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Açai Amazonas
Insurance policy for the future The açai is a fruit found in the Amazon with antioxidant properties. Its organic cultivation is precious for the local economies of that region.
Civilization and human well-being have been built and depend for their future on agriculture — the foundations of which are biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. Some 7,000 plant species have been cultivated for food since agriculture began about 12,000 years ago.
Today, only 15 plant species and eight animal species supply 90% of our food. Wild relatives of food crops are an insurance policy for the future, as they can be used to breed new varieties that can cope with changing conditions. Agricultural production is underpinned by services of functioning ecosystems, themselves dependent on biodiversity.
But during the course of this century, if greenhouse gas emissions and other changes continue at or above current rates, the ability of ecosystems to adapt naturally is likely to be exceeded by an unprecedented combination of change in climate and in other global change drivers. Projected impacts on biodiversity are significant and of key relevance, since global losses in biodiversity are irreversible.
Some 20 to 30% of species assessed so far are likely to be at increased risk of extinction if global mean temperatures exceed a warming of 1.5 — 2.5C above pre-industrial levels. Concerted action on climate, land management and biodiversity is not an option — it is essential to our future. |
