HIPPO EFFECT - AN OVERVIEW

 Evolutionary biologist E. O. Wilson has coined the acronym HIPPO to describe the multiple assaults on biodiversity.

H – Habitat destruction

I – Invasive species 

P – Pollution

P – Population increase

O – Overharvesting

Virtually every ecosystem on the planet is degraded and some are in a state of near collapse. Species abundance is declining across large categories of animals and plants.

FISHERIES

Fisheries populations are prone to sudden drops once the level of exploitation reaches a certain tipping point.

e.g. North Atlantic cod fishery in the early 1990’s

CORALS

Coral reefs are under multiple assaults and pervasive threats because of rising sea surface temperatures. There is also physical destruction of reefs because of tourism, fishing, boating and other hazards like ocean pollution and large scale harvesting of corals for ornamental purposes.

AMPHIBIANS

The world is currently suffering from a crash of amphibian populations including many species of frogs and toads. Habitat destruction, fragmentation of wetlands and forests, invasive species like fish that eat tadpoles, use of pesticides and herbicides, destructive fungi, exposure to ultraviolet rays etc.

POLLINATORS

Many fruits, vegetables and flowering trees depend on pollinators such as honey bees for reproduction. There is now a vast decline in the wild populations of many pollinators by unsuitable invasive species. This results in declining crop productive and rising food costs.

GREAT APES

There is an acute threat to the great ape populations, including gorillas, bonobos, and  chimpanzees. Many of the dangers revolve around growing encroachment of human population on the forest habitats of the great apes.

In order to protect biodiversity the United Nations Convention on Bilogical Diversity (CBD) treaty was signed in 1992. Accordingly the objectives of the treaty are described as “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources”

The treaty calls on countries to take appropriate actions to conserve biological diversity.

The following wide range of conservation actions were envisaged:

-          reduce the rate of biodiversity loss – habitats and ecosystems, species and populations, genetic diversity

-          promote sustainable use of biodiversity

-          address the major threats to biodiversity, including those arising from invasive alien species, climate change, pollution and habitat change.

-          Maintain ecosystem integrity and the provision of goods and services provided by biodiversity in ecosystems in support of human well being

-          Protect traditional knowledge, innovations and practices

-          Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of use of genetic resources

-          Mobilize financial and technical resources for Implementing the convention and the strategic plan, especially for developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing states among them, and countries with economies in transition.