Subscribe
Subscribe
Home » biodiversity
Tag:

biodiversity

EnvironmentLatest News

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Announces Discovery of Five New Species

by rachel
written by rachel

In a significant move to promote and advance research on biodiversity, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve announced it has identified five species new to global science; the Hejaz black-collared snake (Rhynchocalamus hejazicus), a gecko (Hemidactylus sp) marked by brown stripes and white nodules, and three plants – a globe thistle, a mignonette, and a hogbean.

The Reserve recorded three new species new to Saudi Arabia and extended the known global range of 34 more. These outcomes, the result of four years of field work by Saudi and international experts, increase the total number of species documented in the Reserve to 791. The Reserve only covers 1 per cent of the Kingdom’s terrestrial area, but it is home to more than half of Saudi Arabia’s terrestrial species, highlighting its importance as a refuse for biodiversity in a changing climate.

“At a moment in time when the IUCN has warned that 28 per cent of species globally are now at risk of extinction these discoveries are significant”, said Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the Reserve. “They reaffirm the importance of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve as a bioclimatic refuge, particularly as climate change is increasingly impacting the customary habitats of many of these species.”

“Testament to this is the Reserve’s iconic Wadi Al-Disah, with its 200+ species, a key site on the UNESCO World Heritage Bioclimatic Refugia of Western Arabia tentative list. None of this would have been possible without the strong collaboration of natural scientists from the Kingdom and 14 other countries with the Reserve over the last 4 years to conduct multi-season field surveys.”

Among the five species new to science are two reptiles and three plants, each with unique ecological and cultural significance. The gecko (Hemidactylus sp.), currently undergoing DNA analysis, features striking brown horizontal stripes from neck to tail and white nodules along its back. This gecko preys on small invertebrates like mosquitoes, playing an essential role in pest control within desert ecosystems.

The Hejaz black-collared snake (Rhynchocalamus hejazicus) is a small, non-venomous species that is bright red with a distinctive black collar. 

The three new plants to science are; the globe thistle (Echinops sp. aff. glaberrimus) from the Asteraceae family. It produces vibrant blooms that support pollinators and promote ecosystem health. Historically, it has been used medicinally to treat infections and inflammations. The mignonette, (Reseda sp. aff. muricata), known for its herbal properties, is often used in teas and perfumery. In contrast, the hogbean (Hyoscyamus sp.) from the Nightshade family has a more complex history, having been used both as a poison and in early anesthesiology and palliative care.

Since 2021, the Reserve has partnered with organisations like KAUST to conduct seasonal ecological surveys that record the diversity of species and highlight seasonal variations across taxonomical groups. To date, the surveys have identified 791 terrestrial species, including 461 plant species, of which three are new to science, one is new to Saudi Arabia, and 11 represent global range extensions. The surveys also recorded 240 bird species, including seven global range extensions, 18 bat species, 31 rodent and large mammal species, one amphibian, one freshwater fish, and 39 reptile species.

“The Reserve’s vast size and ecological diversity presented challenges in establishing a baseline”, said Josh Smithson, the Reserve’s lead Senior Advisor Wildlife Ecologist. “To address this, we adopted a phased approach, starting with higher-value ecological areas and progressively expanding study sites. Eco-monitoring programmes now augment this baseline work, allowing us to better understand ecological functionality and diversity while informing Reserve management plans.”

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has published four peer-reviewed academic papers on its biodiversity to date, with four more awaiting publication. The Reserve is committed to sharing its findings with the local and global scientific and conservation community.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
EnvironmentLatest News

Conservation Efforts Fail to Protect Most Critical Ecosystems, Finds New Analysis

by Madaline Dunn
written by Madaline Dunn

Biodiversity intactness in protected areas is declining faster than in non-protected areas, according to new analysis from the Natural History Museum (NHM).  

The findings, published last week, underline the importance of revising the approach to conservation efforts as world leaders gather at the Conference of Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity (COP16) this month. 

In 2022, the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was signed by parties of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to conserve 30 per cent of land and water by 2030, known as the ’30by30′ target.  

However, NHM analysis, carried out using the Museum’s Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII), found that only 22 per cent of areas rich in biodiversity and delivering the most critical ecosystem services are protected.  

The Biodiversity Intactness Index is an estimated percentage of the original number of species and their remaining abundance in any given area, despite human impacts.  

The findings revealed that in areas delivering the most critical ecosystem services that are not protected, biodiversity has declined by an average 1.91 percentage points between 2000 and 2020. Areas that are currently “protected” are also suffering faster rates of biodiversity loss, with a decrease of 2.12 percentage points. 

