Episode 72: Biodiversity with Dr. Paula Ehrlich (E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation)

Episode Intro Notes

Outline

• What is biodiversity?

• Why is biodiversity important - for humans and the planet?

• How has the level of biodiversity on our planet changed over time and what’s the trajectory into the future?

• What are the key drivers of biodiversity loss?

• Who is leading on this issue?

• What are notable policies or commitments around this issue that can help move the needle in a positive direction? 

• What can listeners do to help improve biodiversity? 

• Paula Ehrlich, President and CEO of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation

What is biodiversity? 

• Biodiversity is the word used to describe the variety of life on Earth at all levels. It encompasses every living thing - not just animals and plants, but also down to microorganisms like bacteria and fungi - some even too small to see with the naked eye.

• So how varied is life on earth right now? According to National Geographic, scientists estimate there are over 8.7 million species of plants and animals that exist on the planet.

• However only about 14% of those, or about 1.2 million, have been identified so far. Safe to say there is a lot more finding of species to do.

• Also interesting to note here, the most diverse group of living organisms that have been found are insects. Over 900,000 of the 1.2 million species are insects. 

• The variety of life on earth is more pronounced in some areas of the world. These areas have been dubbed biodiversity “hotspots”. Biodiversity hotspots make up about 2.3 percent of Earth’s land surface, but 44 percent of the world’s plants and 35 percent of land vertebrates live in these regions. There are over 30 recognized biodiversity hotspots in the world, and they include the Andes Mountains Tropical Hotspot and the New Zealand archipelago.

• In addition to these elevated levels of biodiversity, many of them are home to endemic species, which are species found in one area. 

• Unfortunately though, as some of the best sources of biodiversity and natural resources, these hotspots are often some of the most exploited ecosystems in the world. 

Why is biodiversity important - for humans and the planet? 

• Nature is a complex system and as many scientists point out, biodiversity is critical to that system. Certain species rely on others for their survival. That means that if we take out one species, it could have a domino effect on other ones. 

• We’ll link in our intro notes to 2018 research from University of Exeter researchers that found there is a higher risk of “extinction cascades” when other species are not present to fill the "gap" created by the loss of a species.

• Then there’s the research released in December 2022 that used one of Europe’s most powerful super computers to create synthetic Earths complete with virtual species and more than 15,000 food webs to predict the interconnected fate of species that will likely disappear from the ravages of climate and land-use changes. The model incorporates the effects of cascading extinction and finds that Earth will lose some 10% of its animals and plants by 2050 and 27% by 2100.

• This idea that taking out species can have a detrimental effect on the whole was represented powerfully at a recent United Nations meeting on biodiversity with a huge jenga tower (we’ll talk more about that UN meeting in a little bit). You can take out pieces. And for a while, it remains standing. But scientists don’t really understand which combination of blocks that get removed from that tower are going to totally destabilize it and make it collapse. What we do know is that the more we remove, the more unstable the tower becomes.

• If biodiversity vanishes, in addition to the negative impacts on ecosystems, we might limit our own advancement.To illustrate this importance let’s think about the ways nature has helped humanity.

• For one, biodiversity underpins many things we rely on (think food, water, and oxygen). In fact, half of the world’s GDP is dependent on natural resources. This means that about $44 trillion of economic value across the globe relies on nature and its interconnectedness.

• A big part of that economic value is driven by food production and to do that you need pollinators.

• Unfortunately, one study showed that the relative abundance of five bumblebee species has declined by 96 percent. As a result, farmers have had to use domesticated bees, honeybees, to pollinate crops. And now even these bees are seeing huge losses in population numbers.

• One reason is due to neonicotinoid use. Check out episode #3 for more information on that.

• Also notable with food production is we’ve homogenized our crops to be more efficient. But of course with less diversity of crops, one disease can have a serious detrimental impact.

• Here’s another potential benefit to humanity we could lose. There are likely potential treatments and technology that exist in nature that we have yet to discover. Currently, it is estimated that nature has inspired over 13,000 patented designs across various industries. 

• Often, biologic and nature inspired design is the basis of many new technological innovations.

• We covered this topic previously in episode 44 on biomimicry.

• The medical field specifically has benefited greatly from the variety of life on earth. Biodiversity offers many prospective sources for new medicine development and treatments. 

