Human activities that threaten biodiversity

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Biodiversity includes ecosystems and habitats (e.g. forests and wetlands), as well as species of plants and animals and their genetic variability, all of which have social, economic, cultural and scientific importance. Protecting and conserving biodiversity in all its forms, is fundamental to sustainable development and is important for activities that rely on the goods and services provided by biodiversity or could have a significant impact on biodiversity.

Ecosystem services are the benefits that people and businesses obtain from ecosystems (e.g. food and fibre, clean water and cultural aspects such as religious and spiritual values). Significant and large-scale impacts on biodiversity can therefore adversely affect the delivery of ecosystem services.

Threats include:

  • Habitat destruction, fragmentation and degradation caused by the conversion of natural habitats such as forests, wetlands and grasslands (e.g. by road, rail or other linear features).

  • Pollution and climate change, which create conditions under which species can no longer survive (e.g. because of poor water or air quality).

  • Overharvesting or collection (especially for fisheries, forestry and other natural resource-based sectors).

  • Introduction of alien or invasive species. The intentional or accidental introduction of alien or non-native species of flora and fauna can be a significant threat to biodiversity, as they may spread rapidly and out-compete native species.

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Advice for fund managers

Companies and investors need to have an understanding of the risks and impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The process companies use to identify risks and impacts can be via a formal environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) or through a less extensive and formal biodiversity assessment, depending on the nature and scale of the risk and impacts. 

Important factors in whether adverse impacts to biodiversity may be apparent include:

  • Location and scale of activities, including those of associated facilities and businesses that are likely to have significant impacts on ecosystem services.

  • Supply chains, particularly when these are reliant on food, forestry and other products derived from primary production, or in proximity to areas of known biodiversity value (such as protected areas or Critical Habitat).

  • Technology/type of operations that will be used (e.g. underground mining versus open pit) and the efficiency of the proposed equipment.

EnvironmentalImpactFrancesca Tabor