BIODIVERSITY DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH ECONOMIC GROWTH

By now, everyone realises that something is wrong with the climate. After summers of drought or flooding, the urgency is becoming more widely felt. But things are different in the case of the shrinking biodiversity. The problem is just as acute, but less tangible.

“I sometimes compare it to a plane”, Krien Hansen of Natuurpunt clarifies. “More and more parts are missing and quite a few screws are loose, but it still flies. But the day that it crashes because that many parts are missing is coming increasingly closer.” The situation is serious, but she does not want to be fatalistic. “We can still turn the situation around, but we need to start acting now.”

Why is biodiversity so important?

You could compare it to the human body. Every part of it has its own function. If all pieces fit together well, it works just fine. But if something is missing somewhere, things go wrong. Our ecosystem is a natural service provider. When it is in balance, it provides clean air and water, pollination, etc. It also offers us recreation and has a demonstrable effect on our well-being. But now the balance is lost.

Where is the threat?

For the first time in our history, there is a major wave of extinction happening that has been set in motion by humans. Our economy overexploits our ecosystem. And at such a speed that the ecosystem is not given the chance to adapt. We are well past the phase of ignorance. The knowledge and the awareness are there. But in practice, we just keep doing what we were doing.

Is economic growth the problem?

Not necessarily. Economic growth is perfectly possible if we take the social and ecological boundaries of our planet into account. I myself am specialised in the North Sea. So let me give you an example. At present, more and more economic activity is being developed in the North Sea: wind turbines, solar panels, sea farms, wild fishery, etc. In principle, it is all possible. But unfortunately, marine biodiversity is out of balance because of past over-exploitation. Coral and oyster reefs have become extinct and some fish stocks have disappeared. If we can repair that balance and restore nature’s resilience, much will be possible. But that needs to happen first. At present, it is happening the other way around and ecological recovery is being prevented by short-term economic gain.

How can we do better?

Sometimes we are taking steps in the right direction. Wildlife in the North Sea is increasingly being taken into account in the construction of wind turbines. A wind turbine affects nature both above and below the water surface. If you are not careful, such a construction will be at the expense of biodiversity. Think, for example, of migratory birds that become disoriented by the turbine blades. But you can prevent or limit the damage by working in the right way and in the right location. Intelligent design takes biodiversity and the planetary carrying capacity into account. As a trade union, we also think employment is important. This is of course linked to a healthy economy.

It is all perfectly compatible. The Hoge Kempen nature park was created after the closure of the mines. The nature park was a major investment in biodiversity. But it pays off. The hospitality industry around the nature park has created jobs: there are guided tours, leaflets are printed, etc. They are different jobs than before, but jobs nonetheless. Natuurpunt itself is another example of how taking care of nature can create jobs. We currently employ almost 600 people. And they are not just biologists or other high profiles. We also have social workers, economists, accountants, etc. And our largest staff group can be found in our social enterprise. There, 250 employees take care of the greenery in the parks we manage. Nature conservation does not have to be at odds with economy and employment.

Which role can a trade union play in the story of biodiversity?

Trade union representatives are often very close to the company policy. They know and keep a close eye on the social boundaries of economic growth. But maybe ecological boundaries should also be included in their training package. This way, they can help make the company policy more sustainable.

Never Work Alone 2022 | Author: Jan Deceunynck | Image: Shutterstock