Date: Tuesday, May 25th, 2021
Time: 2:00-3:45PM CAT

Background:

In May, the United Nations commemorates the International Day for Biological Diversity. Aligning with this year’s theme – “We are part of the solution for nature” – the international community is urged to stand in solidarity for the adoption of a new global biodiversity framework to address climate change, health issues, and food and water security to promote a sustainable livelihood of which biodiversity is a foundational aspect.

Join This Dynamic Discussion:

Honoring this day, we’re honored to unite experts from diverse backgrounds and geographies to help unpack evidence of threats on biodiversity – such as industrialisation and the climate crisis – on human health, as well as how this drives inequities. Combining the latest data alongside local and global contextual experiences of biodiversity loss, our speaker line-up will propose actionable measures and solutions to fight for our ecosystem and, in turn, for social justice.

REGISTER HERE

Host:

Dr. Phaedra Henley

Director, Center for One Health, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)

Dr. Phaedra Henley’s full bio can be found on the UGHE website here.  

Chair:

Prof. Agnes Binagwaho, MD, M(Ped), PHD

Vice Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)

Prof. Agnes Binagwaho’s full bio can be found on the UGHE website here.  

Speakers:

Mary Robinson is Adjunct Professor for Climate Justice in Trinity College Dublin and Chair of The Elders.  She served as President of Ireland from 1990-1997 and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997-2002. She is a member of the Club of Madrid and the recipient of numerous honours and awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the President of the United States Barack Obama. Mary’s memoir, ‘Everybody Matters’ was published in September 2012 and her book, ‘Climate Justice – Hope, Resilience and the Fight for a Sustainable Future’ was published in September 2018.

Dr. Elvis Paul Tangem is a sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, Climate change, & value chains development professional with over 18  years of professional experience in the United Kingdom,  Africa, Asia. He has experience with various National & International Development Organizations including UN FAO, TREE AID International, Watershed Task Group and others in the domains of research,  projects cycle,  in the sectors of agriculture and forest products value chains, sustainable development, conservation and Climate change, Sustainable Land Management, restoration, amongst others. He has also initiated and been pioneer member of several initiatives including the Cameroon traditional Rulers against Climate; He is currently serving at the African Union Commission as the Coordinator for the Great green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative. He holds a Ph.D., an MSc in Ecology from The University of Edinburgh, and other Higher education certificates and diplomas. Member of the Institute for Environment Science and Certified Development Project Manager. 

Kate Harriden

kate is a wiradyuri woman doing a PhD at the Australian National University, investigating Indigenous water science(s) potential to improve urban water quality outcomes, by retrofitting storm water channels using Indigenous frameworks and methods.  Convinced of the public good of storm water channels, the biodiversity they can have was unexpected.  Her research as a Visiting Indigenous Fellow at ANU’s Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, actively incorporates Indigenous pedagogy in undergraduate teaching.  Co-founder of the Fenner Research & Teaching Decolonizing Circle, her research philosophy is that research must be practical, knowledge is for sharing and that expertise is not held only by ‘experts’.

Dr. Philip Landrigan

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A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a great diversity of flora and fauna that is at risk of destruction. Here’s a pick of biodiversity hotspots from around the world. 

Africa: 

Only about 1000 gorillas remain in the wild. In Rwanda, mountain gorillas play a crucial role in the ecosystem. However, the rapid habitat loss of gorillas caused by deforestation, mining, and developmental activities is a danger to tropical forests where these gorillas live. Gorillas play an important role in dispersing seeds and creating an environment where diverse plant species can grow in the forest, further contributing to biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance. Without the presence of gorillas in the ecosystem, some plant species would no longer have a way to spread their seeds causing a halt in the life cycle in turn affecting humans and animals’ food consumption. 

South America: 

The Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests are endangered by human activity such as timber cutting and the use of wood fuel as a source of energy. This forest’s ecosystem is also at risk due to forest fires which wipe out species that are not adapted to this threat and can lead to their extinction. As a result, human activities and climate change influence the loss of biodiversity in the forest’s ecosystem which leads to a negative impact on local tourism and affects the area’s economic growth. 

Europe: 

The Isle of Skye in Scotland faces a major threat on its biodiversity with some species potentially becoming extinct because of rapidly changing environments caused by climate change and human activities. The loss of species diversity degrades the ecosystem and poses a threat to essential services such as flood mitigation, management, and control and land yield capacity causing harmful risks such as non-native species invasion, food insecurity, and the spread of diseases to humans, animals, and plants. 

North America: 

California produces majority of agricultural products consumed around the United States. However, California’s biodiversity hotspots face threats from human activities and development such as commercial farming and pollution. Pressures on the ecosystems greatly affect the state’s ability to supply farm produce such as fruits and vegetables which in turn leads to a negative economic outcome as well as a lack of diverse food options in certain states causing food insecurity and consumption of less balanced diets in vulnerable populations. 

Oceania: 

Wildfires in Australia have destroyed forests, killed, and displaced close to 3 billion animals, left nearly ninety thousand people without homes, and worsened air pollution. These forest fires have left many animals endangered with no safe habitat. Moreover, plant species have been lost and this has left some species in Australia’s ecosystem extinct. These fires are a significant threat to Australia’s biodiversity and a danger to human health. 

Antarctica:

Scientists continue to anticipate greater rise in sea-levels because of melting ice sheets in Antarctica. Rising sea levels are a threat to the ecosystem as seawater flooding can cause destruction of property causing families to migrate.  In farming regions, flooding can contaminate soils making it less fertile to support the growth of crops to feed humans and animals. Moreover, islands that are habitats to humans, animals, as well as plants may be submerged as a result of rising sea levels leading to a loss of biodiversity.

Asia: 

New Caledonia is recognized for its high biodiversity of endemic plants as well as endangered animals. In this hotspot, poaching is a big threat to the plants as well as the animals. However, erosion is also a major threat in this region and affects millions of people who depend on its ecosystem for food, water, and economic income.