2010 - International Year of Biodiversity
Encountering the dramatic loss of both biological and cultural diversity
02.06.2010 | WECF Campaign
| Issues: | Biodiversity & Food |
| Duration: | 06/2009 - 06/2010 |
The year 2010 has been declared by the United Nations as the Year of Biological Diversity. The dramatic loss of both biological and cultural diversity now underway is as serious a crisis as climate change, and the two are related. Life on earth is disappearing; of 41 thousand monitored species 16 thousand are threatened by extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. We see a dramatic genetic- species- and ecosystem biodiversity loss.
The current species extinction rate is between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than it would naturally be.
The main drivers of this loss are: converting natural areas to farming and urban development, introducing invasive alien species, polluting or over-exploiting resources including water and soils, harvesting wild plants and animals at unsustainable levels and women are especially affected.
While both men and women have strong links to biodiversity, women are often the first and most affected by environmental problems. Their voices are often marginalized. Women are not included in decision making according biodiversity, especially food, agriculture and the sustainability of agro-ecosystems. The more knowledge and control women have about the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, the better able they are to protect and preserve those resources for the future.
We want to enable women the full participation at ALL levels of policy-making and implementation for biological diversity conservation.
Twelve years ago, the network "Unser Land" started with the sustainable and local production of bread in a village in Germany called Fürstenfeldbruck. The bread that was sold was made of organic wheat that was grown way by local farmers. The grain was grinded by a local miller and the bread was baked in a local bakery. In the whole production process no artificial chemicals were used. Today, twelve years after the start of the "Unser Land" project, over a hundred products with the 'Unser Land' mark are being sold in the Bavaria region. "Unser Land" is a successful cooperation of over 200 farmers, bakers, butchers, supermarkets, churches and citizen's organizations. Together they offer locally produced organic products and promote sustainable rural development in the region. The network started with the production and sales of just one bread in one village - now it stimulates biodiversity and organic agriculture and the local economy on a regional level.
In this era, rural areas are threatened by processes like globalization and the industrialization of food production. The quality of the soil declines because of the intensification of agriculture, landscapes are being reshaped and many people leave for the cities because they cannot find a suitable job in the countryside. Initiatives like the "Unser Land" network call a halt to these negative trends. They promote a respectful attitude towards the environment, stimulate biodiversity and social cohesion in rural areas and create possibilities for employment.
WECF strives to improve the quality of life in rural areas – both in Europe as in the Caucasus and Central Asia. To do this, WECF learns from networks such as "Unser Land" and spreads innovative ideas about rural development, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity in her network. WECF uses training sessions, visits and publications to transfer knowledge and experiences between various partner organizations.
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2010 - International Year of Biodiversity
Encountering the dramatic loss of both biological and cultural diversity
02.06.2010 | WECF Campaign