“We need to move beyond the current approach to designating protected areas and place more emphasis on the quality of those areas, their effective management and the value they return for people and nature,” said NHM in a press release.   

The NHM also launched a call for action, providing recommendations for the implementation of 30by30. This included: 

  • Alongside species protection, more attention needs to be paid to land conservation in areas with the most critical ecosystem services for people. 
  • Develop a more dynamic and monitored process whereby areas can be ‘managed up’ to a state of greater resilience. 
  • Increasing capacity at both national and international levels to monitor and model biodiversity change in a timely, thorough and meaningful way.  
0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
EnvironmentOpinion

The Biodiversity Crisis Is a Security Crisis

by Madaline Dunn
written by Madaline Dunn

Our long-term prosperity and the well-being of future generations are in jeopardy, as biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems not only threaten our environment, but also raise risks for the economy, public health, national security, and global stability. At the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, currently taking place in Cali, Colombia, leaders must finally meet this crisis with the level of political commitment and funding that it warrants.

Biodiversity is often understood in terms of the variety of life on Earth – the number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. Its significance cannot be overstated. Biodiversity underpins the ecosystem services that sustain human life, such as water purification, flood control, and climate regulation. The rapid decline of species and ecosystems – one million plant and animal species are on the brink of extinction – thus amounts to an existential threat.

If left unaddressed, biodiversity loss will accelerate climate change and amplify its consequences, contributing to more natural disasters and market shocks. It will also leave our agricultural systems increasingly vulnerable to hazards – from pests and pathogens to extreme weather – and deplete the ocean of critical fish stocks. This will affect both the price and availability of food, causing scarcity in the Global South and compounding insecurity in already-fragile societies.

These trends will leave a growing number of people with little choice but to flee their homes in search of better living conditions. According to the Institute for Economics and Peace, natural disasters and other ecological threats could displace as many as 1.2 billion people by 2050. These “environmental refugees” could destabilize destination countries, strain international relations, and challenge security frameworks. As the planet’s total habitable area shrinks, and competition for resources grows, conflict will become all but inevitable.

Biodiversity loss also threatens public health, which is inextricably linked to the ecosystems that surround us. Many diseases – including emerging infectious diseases such as mpox – can be tied directly to changes in biodiversity.As the destruction of habitats forces wildlife into closer contact with human populations, the risk of zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 rises.

To prevent such a future, all countries must recognize biodiversity loss as a security issue. This means integrating biodiversity considerations into defense and foreign policymaking. And it means financing the response – including investments in practices that protect ecosystems, and ambitious measures to address the root causes of biodiversity loss, such as habitat destruction and climate change – as robustly as they would for any other security crisis.

It is estimated that tackling the biodiversity crisis will require an additional $700 billion per year by 2030. Fortunately, at the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15), world leaders agreed to close this gap by phasing out or repurposing harmful subsidies worth $500 billion and raising the remaining $200 billion. Financing from developed economies to their developing counterparts is supposed to reach at least $20 billion per year by 2025 and at least $30 billion per year by 2030.

That might seem like a lot, but it is peanuts compared to the cost of inaction. According to projections by the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford, the shocks to the global economy caused by biodiversity loss and ecosystem damage could cost as much as $5 trillion over just five years. The world’s biodiversity-financing needs are also dwarfed by its current defense spending, which totaled $2.24 trillion in 2022. Since investing in nature amounts to one of the most cost-effective long-term defense strategies, it should be embraced by the world’s major defense spenders, beginning with the United States.

As with any good security strategy, finance must be paired with international cooperation. The consequences of biodiversity loss know no borders. Countries must work together to protect critical habitats, enforce environmental regulations, and promote sustainable development practices.

As such, multilateral groups, such as the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, should continue to take the lead in forging international agreements and action plans that establish biodiversity conservation as a cornerstone of global security. Policymakers must continue to focus on working to meet the biodiversity framework’s “30×30” target, by encouraging and facilitating government action to protect 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030. Furthermore, members from the Global North should increase financial support for countries in the Global South to implement necessary designations, specifically by meeting their commitment to deliver at least $20 billion of nature finance annually by 2025.

Finally, we must engage and inform the public. Education and awareness campaigns that explain the importance of protecting biodiversity can empower individuals and communities to advocate for policies that protect our natural resources, thereby helping to generate the necessary political will.

