At the Eco Conference at Frost Campus in Lindsay, Dr. Stephen Housnsell’s presentation closed the day. Dr. Hounsell spoke about bio diversity management. He said that: “The need is real. The need is urgent. We can leave a legacy of pride or a legacy of despair.”
Dr. Hounsell said that if we considered the Earth as our “living bank account” then “We’re in the red.”. Natural capital is being drawn faster than it is being replenished and we are in a downward spiral. The pressures on nature are acute. In Southern Ontario there has been a decline of 80% of our forest cover and 70% of our wetlands. This comes with staggering losses of wildlife.
Globally Dr. Hounsell said that the global demand on our earth is 25% higher than the earth’s ability to replenish and if we continue our consumption trends we require 2 Earths to meet our needs by 2050.
Humanity’s economic footprint has tripled since 1961 and this has put acute pressures on nature witnessed by the loss of species and habitat: 12% of birds, 23% of mammals, 25% of conifers and 90% of the world’s fish stocks have been reduced since the start of industrial fishing.
The biodiversity losses are unprecedented and “INACTION IS NOT AN OPTION”.
