The United Nations (UN) International Day for Biological Diversity, celebrated on May 22, is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of the natural habitat and encourage the preservation, reparation, and respect of biological wealth.
This year’s theme, “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity,” builds on the outcomes of the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) that resulted in the signing of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreement.
The United Nations (UN) International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated under the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, an international legal instrument for the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components.
While the relevance of biological diversity as a worldwide resource for future generations is being increasingly recognized, certain human actions are drastically reducing the number of species on Earth.
On this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres, addressed a message to the world to raise awareness about biodiversity and its vital contribution to our daily lives, stressing the importance of preserving biodiversity.
“From the air we breathe and the food we eat, to the energy that fuels us and the medicines that heal us, our lives are wholly dependent on healthy ecosystems; yet our actions are devastating every corner of the planet,” emphasized Guterres in his message.
The UN Chief stressed the need to ensure sustainable production and consumption patterns, redirect subsidies from nature-destroying actions towards green solutions, and recognize the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities as the strongest protectors of the earth’s biodiversity.
Guterres also called on governments, businesses, civil society, and the private sector to take stronger and faster action against biodiversity loss and climate change “to secure a sustainable future for all.”
Resources that support biological diversity are the foundations upon which we build civilizations. 3 billion individuals get 20% of their animal protein from fish, the human diet contains over 80% of plants, and up to 80% of rural residents in underdeveloped nations depend on conventional plant-based medications for basic medical treatment.
However, the extinction of species harms everyone. It has been established that animal-derived diseases could increase if biodiversity were to decline. On the other hand, if biodiversity were to remain intact, it would provide us with excellent weapons to combat pandemics like those brought on by coronaviruses.
When biodiversity has a problem, humanity has a problem. Let’s contribute to the preservation of biodiversity to protect everyone on our planet!