If an enemy state threatened the economy, public health, national security, and global stability, we would throw everything we had at it to defend ourselves. The biodiversity crisis is no different.

By Hailemariam Desalegn, a former prime minister of Ethiopia.

© Project Syndicate 1995–2024

For more op-eds, head here.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
EnvironmentLatest News

Visa, Emirates Nature-WWF Launch Shu’a Project

by Madaline Dunn
written by Madaline Dunn

Multinational payment card services corporation Visa has expanded its partnership with environment charity Emirates Nature-WWF this week to launch the Shu’a project.

According to Emirates Nature-WWF, Shu’a, or Arabian Moringa, is a fast-growing tree with low water needs that thrives in the UAE’s mountains and serves to enhance soil quality, prevent erosion, and support pollinators, boosting biodiversity and carbon absorption.

Shu’a has nutrient-rich leaves and tubers, and its seeds yield oil, which is suitable for both cosmetics and cooking.

The partnership reportedly builds on earlier efforts to plant Shu’a trees in collaboration with Visa employees and local communities, and aims to incentivise the cultivation of Shu’a trees at commercial scale.

“According to our Sustainable Commerce Study 2023, 63% of consumers in the GCC view sustainability as a leading societal challenge. In response, our partnership with Emirates Nature-WWF on the Shu’a project highlights Visa’s commitment to supporting sustainable farming practices and diversifying livelihoods, which benefits people, the planet, and the economy,” said Carl Manlan, Vice President of Inclusive Impact and Sustainability, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), Visa.

The partnership comes against a backdrop of unprecedented biodiversity decline as a result of human activity, with land degradation and habitat loss major drivers of this crisis.

Indeed, the WWF’s Living Planet Report 2024 reports a 73 per cent decline in wildlife populations in just over 50 years.  

The environmental charity outlined that regionally, the Hajar Mountains in the eastern UAE have been particularly impacted by overgrazing, quarrying, and construction, leading to local extinctions and habitat fragmentation.

“The cultivation of native Shu’a trees can be regarded a model Nature-based Solution that utilizes nature to address biodiversity loss, climate change and societal challenges. Our partnership with Visa has enabled us to lift this concept off the ground and enter the feasibility stage, moving us much closer towards the market transformation of our food systems,” commented Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General, Emirates Nature-WWF.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
DevelopingEnvironment

COP16: Private Sector Key to Global Nature Conservation Mission

by Madaline Dunn
written by Madaline Dunn

Governments, experts, environmental activists and Indigenous groups are convening in Cali, Colombia, this month for the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)— also known as COP16.  

Held every two years, this year’s summit comes under the theme “Peace with Nature 2024,” where delegates will discuss both biodiversity progress and challenges.  

The summit, which kicked off Monday and runs until November 1, comes against a backdrop of an intensifying triple planetary crisis and news that the world is lagging on its biodiversity targets.  

Biodiversity in Severe Decline 

According to the United Nations, the Earth’s biodiversity is in severe decline, with up to a million species threatened with extinction. If the world fails to put the breaks on emissions, many of these species will disappear completely within decades. 

Indeed ecosystems and habitats home to many of these species are being rapidly wiped out.  Wetlands are highlighted as facing the brunt of this. Around 85 per cent of these ecosystems, such as salt marshes and mangrove swamps, have already disappeared. 

According to the UN, human activity is one of the driving forces behind this destruction. From the degradation of natural habitats for large-scale food production to human-caused climate change, which has sent global temperatures skyrocketing, threatening species’ existence and forcing them to migrate, there is now a complete imbalance in our ecosystems.  

COP16 is the first Biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP15 in December 2022, which countries signed to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. 

The Framework set out four long-term goals for 2050: protect and restore biodiversity; ensure biodiversity is sustainably used and managed; share benefits fairly; invest and collaborate; and progressively close the biodiversity finance gap of $700 billion per year.  

At COP16, governments are expected to review their progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its targets, with each country reviewing the Framework for action in its national biodiversity conservation plan. 

Speaking in a video message broadcast at the opening ceremony, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged delegates from 190 countries to “make peace with nature” and support a plan to halt habitat loss, save endangered species, and preserve ecosystems. “That Framework is grounded in a clear truth: for humanity to thrive, nature must flourish,” he said. “The Global Biodiversity Framework promises to reset relations with Earth and its ecosystems.  But we are not on track. Your task at this COP is to convert words into action.” 

