Nature’s ability to meet our needs for food, water, energy and other essential services for human well-being requires sound government policy and smart funding choices.
Governments around the world have adopted policies to protect wildlife, land, fresh water, air and marine resources. With the unprecedented draw down of critical natural resources, however, current policies cannot keep pace with today’s environmental challenges.
Text Columns 2 or 3
EditSection title:Why is it important?
EditNumber of Columns:large--one-third3Note: Items will rearrange into rows and columns as needed depending on number of columns specified here.
Remove this module
EditItem Title:National and global security EditItem Text:Depleting critical natural resources can lead to instability, mass migration and regional conflict. In Somalia, overharvesting of fish stocks has driven some fishermen to piracy. In 2010, member countries of NATO spent an estimated US$ 2 billion to address Somali piracy in the sea lanes off the Horn of Africa.Remove this item
EditItem Title:Livelihoods EditItem Text:Governments around the world are recognizing the value of nature to long-term employment and prosperity, as well as the importance of natural resource stewardship to economic and global security. In 2012, leaders from 10 African countries agreed to integrate sustainable natural resource management into their economic development plans.Remove this item
EditItem Title:Food we eat EditItem Text:Around the world governments are working with local communities, businesses and nonprofit organizations to ensure proper management of the seas and lands so that they can support productive fisheries and farms.Remove this item
EditItem Title:Water we drink EditItem Text:From New York City to southwestern China, governments are creating innovative ways for downstream water users to pay upstream landowners to maintain and restore forest areas and to prevent pollution. These “Payment for Ecosystem Services” programs help sustain freshwater resources for current and future generations. Remove this item Add a Column Item
EditItem Title:Climate stability EditItem Text:Conserving the world’s tropical forests is essential for mitigating the impacts of climate change. In 2009, the Government of Norway committed up to US $250 million to support Guyana’s efforts to promote sustainable economic development and to mitigate climate change through protection of the country’s forests.Remove this item
Circles 2 Across
Remove this module
EditSection TitleWhat are the issues?
EditSection ID (Anchor Tag):issues[Optional]
EditCircle color (For Mobile View): fact--brown
EditResult field:park rangers killed worldwide
EditText:The scale and sophistication of illegal logging, fishing and wildlife trafficking threaten to overwhelm government personnel, equipment and technology available for enforcement. More than 1,000 park rangers worldwide have died in the line of duty – many of them victims of homicide – during the last decade. In recent years, governments from countries such as Cameroon and Botswana have had to deploy military forces to combat wildlife poaching.
EditCircle color (For Mobile View):fact--color-FCBC17
EditCircle icon: icon-money
EditCircle icon: fact--yellow-currencies
EditResult field:pressure to cut foreign aid
EditTitle:Lack of Adequate Funding
EditText:In 2011, the 29 western nations that make up the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee dedicated US$ 6.1 billion to biodiversity-related aid – an amount representing 5% of total bilateral official development assistance. But with concerns over mounting budget deficits and other domestic economic problems, governments are under increasing pressure to cut foreign aid. As threats to the world’s natural resources are increasing, economic uncertainties are challenging the ability of governments to sustain funding levels for international conservation.