What is the issue?
Sustainable use is a critical tool for supporting both conservation and livelihoods, yet its role in achieving development goals is often overlooked.
All people depend on nature for nutrition, health, and well-being, with billions around the world relying on wild species to support their livelihoods. It has been estimated that between 3.5 and 5.8 billion people (between 40 and 70% of the world’s population) use wild natural products. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) notes that this is particularly true of Indigenous Peoples and communities in rural areas, who often live in close proximity with wildlife.
The use of wild species can be extractive, where the whole, part, or product of an animal, fungus, or plant is removed from its natural environment – for example through wild meat hunting, fishing, timber harvesting, and honey collection. It can also be non-extractive, where the wild species remains in its natural habitat – for example in wildlife photography and catch-release recreations.
The use of components of biological diversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations.
Definition of sustainable use according to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, Rio de Janeiro, 1992.
It is critical that use of wild species is sustainable, as both extractive and non-extractive practices can lead to species population declines if not well-managed. Overexploitation is a major driver of biodiversity loss, according to analysis of IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ data.
On the other hand, sustainable use of wild species can serve human needs on an ongoing basis while also contributing to the effective management and conservation of biodiversity. Revenues from using wild species can contribute to funding further conservation efforts, with the social and economic benefits derived from using wild species providing incentives for people to conserve them.