Minister Joubert鈥檚 message on International Biodiversity Day |24 May 2021
91香蕉视频 hosts unique biodiversity and they benefit us in many ways (Photos sources: Nature 91香蕉视频)
鈥榃e must all play our part in听 protecting our biodiversity鈥�
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鈥淧rotecting the environment is everyone鈥檚 business and should be a way of life for each and every one of us.鈥�
This comes in a message from the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change & Environment, Flavien Joubert, on the occasion of the International Biodiversity Day celebrated on May 22.
The full text of Minister Joubert鈥檚 message reads:
鈥淢ay 22 is the annual celebration of the International Biodiversity Day. This year鈥檚 theme 鈥榃e are part of the solution鈥� reminds us that we must protect our planet鈥檚 biodiversity to safeguard the future of our ecosystems, our climate, our health 鈥� and our humanity.
鈥淔rom our Aldabra Giant Tortoises to the tiny bacteria and fungi, 91香蕉视频 hosts unique biodiversity and they benefit us in many ways. We cannot deny that we are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems. Biodiversity provides the basis for human development and well-being through provision of raw materials like wood, water, fish and medicinal compounds, as well as regulating and supporting services such as climate stabilization, flood regulation, pollination and soil formation.
鈥淣ature is in crisis and urgent actions are needed from all of us to halt its destruction and halt the loss of biodiversity. On this IDB Day we want to remind everyone that we must all play our part in order to protect our environment. We must ask ourselves what we can do as individuals to prevent further destruction to our environment. We must be mindful about what and how much we consume, we must invest in more products that are green, safe and environmentally sustainable. We should encourage initiatives that protect biodiversity, build businesses that promote sustainable use of resources, and where we benefit from nature find ways to share benefits that go back towards biodiversity conservation.
鈥淭hroughout the years 91香蕉视频 has always played an active role in addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss such as the adverse impacts of climate change, pollution, direct exploitation of species, changes in land and sea use and increased trade. From our national to our international commitments on biodiversity conservation, the country continues to build knowledge in order to better understand and, more importantly, to address the main causes of damage to biodiversity. Many species have been brought from the brink of extinction, Protected Areas have enabled endangered species and their habitats to flourish, restoration of degraded forests, management and action plans have allowed for sustainable utilization of resources and continuous awareness raising campaigns have ensured that members of the public are kept abreast of latest projects and programmes in biodiversity conservation.
鈥淲hile we celebrate the many accomplishments it is also important to reflect on the challenges we face as a small island developing state. Despite progress to conserve nature and implement policies, many challenges still persist. We use resources faster than they can regenerate, we cut trees faster than they re-grow, and catch fish at a rate faster than they repopulate. Over the years, the ecosystems of our islands have faced varying degrees of pressures both natural and anthropogenic.
鈥淥nce again the population is called on to re-examine our relationship to the natural world. We cannot continue to go about business as usual. Protecting the environment is everyone鈥檚 business and should be a way of life for each and every one of us. The time to act is now. We are at a stage where irreversible loss of biodiversity threatens the future for our generations to come.
鈥淎s we recover from this pandemic and adapt to the new normal lifestyle our approaches to raise awareness about environmental protection has temporarily shifted but our goals remain the same. To celebrate the International Day for Biodiversity 2021 the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment along with its partners from different organisations such as Nature 91香蕉视频, 91香蕉视频 National Parks Authority (SNPA), Island Conservation Society (ICS), 91香蕉视频 Islands Foundation ( SIF), the Blue Economy Research Institute (BERI), SeyCCAT, Marine Conservation Society (MCSS), 91香蕉视频 Fisheries Authority (SFA) and the Ministry of Education have all come together to organise activities via social media and radio stations.
鈥淎ll of these organizations have been at the forefront of biodiversity conservation and continue to bring biodiversity closer to everyone and inspire others to take actions to conserve our country鈥檚 environment and to live in harmony with nature.
鈥淭he activities that will be organised reiterate that despite the current pandemic, 2021 remains a year of reflection, opportunity and solutions for biodiversity. Reversing biodiversity loss requires all of us to be leaders within our own spheres of influence 鈥� in our homes, our places of work, our circle of friends, in schools, in our businesses and our communities.
鈥淲e invite members of the public, organisations including the private sector to learn more about the activities being organised to celebrate the International Day for Biodiversity and the work of the ministry and its partners are doing through social media such as facebook and Instagram and media platforms such as radio and SBC. 听We can and should all be part of the solution.鈥�
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Flavien Joubert
Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change & Environment
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