Political instability linked to loss of species: Study

LONDON: Political instability has several consequences, but new research led by experts from the University of Cambridge suggests that it also leads to loss of species due to weak legal enforcement, unsuitable and illegal killing in protected areas, and depleting biodiversity.

This is the first time that effectiveness of national governance and levels of sociopolitical stability have been identified as the most significant

THE RESEARCH SHOWS INEFFECTIVE NATIONAL GOVERNANCE IS A BETTER INDICATOR OF SPECIES DECLINE THAN ANY “ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT” MEASURE

global indicator of biodiversity and species loss.

The findings have been published in the journal Nature.

The study of changes in global wildlife three decades found low levels of effective national governance are strongest predictor of declining species numbers – more so than economic growth, climate change or even surges in human population.

The research used the fate of waterbird species since 1990 as a bellwether for broad biodiversity trends, as their wetland habitats are among the most diverse as well as the most endangered on earth.

Results were compared to worldwide governance indicators, which measure everything from violence rates and rule of law to political corruption, as well as data such as gross domestic product and conservation performance.

The team discovered that waterbird decline was greater in regions of the world where governance is on average less effective, such as Western and Central Asia.

“We now know that governance and political stability is a vital consideration when developing future environmental policies and practices,” said Cambridge’s Tatsuya Amano, who led the study.