• Aspirin, for example, one of the most common drugs, can be linked back to the use of the bark of willow trees for pain relief. Thousands of years ago willow bark was used in traditional medicine and in the 1800s it was discovered that the bark produces the active ingredient salicin. This ingredient became the basis of the aspirin we use today to treat pain and even prevent strokes. 

• To conclude this section on the importance of biodiversity, we want to pass along something that we heard on a recent New York Times The Daily podcast episode on biodiversity. In that episode, they said the climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe believes climate change presents a near-term threat to the future of human civilization, while the biodiversity crisis presents a longer term threat to the viability of the human species.

• In other words, in a shorter term, climate change is a huge threat to order in the world and governments being able to function, while biodiversity in the longer term threatens our continued existence as a species. Heavy stuff.

How has the level of biodiversity on our planet changed over time and what’s the trajectory into the future? 

• Well, sorry to say that Jay/Scott, you dear definers, and all other humans haven’t been so great for biodiversity. As humans have become the most dominant species on the planet, we’ve caused ecosystem level change, which in turn has resulted in the relatively rapid loss of biodiversity across the globe. 

• Many scientists today say that we are in a period of mass extinction, which is where 75% or more species are lost.

• There’s been five such mass extinctions in the history of Earth, all due to natural reasons (e.g., asteroid, earthquake). The last one is when we lost the dinosaurs. This would be the first man-made one.

• Why are some saying we’re in a mass extinction? Well let’s consider some data from The World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report, which is published every two years. The most recent Living Planet Report, published in the fall of 2022, shockingly noted that on average there has been a 69% drop in monitored global vertebrate wildlife populations since 1970. 

• The most steep drop has been in Latin America and the Caribbean, which the same study says has had its abundance of wildlife fall 94% since 1970. That’s absurd.

• Here’s another crazy stat. On a recent 60 minutes piece on the extinction crisis, Stanford biologist Tony Barnosky said that the current rate of extinction is 100 times the normal rate over Earth’s history. He said that we know the Earth’s rate of extinction due to the fossil record, which he called “rock solid” (we see what you did there Mr. Barnosky).

• We’ve seen elsewhere that the current extinction rate is 100 to 1000 times what it was before 1800.

• The high level of extinction is set to continue without significant action. 

• In 2019, the United Nations Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) published an assessment of biodiversity changes in the past 50 years and confirmed potential scenarios for the future. A key statistic from the report is that around 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, many within decades, more than ever before in human history. 

• The biodiversity crisis has people worried. In 2022, the World Economic Forum released the 17th edition of “The Global Risks Report,” which featured insights from surveying 1000 global experts and leaders. The 2022 report ranks biodiversity loss as one of the top three most severe risks in the next ten years.

What are the key drivers of biodiversity loss? 

• The short answer is human consumption and other human activities harm Earth’s ecosystems and play a significant role in the rapid changes in biodiversity.

• But let’s break down the causes. We’ll do that with the help of the United Nations IPBES report mentioned earlier. It ranked the top direct drivers of nature loss and impact. So let’s dive in: 

1. Changes in land and sea use - The loss of and conversion of forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems for alternative uses, like agriculture, housing, or roads, is a leading cause of biodiversity loss.

• In fact, 75% of life on land has been “severely altered” due to human action. These alterations have and will continue to worsen biodiversity loss.

• These changes to the land and sea are only going to accelerate as more people seek to live like the developed world. We're already consuming 175% of what the Earth can regenerate. And that’s with half of humanity, about four billion people, living on less than $10 a day. 

2. Exploitation of organisms - Direct exploitation of species could include activities like hunting or tree cutting. Or it could involve the use of animals and plants for their positive benefits. Like consuming them or using them to create medicines or within products. When exploited unsustainably, biodiversity and ecosystem stability is threatened. 

• Over exploitation is often mentioned when talking about key and iconic species like the rhinoceros, elephants, and sharks. Due to trophy hunting, poaching, and the cultural uses of these animals, many of them are close to extinction. 

• The shark fin trade, for example, has reduced some global shark populations by 90%. As a result, about 25% of all shark and ray species are in danger. 

• Another astonishing statistic: It is estimated that in Africa, more than 11,000 rhinos have been poached since 2008 due to demand for their horns. Because of this, populations of rhino have severely declined, and it is estimated that there are only about 29,000 rhinos in the wild. 

