The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment recognises the interactions between biodiversity, ecosystem services, human well-being, and drivers of change across regions and periods of time. It encompasses several dimensions:
Indirect drivers of change such as demographics, economics, socio-political, science and technological, and cultural/religious changes
Direct drivers of change such as changes in land cover and use, species introduction or removal, technical adaptation and use, external inputs such as fertilizers, harvest and resource consumption, and natural physical and biological drivers such as volcanoes and evolutions
Results and Recommendations from the First 4-year Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
In 2005 the MEA reached the following conclusions about the state of the world’s natural resources:
a) Issues
Ecosystem degradation is fast reaching dangerous new levels:
The past 50 years have experienced far more serious change to the world’s ecosystems than has ever been seen before. The process is accelerating as humanity’s need for resources grows exponentially
While ecosystem products and services that have increased human development have grown, there are others that have been severely damaged as a result. The damage to these services will have future repercussions
Degradation is a barrier to the achievement of the UN development goals. Plans to eradicate famine and disease worldwide cannot be accomplished as expected with such environmental damage occurring
There are possible changes which could resolve many of these problems and keep development on par with demand, but there is simply not enough effort being made to include such policies
The assessment demanded that changes be instituted firmly and quickly to ensure sustainable development. It was recognised that humanity has the power and ability to prevent damage to the planet. It is also recommended that it is the duty of humanity to reverse environmental degradation.
(b) Main Findings
Society has caused irreversible changes that are degrading the ecological processes that support life on Earth.
60% of world ecosystem services have been degraded
Of 24 evaluated ecosystems, 15 are being damaged
About a quarter of the Earth’s land surface is now cultivated
People now use between 40 percent and 50 percent of all available freshwater running off the land. Water withdrawals have doubled over the past 40 years
Over a quarter of all fish stocks are over-harvested
Since 1980, about 35% of mangroves have been lost
About 20% of corals were lost in just 20 years, 20% degraded
Nutrient pollution has led to eutrophication of waters and coastal dead zones
Species extinction rates are now 100-1 000 times above the background rate
(c) Some Recommendations
Remove subsidies to agriculture, fisheries and energy sources that harm the environment
Encourage landowners to manage property in ways that enhance the supply of ecosystem services, such as carbon storage, and the generation of fresh water
Protect more areas from development, especially in the oceans.
Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005
To learn about the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in relation to southern Africa visit the section on Ecosystem Services.
