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Environment
Biodiversity -
Mankind's Life Insurance Policy
Almost all over the earth, even in its most inhospitable zones, we find life. The secret of the successful implantation and habitation of our planet by millions of species is explained by the phenomenon of biological diversity. The greater the existence of genetic and species diversity, the easier it is for plants and animals to adapt to the environment. For human beings, this translates into food security, particularly in these times of climate change.

Key facts

• In the Mekong-Delta, the clearing of forests with a wealth of diverse species has led to flooding, to the resettlement of one million persons, and to the loss of 500 km2 of farmland.
• On many continents, the decline in the number of natural enemies has led to a massive increase in harmful organisms.
• 99% of our medicines and cosmetics are based on plant substances.

A mere three types of cereal – corn, wheat, and rice – satisfy more than half of our foodstuffs requirement worldwide. Our eating habits call for standardization in the size, form, and type of food we eat, thus making it less resistant while, in parallel, other sorts of nourishment die out. In addition, the overexploitation of nature coupled with the impact of climate change threatens to reduce in quantity or even to bring to extinction nearly two-thirds of the species currently found on the planet.

Thanks to the multiplicity of various genetic compositions and the diversity of species that have emerged over the course of the earth's history, we have the power to react to different threats posed by climate change or human illnesses. Yet, in order to preserve these organisms so crucial to our survival, we must ensure that their natural habitats remain intact and are able to regulate themselves according to the laws of nature. Indeed, experience has shown that massive human interference has upset the natural balance of their habitats.

Utilization and Preservation – Walking a Tightrope
Biodiversity is on a tightrope a) between management and long-term preservation, and b) between conservation and traditional use. On the one hand, the transformation of natural ecosystems into large farmland leads to an intensification of agricultural production and to a better food supply for urban agglomerations. On the other hand, the vast diversity of trees, plants, and animals disappears, not only penalizing the local populations in terms of feeding themselves, but also depriving medical research of important resources and facilitating the advent of natural disasters. Even though nature reserves and national parks in developing countries serve as a means of species protection and can create significant income from tourism, they bar the local population from access to their traditional habitat. The challenge is to arrange for rural areas to be cultivated sparingly and to the advantage of all concerned. This means that measures for sustainable use of ecosystems must be determined with the involvement of the local population, the tourist sector, and the authorities.

The SDC focus: Local Populations – the Key to Preserving Biodiversity

The SDC joins forces with local, regional, and global bodies in seeking solutions for keeping well functioning ecosystems intact, provided that these solutions are practicable and accepted by the local populations. Owing to its knowledge about indigenous species and traditional utilization of the rural environment, the local population plays a key role in biodiversity projects. The SDC involves the population concerned in the decision-making process, transfers it responsibilities, and creates incentives, e.g., by ensuring that the population participates in the profits generated from national park tourism or by granting compensatory payments for their having relinquished utilization of the area. Indigenous farmers are supported in the processing and marketing of sustainably utilized wild plants and animals and also participate in research activities.

In southern Africa, the SDC is active in a nature sanctuary that stretches over five countries. In concert with all of those participating, it seeks to develop and implement transnational measures for the preservation of biodiversity.
Theme contact: Jean-Gabriel Duss

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