by GST Staff
Biodiversity loss must stop by 2030 to protect Earth’s life-support systems
BIODIVERSITY LOSS MUST be halted by 2030 to keep the Earth’s life-support systems stable, according to new research.
Across species, ecosystems, and the natural processes that move water and nutrients, the study acknowledges the danger inside the systems people rely on every day.
Harvey Locke of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) argues that intact systems must be kept whole before further damage outruns any realistic recovery…
Read more: by Jordan Joseph, Earth.com staff writer
Urgent call for biodiversity protection amid Western Cape tourism boom
TOURISM BUSINESSES in the Western Cape are being urged to prioritise biodiversity protection as visitor numbers continue to rise, placing growing pressure on the region’s fragile natural systems.
More than 2.4 million visitors travelled to Cape Town in 2024, intensifying strain on ecosystems already affected by habitat loss, water scarcity and climate change. According to the South African National Biodiversity Institute, nearly 60% of natural habitats in some areas have already been lost, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of tourism-led growth.
Dr Niel du Toit, chief executive of Go Sustainable Tourism, said the industry could no longer afford a business-as-usual approach.
“Tourism businesses can no longer afford to be passive observers in the face of environmental decline,” du Toit said. “They need to step up as custodians of biodiversity by putting conservation at the centre of their operations.”
Read more: by Staff Reporter, Cape Argus
South Africa’s ecosystem hangs in the balance, for better or worse
Cape Town – The delicate balance of South Africa’s ecosystem is reaching a tipping point following an increase in biodiversity crimes.
From the smuggling of endangered plant species, to illegal wildlife trade, biodiversity crimes are said to be posing a severe threat to much of South Africa’s unique natural heritage.
According to CapeNature, over the period of five years, 233 biodiversity criminal dockets were registered and 434 J534s were issued, with cases involving succulent plants seeing an increase of 14 to 66 cases from 2020 to 2022 so far.
The culprits, according to the organisation, are individuals who do research without permits and the rise in syndication, with syndicates funding the travel of recruiters to South Africa to collect certain species of plants or animals.