Plant and animal species that provide our food, fuel and fibre could disappear amid shrinking biodiversity of food plants, says a new report from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.
The report cites climate change as one of the key drivers in reducing biodiversity (alongside land and water management practices, over-exploitation, population growth and urbanisation).
It identifies direct impacts (e.g. changes in rainfall, seasonal changes creating mismatches between flowering periods and the availability of pollinators and the frequency of extreme weather) and indirect impacts (those resulting from climate adaptation and mitigation strategies e.g moving coffee growing to higher altitudes).
The report calls for tougher legislation and institutional frameworks with greater incentives for pro-biodiversity initiatives and greater collaboration on developing knowledge and implementing solutions.