We All Depend On Biodiversity, So We Must Work Together To Maintain It

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2013, Claudia Lewis, Plan C Initiative, Carlos L. de la Rosa, Catalina Island Conservancy,   "The Youth Guide to Biodiversity" 1st Edition (Chapter 12) Youth and United Nations Global Alliance. Reproduced with permission.

Chapter 12. Verbatim.

Every country in the world depends in one way or another on biological resources. However, without careful assessment of what, how much and how often we harvest from nature, we run the risk of exhausting the planet’s resources. To avoid this situation, people must work together at all levels, from local to global.

Each level of action has its own set of challenges and opportunities. What happens at one level often impacts on other levels. For example, individuals follow the conventions and regulations set in their communities, such as municipal recycling laws. Communities are bound by national legislation and laws, which regulate specific activities, such as endangered species acts or the exploitation of biodiversity. 

Finally, nations are bound by international agreements, such as the ones regarding the trading of wildlife species and their products. As we will see in this chapter, the laws and regulations, programmes and initiatives, treaties and informal agreements set and implemented at each of these levels can lead a country closer either to sustainability or to economic and ecological crises. 

It is important to remember that whatever legislationis in place, individuals, groups or organisations can greatly influence biodiversity conservation efforts. Public opinion and campaigns can have a significant impact on policy makers and other actors, such as companies.