Above all, the International Day for Biological Diversity, celebrated on May 22, is a reminder of environmental protection. How to rebuild the relationship between man and nature, what can we do every day to care for the environment? Among other things, we talk with dr hab. Piotr Rutkowski from the Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation of the Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk.
In the photo dr hab. Piotr Rutkowski during biodiversity research in coastal forests. Photo by Monika Markowska.
Elżbieta Michalak-Witkowska: - On May 22 we celebrate Biodiversity Day. How to understand this term, what is biological diversity?
Dr hab. Piotr Rutkowski: - Biodiversity is quite a broad term. It includes three levels. The highest level is called ecosystemic diversity, which means diversity of habitats, plant communities, or entire ecosytems. The lower middle level is species diversity. That is, the diversity of all organisms living on earth, of individual plant, animal and fungal species. The third and lowest level is intra-species diversity, also known as genetic diversity. This includes differences within each individual species; including different subspecies, races or varieties.
- So it is around areas such as nature, water, energy, agriculture and health that human activity should focus if we want to improve the environment?
- Man has many means by which he can rebuild his relationship with nature. Starting with everyday activities, such as conscious consumption, i.e. choosing local, seasonal products or less packaged products, buying ecological food, ecologically sustainable products - through limiting carbon dioxide emissions, saving energy, segregating rubbish, reducing the use of plastics, to activities strictly related to nature protection: changing lawns into flower meadows, planting trees, increasing green areas, building spaces for insects, etc. Every so-called ecological action contributes in some way to the protection of nature and the environment.
- Scientists note that biodiversity is decreasing at a surprisingly fast rate, causing, among other things, the extinction of several hundred species on earth every day. Is this really the case? Can it be stopped?
- The number of species that are dying out on earth every day cannot be stated unequivocally, because we still do not know exactly how many species exist on the globe. The fact is that the human impact on biodiversity is enormous and continues to be negative. The rate of extinction of species is currently several dozen times faster throughout the world than before the arrival of man on Earth. It is estimated that this is the largest-scale extinction since the extinction of the dinosaurs. For example, some 42 per cent of terrestrial animal and plant species have declined over the past decade. Many actions are being taken to minimise this impact, but more action is still needed at various levels: international (agreements and conventions for nature conservation), national (implementation of the Nature Conservation Act, care for nature conservation forms) and civic. Each of us, through a range of everyday actions, can try to reverse this trend. The answer as I wrote in the question below.
- Do we at the UG carry out activities aimed at protecting biodiversity? What projects do you have in mind?
- The University of Gdańsk as a research unit plays a very important role in the protection of the environment and nature, first of all by studying this diversity on all three levels. We discover and describe new species for science, we study their ecology, physiology or distribution. Equally important is the study of changes that occur at the level of habitats or plant communities or ecosystems. In our publications we always emphasise the existing threats to our subject of research and the possibilities of their mitigation. The didactic mission of the University is also extremely important, which manifests itself in ecological education, shaping pro-environmental attitudes and raising the awareness of the necessity of nature protection among the next generations.
- Is there any legal document that defines the legal framework for biodiversity activities?
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was drawn up on June 5, 1992, during the so-called Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. This Convention has three objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
- What should resonate most on that day? What message can we send to our readers on the occasion of Biodiversity Day?
- We need to drastically reduce the loss of the planet's biodiversity through intensive use of available solutions. We need fundamental changes in the way we live and do business, from our energy systems and the way we use land, to our approach to buildings, cities, transport and food, to environmentally friendly everyday activities. There is a challenge for each of us here that we need to respond to quickly.
- Thank you for the interview.