Week two: Ocean Conservation and Biodiversity
Ocean conservation and biodiversity are an essential foundation for the structure and functioning of ocean ecosystems, providing numerous benefits to humanity.
Ocean biodiversity is not only reflected in the number and variety of living organisms on the planet. Still, it forms the basis for the healthy functioning of ecosystems around us, which “contribute to the economic, social, cultural, and spiritual well-being of people all around the globe”.
The diversity and interplay of ocean life, from tiny plankton and bacteria to 30-metre whales and giant kelp, provides numerous visible and unseen functions beneficial to human life. These multiple benefits from the oxygen we breathe, the seafood we eat, the support of local livelihoods; the marine plants storing ‘blue’ carbon and protecting our shorelines, the medical and biochemical compounds found in marine species, and the coral reefs we explore when scuba diving and the charismatic creatures inspiring our lives show the interconnectedness of human to the ocean.
Scientifically, the oceans cover 70 per cent of the planet’s surface area, with the coastal zone serving as the interface between the land and the seas. Nevertheless, the interconnectivity of these habitats supports abundant marine life. Moreover, it sustains substantial renewable marine living resources, traditionally providing coastal communities food, medicines and employment.
Still, our needs for food, water and land, and our demands for energy and more and more stuff are destroying habitats, polluting our air and water, and driving species of animals and plants to extinction.
Revamp Rave Network held the second class of the Second Virtual Cohort Programme on Climate Change on the 14th of May 2022. The topic “Ocean Conservation and Biodiversity” was taught by Anthony Ndah — Assistant Lecturer of Integrated Coastal Management, the University of Brunei Darussalam and Olusola Adebola — Ocean Scientist and Director of Coast and Ocean Research at Nature Cares Resource Centre.
Anthony Ndah explained that ocean biodiversity regulates all life on earth through multiple complex interactions in a biodiverse ecosystem. The riverine systems play a critical role in connecting the watershed with the coastal seas, further augmenting the diversity of habitats, including mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries and seagrass beds, and marine ecosystems micro-organisms including bacteria, phytoplankton and zooplankton. These organisms and species occupy the food web base and are the foundation of the entire ecosystem structure and function. Therefore, the bottom of the food chain is the most logical starting point for biodiversity assessment and conservation as it has substantial trickle-down effects higher up the entire ecosystem.
Conserving biodiversity is essential as healthy ecosystems, interdependent webs of living organisms, and their physical environment help global biodiversity in unimaginable ways. But environmental degradation causing biodiversity loss has become the primary barrier to sustainable coastal and marine developments due to chemical pesticides.
He described Biodiversity Dashboard as a tool for assessing biodiversity using maps and graphics showing regional and national trends in biodiversity based on indicators such as Pressure on biodiversity, State of species, Conservation response, and Benefits to human populations and achieving global biodiversity goals relies on the ability to measure, visualise, and communicate both environmental trends, biodiversity trends, and the effects of conservation actions through indicators of biodiversity status at multiple spatial scales.
Direct drivers of global biodiversity loss include habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, climate change, and over-exploitation, while indirect drivers are not usually considered and are the leading cause of biodiversity loss, some of which include activities of multinational companies with misplaced energy priorities like converting maise to ethanol; skewed global agro-politics; overfishing and destructive fishing methods; foreign demand for wildlife products leading to intensifying illegal poaching; intensification of agriculture; overexploitation of developing nations; intensifying climatic changes; disregard for local knowledge and corruption.
An essential function of the ocean is how it regulates the climate, takes much of the heat coming from the solar system and helps in our everyday life. The ocean is considered the blue planet that takes up 70% of the earth’s surface and has a unique feature called saltiness.
One of the ocean’s functions is to provide a healthy ecosystem service for humans. However, when it can’t serve this function, humanity is doomed, said Mr Olusola, who took the second part of the session.
He further said the ocean contains the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth. However, our understanding and protection of these habitats and their species are lagging compared to terrestrial systems.
The 14th goal in the Sustainable Development Goal, Life below water, is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Its purpose is to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
In light of the above, managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts should include strengthening their resilience and taking action for their restoration to achieve healthy and productive oceans; minimise and address the effects of ocean acidification, including enhancing scientific cooperation of all levels; effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing; illegal, unreported and unregulated destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans to restore fish stocks.
There are various ways to achieve goal 13, and they include:
· Increasing scientific knowledge, developing research capacity and transferring marine technology to improve ocean health while enhancing marine biodiversity’s contribution to developing countries.
· Providing access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets, Enhancing the conversation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law, which provides the legal framework for conservation.
· More knowledge is needed on the long-term effects our actions have on coastal climates, especially as climate change, pollution, and human exploitation lead to rapid changes in our marine environments. Rising sea levels, land erosion, over-fishing and debris are but a few examples of issues we need to manage urgently.
The various ways nations and individuals can contribute to biodiversity is first to find out if their country has an Ocean Decade Stakeholder Committee and if they don’t advocate for the set-up of the National Ocean Decade Committee to help maintain as well as harness local and international knowledge to build sustainable ocean and coast beyond national jurisdiction.
Anticipate our closing event.
