Sustainable diets and biodiversity

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1. The interlinkages between biodiversity and
   human well-being
   Biological diversity, known as biodiversity, underpins
   the well-being of society. The poor, who depend
   disproportionately on biodiversity for their subsis-
   tence needs, suffer first and most severely from its
   degradation, but we all ultimately rely on biodiver-
   sity. Growing recognition of the links between
   ecosystem services and human well-being (Figure 1).

implies that biodiversity should be a priority in na-

tional and international efforts to address health

and well-being, including nutrition and food secu-

rity, as well as gender equity and poverty reduction

in the context of sustainable development. However,

this is often not the case and the continuing failure

to recognize the value of biodiversity and its role in

underpinning ecosystem services is rapidly pushing

us towards critical tipping points, where many

ecosystems risk shifting into new states in which

the capacity to provide for the needs of present and

future generations is highly uncertain. Actions taken

over the next two decades will determine whether

the relatively stable environmental conditions on

which human civilization and well-being depends

may continue beyond this half century.

2. The 2010 targets and the status of biodiversity
   In April 2002, the Parties to the Convention on Bio-
   logical Diversity (CBD) (see http://www.cbd.int for further
   information) agreed “to achieve, by 2010, a significant
   reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss at the
   global, regional and national level as a contribution to
   poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on
   Earth”. This pledge was subsequently endorsed by
   the World Summit on Sustainable Development in
   Johannesburg later in 2002, and by the UN General
   Assembly, as well as being incorporated as a new
   target within the Millennium Development Goals
   (Goal 7b).
   The final review of progress towards the 2010 target
   was undertaken as part of the third edition of the
   Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-3) (Secretariat of
   the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2010). GBO- 3
   concluded that the 2010 target had not been met at
   the global level, despite the many actions taken in
   support of biodiversity, as the actions were not of a
   sufficient scale to address the pressures on biodi-
   versity in most places.
   Of the headline indicators used to assess progress
   towards the 2010 target, ten show trends unfavourable
   for biodiversity, while three show no clear global
   trend and only two show positive trends (Figure 2).

Figure 1. Biodiversity is affected by drivers of change and also
is a factor modifying ecosystem function. It contributes directly
and indirectly to the provision of ecosystem goods and services.
These are divided into four main categories by the Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment: goods (provisioning services) are the
products obtained from ecosystems; and cultural services
represent non-material benefits delivered by ecosystems. Both
of these are directly related to human well-being. Regulating
services are the benefits obtained from regulating ecosystem
processes. Supporting services are those necessary for the
production of all other ecosystem services (Secretariat of the
Convention on Biological Diversity, 2006).

HUMAN

WELL-BEING

Basic Material for good life

Health

Security

Good social relations

Freeand actiodom of choicn e

DIRECT DRIVERS OF

CHANGE

Climate change

Nutrient loading

Land use change

Species introduction

Overexploitation

INDIRECT DRIVERS

OF CHANGE

Demographic

Economic

Sociopolitical

Science and technology

Cultural and religious

ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES

ECOSYSTEM

FUNCTIONS

BIODIVERSITY

Number

Relative abundance

Composition

Interactions

GOODS(provisioning services)

Food, fiber and fuel

Genetic resources

Biochemicals / Fresh water

REGULATING SERVICES

Invasion resistance

Herbivory / Pollination / Seed

dispersal / Climate regulation

Pest regulation / Disease regulation

Natural hazard protection

Erosion regulation

Water purification

CULTURAL SERVICES

Spiritual and religious values

Knowledge system

Education and inspiration

Recreation and aesthetic values

SUPPORTING SERVICES

Primary production

Provision of habitat

Nutrient cycling

Soil formation and retention

Production of atmospheric oxygen

Water cycling