• A report released by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has stated that about 50,000 wild species globally can meet the needs of billions of people.

KEY POINTS

• The IPBES assessment of the sustainable use of wild species aims to address challenges faced by policymakers and will be completed in 2022.
• Wild species provide half of the world’s seafood, a significant proportion of timber and energy, and remain a major source of protein, fiber and medicines for many communities in both developing and developed countries.
• Policies and decisions relating to the use of wild species will have consequences for people who depend on these species and affect progress towards the SDGs.