Reiterating earlier findings, the third edition of the UN’s Global Biodiversity Outlook declared that none of the 2002 targets to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 has been achieved globally.

The report warns that a number of habitats are approaching ‘tipping points’ beyond which recovery will be difficult or impossible. It cites the death of large areas of Amazon forest, the collapse of many coral reef ecosystems and the shift of many freshwater lakes to algae-dominated states.

“Humanity has fabricated the illusion that somehow we can get by without biodiversity,” wrote Achim Steiner, the executive director of the UN Environment Programme (press release pdf).

In addition to the headline target to reduce biodiversity loss, none of the 21 addition targets – such as ‘at least 10% of each of the world’s ecological regions effectively conserved’ – have been achieved globally.

The report was released on 10 May at the opening of a two-week UN-led biodiversity meeting in Nairobi.

See also: Biodiversity loss persists – 30 April.