Discussions on addressing the climate crisis, and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, often ignore the most critical tool we have: nature. The IUCN World Conservation Congress is one of several global meetings scheduled for the coming months that could determine the fate of our planet. As the conservation community gathers in Marseille, IUCN Members must back ambitious plans to protect existing intact ecosystems, restore degraded ones, and invest in natural infrastructure; writes Cristián Samper, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), an IUCN Member organisation.
Intact forests contain massive amounts of carbon, equivalent to about 11 years’ worth of human-related emissions
Photo: Arnaud Mesureur/Unsplash
The IUCN World Conservation Congress that opens this week in Marseille is one of several critical global meetings scheduled for the coming months that could determine the fate of our planet. What connects them is our reliance on highly intact terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Highly intact ecosystems support more biodiversity, absorb more carbon, help prevent pathogen spillover, and underpin food systems and livelihoods for indigenous peoples and local communities. The science is clear...
