A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN OUR HANDS - To Parent Directory

Natural resourcespolar bears. It is anticipated there will be a population reductionof at least 30% over the next 45 years as a result. Other threatsto the population include pollution, disturbance from shipping,recreational viewing, oil and gas exploration and development, andthe potential risk of over-hunting, both legal and illegal.In many countries around the world the need for a change ofapproach is recognised. At the end of last year 16.4 million hectares,an area the size of Portugal and Ireland put together, wasgiven protected status in the north of Brazil. The new protectedareas form the world’s largest conservation corridor, connectingthem to what was, until now, the biggest conservation area in theAmazon. This status will provide protection from illegal logging,soya farming and mining.A convention on biodiversity was signed by 150 government leadersat the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. It recognises that biologicaldiversity is about more than plants, animals and micro-organismsand their ecosystems – it is about people and our need for foodsecurity, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean andhealthy environment in which to live.However, action taken voluntarily, such as the International WhalingCommission’s moratorium which aims to protect whales fromthe devastating consequences of industrial whaling, can be alltoo easily overturned. The moratorium is fragile and needs tobe rigorously defended against challenges notably from Norway,Iceland and Japan.Laws are needed. Cooperation to identify what must be doneand to make sure that targets are met is also vital: this is wherethe EU steps in.039