevention of natural hazards and cultural roots.  
 
Sustainable use of biodiversity and in particular reducing deforestation and land degradation and enhancing carbon stocks can also provide solutions to our biggest sustainability challenges, including, food and water security, climate change and natural disaster risk reduction which particularly affect the world’s poorest communities.