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Biodiversity
is not just a measure of sustainable development or a concern
of environmentalists; it is essential to many people's livelihoods.
We all depend on the diversity of life - from the different
types of microorganisms vital for soil fertility, to the range
of plants and animals used for food and shelter, to the variety
of forests and other ecosystems protecting water supplies.
"75%
of the world's population depend primarily on traditional
medicines, many of which are gathered from the wild."
Poor
people are the most dependent on these diverse resources,
and are most vulnerable when biodiversity is lost. However,
poverty often forces people to give priority to immediate
needs, and use resources unsustainably.
"We
know that cutting down trees will cause water shortages and
that making charcoal can cause forest fires, but we have no
choice. Because we lack food, we have to exploit the forest…"
A resident of Ha Tinh, Vietnam. DFID
has produced this publication, which describes some of the
many different ways in which poor people rely on the diversity
of life, and the potential of biodiversity for reducing poverty.
It also provides an overview of DFID's approach to biodiversity,
highlighting strategies that promote both poverty reduction
and sustainable use of natural resources.
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