COP President and Minister of Environment of Colombia Susana Muhamad echoed a similar sentiment: “It is basically about recomposing the way we live, recomposing the development model, recomposing, rethinking, rediscovering how we live together in diversity, in a system that does not permanently make nature a victim of development, but rather our own reproduction as a society reproduces life.” 

The Minister of Environment emphasised the link between biodiversity conservation and linked to climate action, noting that the extractive use of natural resources is responsible for 50 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and causes 90 per cent of biodiversity loss.  

Indeed, the UN estimates that if the temperature increases by 1.5 degrees Celsius, between 70 and 90 per cent of coral reefs will be destroyed. At 2 degrees of warming, more than 99 per cent of coral reefs will be lost. In May this year, a Guardian poll found that of the 380 IPCC scientists who responded, 80 per cent foresee at least 2.5C of global heating. 

“Powerfully restoring ecosystems and nature can contribute almost 40 per cent to the solution of stabilizing the climate and the carbon cycle,” said Muhamad.  

Finance is the Cornerstone of Biodiversity Protection 

Restoring ecosystems and nature, however, requires financing— and there’s a significant way to go.  

According to the 2022 UN State of Nature Finance 2022 report, funding for nature-based solutions to global crises must double to around US$384 billion per year by 2025, more than double the current US$154 billion per year. 

Two years ago, the COP15 framework called for at least US$200 billion to be mobilised from public and private sources annually to finance biodiversity protection activities by 2030.  

Indeed, the Framework’s goal is to increase international financial flows from developed to developing countries to at least US$30 billion each year by 2030. 

And we are seeing some traction. Last year, the Global Environment Facility announced the launch of the Biodiversity Finance Facility, the world’s largest funding body for biodiversity protection projects, with up to $10 billion in support from participating countries. 

But, considering the level of action required to protect their biodiversity and halt the degradation of nature, finance is central, something which will be a core focus across the two weeks.  

The Private Sector’s Role in Halting the Biodiversity Loss 

The private sector’s potential is huge here, too, and while most nature-related finance comes from public sources, the volume of private sector financing for nature has increased nearly elevenfold in four years, from $9.4 billion to more than $102 billion. 

Yet, the scale of their damage continues to far exceed their positive impact. The 2023 “State of Nature Finance 2023” report found that private finance flows with a direct negative impact on nature are at US$5 trillion—out of a total of $7 trillion from both the public and private sectors.  

This private nature-negative finance is around 140 times the size of private finance funnelled NbS.  

However, the UNEP Finance Initiative projects that around $1.45 trillion could flow from all sectors by 2030 to support biodiversity in different forms. It says this financing ranges from alternative investments and traded debt to private equity and new financial instruments such as biodiversity credits.  

With the aim of realising this goal, the Initiative notes that it ​​brings together a “large network” of banks, insurers, and investors to collectively catalyse action across the financial system.  

Indeed, the building blocks are in place for private funding to rise in parallel with public funding to support the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 

Earlier this week, in his speech to delegates, Guterres urged delegates to ensure that the Cali Summit ends with a clear direction on investment.  

“We must leave Cali with significant investment in the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund and commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private finance to deliver the Framework in full. And those profiting from nature must contribute to its protection and restoration,” said the UN Chief. 

He added that developing countries are “being plundered” and not gaining fairly from advances in the digitised DNA from biodiversity, which underpins scientific discoveries and economic growth.   

“This COP must operationalise the mechanism that has been agreed — to ensure that when countries share genetic information, they share benefits — equitably,” said the UN Secretary-General. 

By Hadeer Elhadary, Lead Journalist, ESG Mena – Arabic.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
EnvironmentInnovation & EducationLatest News

Fujairah Research Centre Launches New Marine Conservation Initiative

by Madaline Dunn
written by Madaline Dunn

Fujairah Research Centre has launched a new marine conservation initiative, combining “ancient Emirati practices” with contemporary scientific methods to restore coral reefs and boost marine biodiversity.

According to researchers, the initiative utilises natural materials, such as date palm leaves and oyster shells, to rejuvenate marine ecosystems.

“Our approach uniquely combines traditional Emirati knowledge with cutting-edge scientific practices to create effective, sustainable solutions for marine conservation. The unique composition of these biomaterials promotes the growth of coral reefs and a variety of marine species,” explained Dr. Fouad Lamghari Ridouane, Director of Fujairah Research Centre.

The Fujairah Research Centre said that using these materials reduces reliance on synthetic alternatives, with the biomaterial structures created from these resources offering “crucial habitats” for a diverse range of marine species.