• But we also encourage you to check out the Radiolab episode “The Rhino Hunter.” It talks about Namibia’s strategy to sell permits to shoot old male black rhinos that are likely going to harm other rhinos as a way to fund their conservation. It says in the episode, “Since trophy hunting of the black rhino was legalized, that population has grown by like 30%.” Of course, not all conservationists like this approach. It’s an interesting episode/debate!

3. Climate change - Climate change has of course raised average global temperatures and has already begun to affect nature in many ways. Impacts on nature are likely to escalate due to increased negative climate events and changes to ecosystems. 

• There is even research that suggests that climate change is having effects on many species by causing them to evolve more quickly. These genetic adaptations could affect natural evolutionary patterns and thus could affect the fates of some species. 

4. Pollution - Pollution can be particularly damaging to freshwater and marine habitats. Use of chemicals, runoff pollution and waste, such as plastic pollution, has increased over time, affecting the species that call waters home.  

5. And last, but not least, Invasive Species - Invasive species are organisms that have entered into an environment that is not their natural habitat. These species often have negative impacts on native animals and plants, which affects the natural balance of the ecosystem. Invasive species have contributed to 40% of all animal extinctions.  

• One example of an invasive species causing extensive damage to ecosystems is the zebra mussel. These mussels attach themselves to boats gaining a free ride to other ecosystems. Once there, they outcompete the native species for space and food, and once established, they are very hard to remove. They reproduce rapidly and often eat all of the microorganisms, like plankton from the area. This causes the entire ecosystem to suffer. By taking the food from the other animals, those populations shrink and have an effect on the entire system. 

Who is leading on this issue? 

• One notable organization that comes to mind on biodiversity is the international non-governmental organization (NGO) World Wildlife Fund, or WWF. It was founded in 1961 with the goal of protecting places and species affected by human development. WWF helps local communities across the planet conserve critical natural resources, advocate for more sustainable policies, and protect and restore species and habitats across the globe. The organization has an impressive record of accomplishment through its work in over 100 countries and is the world’s largest conservation organization.  

• You’ve likely seen the iconic WWF Panda Logo at some point. Which, fun fact, was created in 1961 and based on a real-life endangered Panda, Chi Chi, housed at the London Zoo starting in 1958. At the time, Chi Chi was the only panda that lived in the Western World.  

• Conservation International, another international NGO, is “committed to protecting nature in all its forms for the benefit of everyone on earth”. They have been around since 1987 and have worked to protect nature in more than 70 countries. Much of their work lately has involved climate change, protecting the oceans, and promoting what they call “planet-positive” economies. 

• With the help of partner organizations, Conservation International reported their work has supported the conservation of a little more than 200 million acres of land.  

• The Center for Biodiversity & Conservation. It was created in 1993 by the American Museum of Natural History found in New York City. This organization was created to contribute scientific and educational resources for the public. The Center works at the local, regional, and international level to not only research and educate on the conservation of biological and cultural diversity, but also to apply the knowledge in the field through actionable conservation solutions through partnership and collaboration. 

• The work and research of the center has spurred global conservation actions. Their findings, for example, led to the creation of a grizzly bear sanctuary on the Pacific Coast and helped Vietnam create its first National Primate Conservation Action Plan.

• These are just a few examples of organizations in this area. There are many more doing the work to protect biodiversity. To do their jobs effectively however, there is one thing that all of these organizations will need: money. 

• $154 billion is spent each year on actions to protect and manage nature. Most of this money is spent by governments across the globe. Only about 17% of current spending on nature comes from the private sector.

• The UN reports that more financial investment is needed to make an impact globally. The organization estimates that we need to double our current investments to $348 billion each year by 2025 to reform industries and make the impact that is needed on climate change, nature, and ecosystem loss.

• We also saw an estimate of needing $700 billion a year.

What are notable policies or commitments around this issue that can help move the needle in a positive direction? 

• While many of the listeners may be familiar with the term COP (Conference of Parties) as it relates to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, there’s another Conference of the Parties associated with the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This COP is an every other year meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. 

• The CBD is the international legal instrument for "the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources." It has been ratified by 196 nations.

• Notably, the United States has not ratified it. The only other holdout is the Vatican. The U.S. ratifying it would require two-thirds of the Senate to approve it, and there hasn’t been enough Republicans to ratify it since the early 1990s when the CBD was drafted with input from the United States. Some argue that the lack of ratification de-prioritizes the issue for the United States and means less support is being provided to other countries on their conservation strategies.

