Just as scientists are starting to understand the life forms and landscape of the ocean, they are also coming to grips with the threat of mass extinctions, speakers said at a marine biodiversity forum last week.The forum, at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, featured French scientific leaders and their American counterparts from the San Diego area. They addressed the marine issues raised in an international report on global biodiversity released earlier this month, arguing that conservation is just as important as stabilizing the climate.“In France, we say that climate and biodiversity have to be linked for recovery of the planet,” said Jean-Francois Silvain, president of the Paris-based Foundation for Research on Biodiversity.The global report was released by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Policy, a body whose lengthy name matches the scope of the project. The organization enlisted 500 scientists from 132 nations to review … [Read more...] about Marine life is disappearing, imperiling San Diego’s future
Marine biodiversity
‘Global Deal for Nature’: This Is How to Save the Earth’s Biodiversity
Tech & Science In recent years, evidence has emerged to indicate that the Earth is in the grips of a mass extinction crisis. Species are disappearing at a worryingly fast rate—in no small part thanks to human interference—resulting in the erosion of our planet’s biodiversity. Alongside climate change, it is one of the most significant threats that we face. In 2017, an international team of scientists proposed an ambitious plan known as the “Global Deal for Nature” which aims to help ensure both that climate targets are met, while also conserving the Earth’s species. Now, in a paper published in the journal Science Advances, the scientists have laid out a set of specific targets and milestones which they believe will help protect the Earth’s biodiversity and avoid the collapse of ecosystems, in addition to mitigating the effects of climate change. To find out more, Newsweek spoke to conservationist Eric Dinerstein, one of … [Read more...] about ‘Global Deal for Nature’: This Is How to Save the Earth’s Biodiversity
In Colombia, biodiversity researchers seek relief from regulatory red tape
By Andrew J. Wight Feb. 25, 2019 , 4:45 PM MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA—In 2011, when biologist Jean Paul Delgado set up his laboratory at the University of Antioquia (UdeA) here, he was eager to help his home nation learn more about its extraordinary biological wealth, including some 800 species of salamanders, frogs, and other amphibians. Delgado’s enthusiasm soon turned to frustration, however, and he’s largely abandoned his efforts to study Colombia’s biodiversity. Sitting in his office recently, he displayed the reason: a huge folder stuffed with the paperwork needed to get government permission to collect native species or just sample their DNA. It can take a year or more to obtain approval from Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Delgado says. And, “If you deviate from the contract, there will be consequences” that could include fines and research restrictions. Many Colombian researchers say the cumbersome, … [Read more...] about In Colombia, biodiversity researchers seek relief from regulatory red tape
‘This is shocking.’ An undersea plague is obliterating a key ocean species
By Alex FoxJan. 30, 2019 , 2:00 PM An “underwater zombie apocalypse.” That’s how wildlife veterinarian Joe Gaydos of the University of California (UC), Davis, describes “sea star wasting disease,” a blight that has decimated more than 20 species of sea stars from Mexico to Alaska since 2013. Now, a new study by Gaydos and colleagues has more bad news: The disease has hit the sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides)—a key predator within kelp forests—hardest of all. This once-common species has vanished from the majority of its range, sending shock waves through the ecosystems it once called home. The team also found a worrying association between warmer ocean temperatures and the severity of the outbreak, suggesting climate change could exacerbate future marine epidemics. “This is shocking,” says marine ecologist Mark Carr of UC Santa Cruz, who was not involved in the study. “This is not just a population reduction, this is … [Read more...] about ‘This is shocking.’ An undersea plague is obliterating a key ocean species
Party’s Resolution on strategy for sustainable development of marine economy
The Resolution was adopted at the 8th plenum of the 12th Party Central Committee. The following are key parts of the Resolution for reference: I - SITUATION AND CAUSES 1. Background and situation It is forecasted that in the coming time, the international situation will continue to witness many complicated developments, especially the strategic competition between big countries and maritime boundary sovereignty disputes and disagreements among countries in the East Sea. Trans-boundary environmental pollution, climate change and sea level rise have become urgent global problems. Sustainable development and harmony between development and marine conservation have become the mainstream. Globalization and revolution of science and technology have created many opportunities and challenges. Still, in the country, macroeconomic stabilization, sustainable development; adaptation to climate change and sea level rise; security, social order and safety are big difficulties and challenges. 2. … [Read more...] about Party’s Resolution on strategy for sustainable development of marine economy