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But biodiversity – the diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems – is declining globally, faster than at any other time in human history. The world’s 7.6 billion people represent just 0.01% of all living things by weight, but humanity has caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and half of all plants .
March 3 is World Wildlife Day and this year's theme is Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet. The theme is focused on forest biodiversity - a forest's many life forms and ecological roles. The observance this year is a reminder of the critical impact forests have in our lives.
The Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) estimates how much of an area’s natural biodiversity remains, helping us to understand past, current and future changes to nature, write Andy Purvis, of London’s Natural History Museum and Samantha Hill, of the UN Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
The importance of biodiversity hotspots was first identified by pioneering environmentalist Norman Myers in his paper ‘Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities’, published, posthumously, in Nature in 2000.
More on Nature and Biodiversity. See all. How the ocean shone during the UN Biodiversity Conference 2024.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2019 suggests that the global decline in biodiversity overall – with a 60% reduction in species since 1970 – could have repercussions on everything from health and socioeconomic development to productivity and even regional security.
Plants are essential for medicines. For example, 25% of drugs used in modern medicine are derived from rainforest plants. Biodiversity loss is also linked to increases in disease as humans encroach into untouched nature through deforestation and urbanization. An estimated 43% of emerging infectious diseases come from wildlife. “
Biodiversity loss is the fourth most severe threat we face in the next 10 years, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2023. The following articles from the Forum provide insights into the benefits of biodiversity - and how we can reverse its rapid decline.
In the heart of the Philippines, nestled among the lush forests and dreaming crags just outside the city of Manila, lies the Masungi Georeserve - a haven of biodiversity. The reserve is a protected geotourism site known for its ancient ‘karst’ terrain - limestone rock formations which serve as a filter for vital waterways.
The UN’s COP15 talks aim to give biodiversity and ecosystems the same international protection as the climate. Biodiversity loss is ranked as one of the biggest threats facing humanity. Experts say the rate at which species are becoming extinct is accelerating.