Better to conserve than restore ecosystems

The world’s ecosystems are steadily being destroyed and this calls for immediate intervention in the rehabilitation and restoration of what has been damaged. The United Nations Environmental Programme, recently released a report showing that close to 30 per cent of the world’s ecosystems have already been transformed or destroyed. The report confirms that another 30 per cent has been fragmented and the rest is battling the effects of pollution and invasion. Scientists have proved that ecosystems ensure pollination, which is crucial for agriculture, as well as water supply. The degradation of ecosystems, over time, has led to direct costs including lower productivity and food insecurity, which threaten sustainable development.While restoration of lost eco-systems is important, conservation of the existing ones should be paramount. There is no doubt that conservation is the most cost effective way to ensure that we profit from ecosystems, particularly in areas with a high degree of land pressure and development. Although it is often hoped that with time a restored habitat will closely resemble the original, that has not always been the case. The Government has put in place legislation and strict policies designed to conserve the existing ecosystems. However, as a country on a journey to development, there is need to constantly sensitize the population on the benefits of conservation, so that the developmental activities remain eco friendly. Ends

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Better to conserve than restore ecosystems