Our report outlines the myriad ways in which animals affect sustainable development and sets forth recommendations to equip policymakers to incorporate animals into their SDG implementation plans.
In , the global human population totaled 7. During the same period, populations of wild animals have plummeted. In fact, scientists have concluded that animal populations have declined by more than half in just 50 years due to human activity.
We are witnessing one of the highest rates of extinction in history. Human activity continues to disrupt global ecosystems. To mitigate our devastating impacts on the natural world, it is essential that we integrate biodiversity conservation into national and international development policies.
Indeed, the ecosystems upon which many people rely on for food, water, and livelihoods are in peril; and we continue to engage in activities that threaten wildlife and habitats, and jeopardize our own wellbeing. While the UN SDGs address important issues that can affect ecosystems, like population, consumption, and land management, it is critical that they begin accounting for interactions between humans and animals.
Animals are Key outlines five key areas in which sustainable development and human wellbeing are intertwined with animal welfare and wildlife conservation:.
Have you ever wanted to go on a safari in Africa? See the unique and legendary species of the Galapagos? Humane treatment of animals—demonstrated through behaviors like restricting wildlife trade, avoiding direct physical contact between people and wild animals, and promoting farm animal welfare—is crucial to human health.
Many emerging diseases are linked to wildlife trade and perpetuation of cramped livestock conditions. Even if a single wildlife species gets extinct from the eco-system, it may disturb the whole food chain ultimately leading to disastrous results. Consider a simple example of a bee that is vital for the growth of certain crops due to their pollen carrying roles. If bees get reduced in numbers, the growth of food crops would definitely lower owing to a lack of pollination.
Similarly, if a species gets increased in number, again it can have an adverse effect on the ecological balance. Consider another simple case of carnivores which is getting reduced every day due to human poaching and hunting.
The reduction of these carnivores is leading to an increase in the number of herbivores, who are dependent on forest vegetation for their survival. It would not take long when the number of herbivores in forests would soar to such a great extent that they would move to agricultural lands and villages for their food needs.
Thus, saving wildlife plays a great role in ensuring a check on the ecological balance thereby, maintaining a healthy eco-system. Source of Medicine. Since many of the extracts from animal species are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, they are very famous and considered as a precious commodity among biotechnologists and pharmaceutical companies.
For example, the oil from the lever of Codfish is rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 anti-oxidants that help fight the aging problem. The chemicals derived from shrimps and lobsters are used in treating fungal infections. The venom of Cobra is used as a cure for leprosy and the list does not end here.
Chinese medicines use hundreds of animal extracts for centuries and such medicine has now become very famous in the modern world. So the Importance of Animals is widely accepted in medical science since ancient times. The key area where the Importance of Animals cannot be denied is the economic activity that is linked to them. This is because as a source of nutritious food for centuries animals are playing a key role in driving the economy.
The pork, poultry, and dairy industry is the multi-trillion-dollar industry in the world and still on the path of rapid growth along with the population. Similarly, the pharma industry which is also a multi-trillion-dollar business in the world also depended either directly on animals or the natural echo-system which is largely maintained by animals.
Horses, too, can serve in counseling. The Certified Therapy Horse Association advocates stringent certification criteria for horses and their handlers. Cattle, pigs, poultry and fish feed us, but the consumers buying their meat as food are far removed from the animals themselves. The USDA puts meat consumption levels of Economic pressures lead to large livestock operations, which bring their own problems like disease control and manure disposal, leading to algal blooms in streams and lakes.
This consequence is also important to human-animal relationships, even though humans don't interact directly with the animals. At the same time, smaller-scale operations seek to preserve heritage breeds of livestock, who retain traits of self-sufficiency and resilience. An ecological blogger, technical writer and trainer, Alex Silbajoris also leads a nonprofit watershed group. He is an avid gardener and cook. He holds a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in journalism, from The Ohio State University.
They put their tentacles to work reusing and reducing waste through their creative use of glass containers, coconut shells, and other debris to create shelters.
Dogs do it all. From astute service dogs guiding those with visual impairments to loyal friends providing emotional support to search and rescue canines saving lives, this animal has broad positive effects on our world and well-being. Animals do a lot for us.
Repay the favor with a donation to a vetted project devoted to animals. Me , National Geographic , Save the Elephants. Find exactly what you're looking for in our Learn Library by searching for specific words or phrases related to the content you need.
Discover ways to make the world a better place. Recommended Tools. View All. Act Now.
0コメント