Arnold Letsholo

Around one million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction due to human activities, posing a serious threat to life on Earth, journalists attending a workshop on Biodiversity Loss, Environmental Degradation and Solutions in Maun have been told.

Presenting an overview of global biodiversity status and the Botswana context, Professor Olekae Tsompe Thakadu said biodiversity was declining at an unprecedented rate, with far-reaching consequences for ecosystems and human well-being.

He noted that 75 per cent of terrestrial environments have been significantly altered, with forests, grasslands and other ecosystems increasingly fragmented by agriculture, roads and human settlements.

Professor Thakadu added that 66 per cent of marine environments are under growing pressure from overfishing, pollution and habitat loss. He further highlighted that wetlands such as marshes, river deltas and papyrus swamps have declined dramatically, with 85 per cent lost since 1700.

“Vertebrate populations have declined by an average of 73 per cent since 1970,” he said.

According to Professor Thakadu, the presentation sought to help participants understand global biodiversity trends, interpret Botswana’s biodiversity status, identify drivers of biodiversity loss and apply solutions-oriented journalism in their reporting.

He identified five major drivers of biodiversity loss.

The first is land-use change through the conversion of natural habitats into agricultural land, urban areas and infrastructure. The second is overexploitation, including unsustainable hunting, fishing, logging and wildlife trade.

The third driver is climate change, which manifests through rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events. The fourth is pollution, including contamination of land, water and air from chemicals, plastics and waste.

The fifth driver is the spread of invasive alien species, which outcompete native species, prey on them or introduce diseases into ecosystems.

“Biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate, threatening ecosystem stability, ecosystem services and human well-being worldwide,” Professor Thakadu said.

He explained that biodiversity trends can be assessed through three dimensions: genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.

On genetic diversity, he said habitat fragmentation is reducing genetic variation, while traditional crop varieties and livestock breeds are increasingly being lost. This, he warned, reduces the ability of species to adapt to climate change, pests and diseases, ultimately weakening resilience and adaptive capacity.

Regarding species diversity, Professor Thakadu said species loss is accelerating, with extinction rates estimated to be between 100 and 1,000 times higher than natural levels. More than 40 per cent of amphibian species are threatened, while about one-third of corals and marine mammals face similar risks.

These declines are being driven by land-use change, overexploitation, climate change, pollution and invasive species, increasing the risk of extinction worldwide.

On ecosystem diversity, he said ecosystems are becoming increasingly degraded, fragmented and converted to other uses. As a result, critical ecosystem services such as food production, water regulation, climate regulation and biodiversity conservation are declining globally.

The result, he said, is reduced ecosystem functioning and diminished human well-being.

Professor Thakadu warned that if current trends continue, biodiversity loss will intensify through 2050, with the greatest impacts expected in Africa, South America and Asia.

He said climate change, habitat loss, overuse of natural resources, pollution and invasive species would put coral reefs, freshwater ecosystems and genetic diversity among biodiversity’s most vulnerable components.

He said the consequences include reduced food security, lost livelihoods, declining ecosystem services, and weakened climate resilience.

As pathways to recovery, Professor Thakadu recommended ecosystem restoration, sustainable resource management and nature-based solutions. He also called for stronger environmental policies to support the global 2050 vision of “Living in Harmony with Nature.”