According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a reduction in biodiversity could negatively impact food security and climate change. It stated that around 80 percent of the world’s needs, including the ability of poor people to farm and earn income are derived from biological resources.
This warning was raised by Associate Vice President, Strategy and Knowledge Department, IFAD, Dr Jyotsna Puri, while speaking on a report released by IFAD on the calamity depreciating biodiversity will cause the world on fighting climate change and hunger.
Expansion in Agricultural production has been identified as the number one driver of biodiversity loss which is currently on the rise, with 1 million animal and plant species threatened with extinction, and 31 species declared extinct last year.
IFAD Partners NDDC on USD129m Job Creation Agric Project
In an effort to conserve biodiversity, IFAD announced a resolution to dedicate 30% of its climate finance to support nature-based solutions in small-scale rural agriculture by 2030. This will promote proactive conservation, management, and restoration of natural ecosystems.
Puri explained the impact of investments in biodiversity on gender equity, women and youth empowerment, and nutrition, adding that investments in protecting and enhancing ecosystems can increase benefits to small-scale farmers and the environment.
France and FAO to Partner on Climate Change
“We know that large-scale agriculture threatens biodiversity. On the other hand, small-scale farmers protect our natural resources. When biodiversity is protected, and ecosystems are healthy and diverse, farmers are more productive and more resilient to climate change.
“If development investments do not take nature into account, our money will be wasted. If we continue to lose biodiversity, the world’s most vulnerable people will not be able to adapt to climate change nor sustainably produce food’. Puri said
