The DLD Nature talk by tropical biologist Dr. Frauke Fischer (University of Würzburg) acts both as a biodiversity primer and a wake-up call, prompting us to urgently address this planetary crisis.
“We lose about 150 species every day, and we destroy a patch of pristine rainforest the size of a soccer pitch every five seconds”, Dr. Fischer says.
Biodiversity, she explains has three components: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. All are crucial to the health of Planet Earth – and our own survival.
The main drivers of biodiversity loss are land use change, direct exploitation, invasive species, pollution, and climate change.
Watch the video to find out how ecosystems provide valuable services to humans, such as pollination, carbon sequestration, and fertile soil; and why the destruction of biodiversity makes the economy more vulnerable to crises like food insecurity and refugee movements.
With her Perú Puro initiative, Dr. Fischer aims to make a difference beyond research, by supporting cocoa and coffee farmers in the Peruvian rainforest – it’s a sweet deal for her customers and nature, as she explains in our interview.
