Conserving Agricultural Biodiversity in China: Lessons from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

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1 Conserving Agricultural Biodiversity in China: Lessons from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Jeffrey A. McNeely Chief Scientist IUCN-The World Conservation Union 20 June 2006 Beijing

2 Links between Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, and Human Well-Being Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

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4 Intact ecosystems can provide protection against extreme natural events In the 2005 Pakistan earthquake, forested slopes suffered less damaging landslides than did slopes that had been deforested.

5 Watershed protection services have multiple benefits Provision of water Hydropower, navigation The Forest Climate Alliance Water storage to buffer floods, droughts Strategic Advice to National Policy Initiatives Control of erosion and sedimentation Biodiversity Offsets Maintain river channels, riparian habitats Maintain coastal vegetation requiring freshwater Maintain water quality Control groundwater levels, reducing salinity

6 Wild biodiversity includes economically important species such as pollinators In Costa Rica, forest-based pollinators increased coffee yields by 20%

7 Wild relatives of domestic animals are valuable genetic resources

8 Wild relatives of domestic plants are still being used for breeding

9 WHY ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ARE BEING LOST 1. Converting natural habitats into domestic habitats

10 Source: NASA The way we were

11 The way we are

12 WHY ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ARE 2. Changes in climate BEING LOST

13 Source: Natural Resources Canada

14 WHY ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ARE BEING LOST 3. Impacts of invasive alien species

15 International shipping has increased by a factor of 10 over the past several decades.

16 HOW IAS AFFECT HUMAN INTERESTS Destroys ricefields (golden apple snail) Blocks navigation, depletes oxygen (water hyacinth) Reduces pollination of crops (Verroa mites)

17 Annual costs associated with IAS South Africa UK Australia Brazil China US$ 7 billion US$ 12 billion US$ 13 billion US$ 50 billion US$ 15 billion (Source: Pimentel, et al., 2001) Palm leaf beetles have invaded southern China

18 Degradation of ecosystem services often causes significant harm to human well-being The total economic value associated with managing ecosystems more sustainably is often higher than the value associated with conversion Conversion may still occur because private economic benefits are often greater for the converted system

19 Critical concern drylands 40% of land surface and more than 2 billion inhabitants Lowest levels of human well-being 10-20% of drylands degraded Only 8% of renewable water supply

20 Response 1: Help local people capture benefits from ecosystem services

21 Costa Rica payment for ecosystem services Program established 1997 By 2001: 280,000 ha enrolled at cost of $30 million Typical payments: $35 to $45 per hectare $ Pay upstream landowners to maintain forest cover on their land Downstream Users benefit from protection of upstream ecosystem services

22 Status of Ecosystem Service Markets Carbon: Biodiversity: Watershed Protection: * The retail carbon market is currently 0.7m t/co2 and is expected to grow to 15m in value: US$ 11 billion * The Kyoto compliant market was 1.16m t/co2 in 2002 and is expected to grow to a minimum of 15m t/co2 in * Private corporations and international NGOs are the main buyers * Fastest growing components: Eco-labeling and easements for highconservation value land * Municipal water systems and industrial users are most likely to pay * Investments in sustainable watershed management proven cost-effective

23 Current obstacles to markets for ecosystem services Lack of information about value of ecosystem services, especially non-market values, and what benefits they provide to the poor Limited institutional experience with compensation mechanisms, and the problem of free riders Inadequate legal framework or supporting institutions Equity concerns how can benefits be delivered to the poor?

24 Response 2: Integrate ecosystem services into regional planning

25 Source: Forest Trends

26 New Value from Forest Services Source: Forest Trends

27 Response 3: Include biodiversity issues in agriculture, fishing, and forestry

28 Response 4. Continue active public goods research linking biodiversity with agriculture

29 Responding to the loss of ecosystem services may cost money. Not responding is likely to cost even more.

30 Visit the MA Website All MA reports available to download Access to core data MA outreach kit - Slides - Communication tools Synthesis volumes available in Chinese