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Development and the Environment the evidence …. Dr Ruth Fuller 29 Jan 2010. WWF’s global mission. The mission of WWF is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:.
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Development and the Environment the evidence … Dr Ruth Fuller 29 Jan 2010
WWF’s global mission The mission of WWF is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by: • conserving the world’s biological diversity • ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable • reducing pollution and wasteful consumption
Environmental degradation = povertyPoverty = environmental degradation
Climate change, poverty, ecosystem links Climate Change Impacts • Climate change: • damages ecosystems • Impacts people through environmental change • exacerbates existing stresses • Ecosystems: • - are more resilient if they are stable and diverse • can help buffer impacts • Poorest least responsible but most impacted • Climate change Impacts include increased droughts, flooding, food insecurity, health issues, changes in natural resources eg fish, crops • -Poor people less able to adapt • Poor people depend on natural resources • Poor suffer ecosystems degradation • Changes in NRM management can help build resilience of ecosystems and communities • Environmental sustainability underpins long-term poverty reduction • Natural resources can be the wealth of the poor Ecosystems/ Natural Resources Poverty Negative relationship Positive relationship
WWF Projects around the world • DFID a key partner • Projects at local, national and international level • Local natural resource management (eg Colombia, Nepal) • Climate change adaptation and resilience (eg MAR) • Consumption and footprint (eg China) • National level policy engagement (eg India, Tanzania) • International policy work – eg UNFCCC climate change
Conclusion • Poverty – environment links are complex and multifaceted • Influenced by power, politics and governance eg access to resources • Conservation and poverty – can be an uncomfortable relationship • Shifting the conservation paradigm (people are the problem to people part of the solution)
