All that Grows In Wild Is Beautiful

Invariably advocacy programs for conservation of biodiversity focus on conservation of animals which have some sort of a celebrity status like tiger, crocodile and turtles. Some themes like ‘marine biodiversity’ are also used to impress upon the value of biodiversity.  

To me this is underplaying the importance of the very broad meaning and importance of the term biodiversity in a holistic context.

To me we should talk aggressively about the importance of every creature on the earth, be it a pest or parasite, economically important or not, small or big, bat or bed bug, bird or bee, crow or owl, bamboo or rose, snake or frog, elephant or mouse.

A wild grass in full bloom

The term biodiversity is more suited to the setting of  a wild environment: all that exists in a wild setting  with no or the least human invasion.  Everything there grows  naturally, sustains in a competitive natural environment and evolves. 

The term biodiversity must give us the feel of the real extent of diversity existing in the nature, the purpose, its scale or grandness, the value, ecological, environmental and biological and  our responsibility to stop the damage to it.

The other day I saw a variety of grass in full bloom growing in the vacant plot of a residential area. This area was until few years back a field with all its variety of flora and fauna.

Now the original flora of this area in under an assault. Very soon, when the house come up on this plot, and other plots, in the vicinity this flora typical to the place will vanish and we will have beautiful houses replacing those wild plants!

And powerful masters will be sitting in their lawns flaunting some prized species of ornamental plants.

This world is some how turning into a world of celebrities, celebrity men and animals as if there is no importance, place or role for others.

In fact, what grows in the natural world is far more superior biologically than those of ornamental value.

What grows in the wild is hardy, it has power to survive in the adverse climates, and thrive like this wild grass in full bloom. Their natural strength is manifested in their beauty and power to survive!

Republic of Kiribati Leads The World In Conservation

Those who like eat fish would not like to see the day without fish. Much less those who relish the gourmet Tuna fish!

There are others who may like fish for other reasons. They catch, sell or trade in fish; it is a multi-million dollar business globally.

But there is yet another class who would like fish for their importance in biological space (biodiversity) because there are innumerable number of fishes of different sizes, varieties, numbers and their role in fresh water or marine ecosystems.

In this context, this post intends to inform the readers of this blog about Kiribati's recent decision to preserve and protect tuna fish stock in a part of the Pacific ocean as a major international initiative.

A view of Kiribati Island

Last month (16th June), at the U.S. State Department’s led ‘Our Ocean Conference’ held in Washington, Anote Tong, President of the Republic of Kiribati formally announced that Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) will close to all commercial fishing by the end of 2014. The only relaxation  was subsistence fishing around Kanto Island.

The decision is part of a larger move to control commercial fishing and safeguard the world’s most important island and ocean areas. The decision is a test case for large-scale  conservation of tuna stocks. The decision assumes importance from the point of view of conservation, interests of future generation and the Kiribati’s future economy. 

The decision is joint effort of Kiribati government, the US agency, Conservation International, and New England Aquarium. PIPA’s closure will take effect ahead of the Marine Protected Area s (MPA) original plan to 28% closure of commercial fishing before 2014 end.

“This is the boldest action taken  by a government I have seen in my career in terms of protecting natural capital and creating critically-needed protected areas,” said Dr.Greg Stone, CI’s chief scientist and chairman of the PIPA Trust Board of Trustees. The PIPA is 11 percent of Kiribati's Exclusive Economic Zone; it is a significant area to set aside for conservation, food security and sustainable development.

President Tong of Kiribati said, “My people have been custodians of our oceans for centuries”, while addressing world ocean leaders from 80 countries. He added that solutions must focus on a united, connected and sustained approach. “Action is our obligation for our children and our children's children. The closure of the Phoenix Island Protected Area will have a major contribution for regeneration of tuna stocks, not only for us but for our global community, and for generations to come.”

Tuna is an economic mainstay of Kiribati and indeed many Pacific Island states. It took nearly two decades for MPAs to be recognized as a valuable approach for coastal fisheries, and the time is now to include MPAs as a vital part of our sustainable tuna strategy,” President Tong said. “We are committed to testing this in the heart of the world’s largest tuna fishery.”

The PIPA is one of the world's most economically important waters left on the planet, and it houses the largest remaining stocks of tuna fish. About 60% of the world’s tuna catch is dominated by fleets from China, Europe, Japan and the U.S., comes from this region.

The UNESCO included PIPA in its World Heritage List in 2010, in recognition of its universally significant ocean wilderness and contribution to ecological and biological processes in the evolution of global marine ecosystems. Its considers increased fishing protection critical to long-term conservation of PIPA's natural value.  

Kiribati government’s action to close the largest and deepest UNESCO World Heritage site to commercial fishing is an exemplary move by a developing country in order to safeguard global food security in the next century.

Through this conservation effort, Kiribati is investing in its natural resources. This decision is taken in spite of fiscal and political constraints and Kiribati's dependence on fisheries for more than 40% of its national budget. There is also a big question of survival because of the rising sea levels due to climate change.  

With fish stocks rapidly diminishing worldwide, the PIPA’s closure, which represents approximately 11% of Kiribati’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and is the size of California, aims to strengthen tuna stocks that will ultimately be available to commercial fishing outside the protected area for generations to come.

The complete closure of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, except an exemption for subsistence fishing in a populated area, is an important precedence of stewardship for many other World Heritage marine sites which still struggle with unsustainable fishing practices.