“Recent analyses reveal a substantial increase in coral propagation and marine biodiversity in the areas where this technique has been implemented, underscoring its positive environmental impact,” the Centre said in a statement this week.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
EnvironmentInnovation & EducationLatest News

SRSA and KAUST Ink Biodiversity Sustainability MoU

by Madaline Dunn
written by Madaline Dunn

The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on biodiversity sustainability.

The authority and the university shared that the agreement will see the two work to identify and ensure the sustainability of existing biodiversity along the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia, exchanging information and expertise and providing studies, reports, and consultations.

The MoU will also support marine environment protection initiatives, it was shared.

Indeed, the Red Sea is a hub for biodiversity, with its reefs alone home to more than 300 species of coral and over 1,000 species of fish.

However, climate change poses the threat of extinction and is accelerating broader biodiversity loss.

Without action, over 90 per cent of global coral reefs could be wiped out by 2050.

Under the MoU, the two are also working to align strategies for planning and implementing ongoing and new initiatives that support coastal tourism in the Red Sea, it was shared.

Alongside this, the impact of tourism activities on the marine environment will be studied, with the parties set to evaluate environmental and economic factors, update information on new international standards, regulations, and technologies, and explore ways to strengthen marine environmental protection in the face of expanding industries.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
EnvironmentSpecial Reports

Highest Ocean Heat in Four Centuries Places Great Barrier Reef in Danger | Research Report

by Madaline Dunn
written by Madaline Dunn

As ocean temperatures reach their highest in 400 years, a new study published in Nature warns that the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), the largest living ecosystem on Earth, is facing an existential threat.

Without urgent intervention the report says the GBR is at risk of experiencing temperatures conducive to near-annual coral bleaching, with negative consequences for biodiversity and ecosystems services.

According to the research paper, during the nine January–March periods from 2016 to 2024, there were five mass coral bleaching events on the GBR—each associated with high sea surface temperatures. These also occurred during five of the six warmest years the region has experienced in the last four centuries.

The frequency of recent mass coral bleaching and mortality on the GBR is cause for concern, the report said, noting that researchers were, at the time of writing, assessing the impacts of the 2024 mass bleaching event.

“Climate model analysis confirms that human influence on the climate system is responsible for the rapid warming in recent decades.

“This attribution, together with the recent ocean temperature extremes, post-1900 warming trend and observed mass coral bleaching, shows that the existential threat to the GBR ecosystem from anthropogenic climate change is now realized,” the report reads.

For the full report, head here.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
EnvironmentLatest NewsPolicy & Finance

GRI and TNFD Release Biodiversity Disclosure Resource

by Madaline Dunn
written by Madaline Dunn

GRI and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) have published a joint interoperability mapping resource, which provides a detailed overview of alignment between the TNFD Disclosure Recommendations and metrics and the GRI Standards.

The biodiversity disclosure resource aims to help GRI’s 14,000 reporters globally align with the TNFD Recommendations and assist TNFD adopters in their sustainability reporting according to GRI Standards.

“This resource enables them to seamlessly integrate the TNFD recommendations, allowing for simplified, single-source reporting,” said Bastian Buck, Chief Standards Officer at GRI, adding that the GRI and the TNFD will continue to cooperate to prevent the need for double reporting.

The mapping highlights the alignment between the TNFD Recommendations and metrics and the GRI Standards reporting requirements and datapoints.

This includes the use of consistent nature-related concepts and definitions, including the five direct drivers of nature and biodiversity loss, as defined by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

GRI 101 uses the TNFD definitions and criteria when considering an organisation’s location in or near ecologically sensitive areas, while all the disclosures in GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024 are also reflected in the TNFD Recommendations.

Also highlighted is the reference and incorporation of GRI’s materiality approach, focusing on impacts in the TNFD Recommendations and guidance, following the TNFD’s flexible approach to materiality.

The TNFD LEAP approach has been designed to help organisations report in line with both impact and financial materiality, it was shared.

Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer of City Developments Limited (CDL), TNFD Taskforce Member and GRI Supervisory Board Member, commented: “Nature risks are business risks that should be measured and disclosed in a more robust manner. Having adopted the GRI 304: Biodiversity (2016) since 2017 and as the first Singapore company to publish disclosures aligned with the TNFD Recommendations in 2024, CDL understands the importance of measuring and managing our nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities for long-term resilience.

“As we look towards adopting the new GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024 in our upcoming sustainability reports, we welcome the interoperability between TNFD and GRI to harmonize the global sustainability reporting landscape.”

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts
© 2025 ESG Mena