Guernsey’s Nature Commission is echoing concerns raised by the UK Government on the potential of ecosystem degradation.
Nationally the warning is that “every critical ecosystem is on a pathway to collapse”. The Nature Commission says we need to heed that warning here too.
A UK Government report, available online in full HERE, has forecast that for some environments this collapse could be evident from 2030, with the disappearance of coral reefs in South East Asia and boreal forests a “realistic possibility”.
The Nature Commission warns that our Bailiwick could be impacted too with Ecologist Charlotte Burgoine warning that the islands’ geography is a risk factor, and not a shield.
“The degradation of global ecosystems threatens the UK’s national security and economic prosperity, with direct consequences for Guernsey,” said Ms Burgoine.
“Global food shortages resulting from ecosystem collapse would have a severe impact on the island, as Guernsey imports a significant proportion of food resources.
Despite the warnings from the UK Government focusing on likely events in four years’ time and the potential collapse of certain ecosystems, Ms Burgoine said the impacts are already evident locally.
“Increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events also pose growing risks, a trend already being experiences by islanders,” she said
The report from the UK Government makes sombre reading.
Its message is one of doomsday for certain ecosystems and environments, and one that would be impossible to truly recover from.
“The report states that every critical ecosystem on earth is currently degrading and approaching a potential tipping point,” Ms Burgoine explained.
“Ecosystem collapse occurs when natural systems can no longer maintain their essential functions, and some ecosystems are projected to begin failing as early as the 2030s.”
She added that this could have a dramatic impact on our way of life.
“The loss of vital services, such as water cycling, soil formation, and pollination, would trigger widespread crop failures, leading to food shortages, rising prices, and increased risk of famine.”
A dwindling diversity in flora and fauna is directly responsible for the current figures, with Ms Bugoine explaining that “ecosystem collapse is being driven by global biodiversity loss”.
“Wildlife populations have declined dramatically, with vertebrate species decreasing by an average of 68% since 1970 and freshwater species populations falling by 84%.
“Food production is the leading cause of terrestrial biodiversity loss worldwide, creating a dangerous feedback loop in which environmental degradation threatens future food security.”
She added that there needs to be some sweeping changes to shift direction away from this collapse.
“To prevent this, a balance must be achieved that preserves space for nature while continuing to meet human needs.”
Although the problem is global, and Guernsey is a small jurisdiction, we can play our part, and are already punching up according to Ms Burgoine.
“Guernsey may be small, but it has a meaningful role to play on the global stage,” she said.
“The loss of biodiversity and collapse of ecosystems would have profound consequences for the island.
“By collaborating with other Channel Islands and Crown Dependencies, Guernsey can amplify its impact.
“Through the protection and restoration of local habitats and species, we can help halt biodiversity loss and reduce the risk of ecosystem collapse—both locally and globally.”
You can read more on the Nature Commissions thoughts on the UK Government’s report and what can be done to turn the tide and halt the loss of biodiversity, HERE.
The Nature Commission’s advice for islanders keen to make a difference:
- Influence those around you, including your family, friends, and decision-makers at business and government level to ensure nature is considered.
- Record your biological sightings through free apps such as iRecord, to help build the evidence-based on how our local natural environment is fairing.
- Volunteer with a local nature-based charity and support the amazing work they do in protecting and enhancing nature in Guernsey.
- Garden for nature – one third of land in Guernsey is gardens, so imagine how much native biodiversity support there would be if we all garden for nature. Check out State of Nature 2024 for ways you can do this.
- Consider the impact of your activities on the environment – there are lots of ways you can reduce your negative impact on nature, from disposing of rubbish properly, to following the rules for dog-friendly beaches to reduce wildlife harassment, to ensuring you put rocks back how you found them when going ormering.