• Critics of the CBD point out that it set targets in 2010 for 2020 that were not met. Still, among other achievements, CBD has pushed countries to create national biodiversity strategies and to expand their networks of protected areas.

• Just a couple months ago, new goals were set at the 15th Meeting of the COP on Biological Diversity (COP15), as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was negotiated. This landmark Framework includes four overarching goals and 23 action-based targets with the goal of protecting life on Earth. This framework aims to achieve the set targets by 2025 to set the stage for further action by 2030. 

• One target of note within the Framework is the 30 by 30 pledge. It says that countries aligned to the Framework will work to protect 30% of both land and water by 2030.

• This may sound super ambitious, and it is, but already 17 percent of the land across the planet is considered to be protected.

• Importantly, protecting the land doesn’t mean that it can’t be used. It just means there are restrictions in place so the land is used in a sustainable way.

• Notably, 100 countries had signed up for this pledge before COP15 even started. 

• While the United States has not ratified CBD, the U.S. is aligned with this pledge given its initiative called “America the Beautiful”. This pledge aims to conserve 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030.  

• Currently 12% of American land is permanently protected, so there will need to be a lot of effort in the next few years to make this 30% pledge a reality.

• So will protecting land like this truly help biodiversity? The 60 Minutes piece we mentioned highlighted the work of the Mexican ecologist Gerardo Ceballos that shows the power of conserving land. He’s created a 3,000 square mile biosphere in Guatemala by paying family farmers more to stop cutting the forests than they would get from farming it. So with money from wealthy donors, he pays each family $1,000 a year, which is $2,000 per square mile. He’s seen some impressive results. The jaguar was nearly extinct in Mexico and now there are 600 in the reserve. 

• We’ll see how things play out with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Meeting its targets would require very quickly reforming, among other things, agriculture, forestry, and fishing in major ways. It’s not legally binding so it’s more of a name and shame thing to get countries to act. And as with climate change, there’s the issue of how much developed countries are going to pay developing countries to help them with this.

• The CBD is on a large international scale, while of course there’s smaller scale work and successes to explore.

• We found a nice UN Environment Programme article from May 2022 titled “Here’s How Five Countries are Reviving Biodiversity.” One example they talk about is greening farms in Zambia. Agroforestry systems, which combine crops with trees, support biodiversity. Now hundreds of small farmers in Zambia’s Copperbelt province are receiving training and tools in return for letting indigenous trees grow on their land. The WeForest project provides families with better and more diversified livelihoods, such as beekeeping, which cuts their dependence on the charcoal business degrading local miombo woodlands.

What can listeners do to help improve biodiversity? 

• Make efforts to protect and conserve natural areas, by respecting local habitats and participating in habitat restoration and other conservation actions. 

• This includes setting up your own pollinator garden. For more on pollinators, check out episode 53.

• Work to improve environmental policies at all levels. While we mentioned earlier some of the large-scale organizations that are doing biodiversity and conservation work, there are likely local and more grassroots organizations near you that could use your support. 

• If your local government doesn’t have a biodiversity strategy and action plan, that is something you could push to be developed.

• You could also ask your local government to do like New York City did and adopt a Native Plant Law. This law promotes biodiversity through mandating the use of native plants in public landscapes.

• Plant and support plants native to your area. Since they are native, they are naturally destined to thrive there and will require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides than other plants. These plants also support the local wildlife and habitats that are native to your location, strengthening the local landscapes.

• You can also reduce the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals used in lawn care and at home. This will prevent them from entering the ecosystem and causing harm. 

• Understand the products you consume and the practices used to produce them. Products that are FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council), Regenerative Organic Certified, or Rainforest Alliance Certified can help give some credibility to how the products were sourced in a more sustainable manner. 

Expert guest

• Paula Ehrlich is the President and CEO of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. In this position, she oversees the Foundation’s broad activities to foster a knowing stewardship of our world through biodiversity research and education initiatives that promote and inform worldwide protection of biodiversity.

• Paula is in charge of the Foundation’s signature initiative–the Half-Earth Project. This project seeks to conserve half the Earth and protect 85% or more of species, including ourselves. 

• The Half-Earth Project builds on E.O. Wilson’s book Half-Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life. E.O. Wilson was a Harvard Professor and a pioneer in spearheading efforts to preserve and protect the biodiversity of Earth.

• Dr. Ehrlich has more than 30 years of strategic scientific management and research expertise, and diverse academic, non-profit, and corporate leadership experience.