In light of the globalization of agriculture, global
DownloaD Graphic 2
market demand for high value commodities such
as; soybeans, coffee, cotton, oil palm, horticultural
The Living Planet Index measures trends in the abundance of species
for which data is available. This indicator has been adopted by the
goods and biofuel related crops has resulted in
Convention on Biological Diversity to measure progress towards the
2010 target
substantial habitat conversion and ecosystem
degradation.
Freshwater
Index (1970=1.0)
Living Planet Index
1.1
Species loss is accelerating, with talk of a sixth
Marine
Terrestrial
major extinction event being underway. In the
1.0
past, these events were caused by natural hazards
0.9
and planetary change. The current losses are
due mainly to human activities. Fragmentation of
0.8
ecosystems is particularly damaging to migratory
0.7
species, which need a contiguous network of sites
for their migratory journeys and to species which
0.6
rely on particular micro-habitats or to those which
1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 20022003
require multiple types of habitat during different life
Source: Loh and
Goldfinger 2006
cycle stages.
Pita, Aechmea magdalane, a thorny-leaved terrestrial bromeliad, grows naturally in lowland forests of southeast Mexico. It is harvested for the commercial extraction of fibre used in the
stiching and embroidering of leatherwork. One hectare of forest can provide up to 20 kilogrammes of pita fibre per year, generating an average cash income of US$1 000/ha.
Credit: Elaine Marshall
VIDEO EXTRACTED FROM THE GEO4 VIDEO NEWS RELEASE
ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT 35
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