Biological diversity, or simply biodiversity, encapsulates all the different kinds of life on Earth. From tiny organisms to whole ecosystems, it takes into account the evolutionary, ecological and cultural processes that help to sustain life. All forms of life, from plants to humans, live in their own ecosystems, such as forests for plants and cities for humans, and their interaction too is part of the concept of biodiversity. “without biodiversity, there is no future for humanity”.
Healthy biodiversity is vital, and the reasons are both utilitarian and intrinsic. Not only do humans rely on biodiversity for food, water and shelter, but biodiversity also regulates climate, water purification, pollination and seed dispersal that, consequently, allows for food growth. Even modern medicines rely on biodiversity – for instance, some fungi that is grown on sloths’ fur can fight cancer.
So far, Earth has already gone through five mass extinctions of biodiversity, mostly caused by natural phenomena like volcanic eruptions, deep ice ages, meteorite impacts and clashing continents. However, some believe a sixth one is impending and this time it will be caused by humans. It’s approximated that livestock consumes 25–40% of the Earth’s energy that is captured by plants, which helps biodiversity sustain itself, and that 97% of all vertebrate land beings are either humans or farm animals. The process of evolution is being tampered with by human interference, either by relocating species or genetic modifications. This can be devastating for the delicate balance of biological diversity.
Because of these factors, the extinction rate of species is now about 1,000 times higher than in the 60 million years before people came along. While only 5% of known specie have been assessed and placed on The IUCN Red List, scientists think at least 25% of mammals, 41% of amphibians and 13% of birds are threatened. WWF’s Living Planet Report 2022 found the wildlife population has dropped by 69% in the past 50 years alone. It is important to raise awareness of biodiversity and its alarming extinction rate not only to ensure every form of life can continue to interact in a healthy and balanced way, but also to prevent damaging the global economy.
Climate is also a vital part of ecosystems and human health. For instance, marine biodiversity is negatively impacted by higher levels of carbon in the atmosphere as it makes the ocean more acidic. Climate instability such as extreme events like floods or droughts, affects the health of all ecosystems and consequently the amount of goods available to humans. Significant changes in climate can completely destroy ecosystems, resulting in the adaptation of plants, animals and even humans. The global surface temperature was measured for the first time in 1880 and, according to studies, over the last century, the average surface temperature has increased by about 1°C, which makes a huge difference overall.
Biological diversity ensures the possibility of nutrition in the world’s food production, as it involves the fertility of soils and genetic resources for all crops, livestock and marine species. The World Health Organisation wrote that enhanced and modified food production with the aid of irrigation, fertilisers and pesticides all affect biodiversity and will consequently impact global health and nutrition. More than 60% of the world’s population uses traditional medicine, and it is important to note a large number of plants form the basis of the majority of traditional and complementary medicine. Many communities rely on completely natural products that are collected from ecosystems for use in medical and cultural purposes. This means that, even if synthetic lab-made medicines are available and can cover a wide spectrum of purposes, the global need for natural products is still very strong. Natural remedies can be very useful to understand human physiology and treat human diseases. On the subject of human diseases, the disturbances caused by humans to existing functioning ecosystems are altering biodiversity. This is leading to the decline of certain organisms and growth in others, but is also changing how organisms interact with one another and with the surrounding environment. Infectious diseases are particularly sensitive to these changes. The main responsible parties are deforestation, land-use change, water management like irrigation or dam construction, resistance to pesticides used to control a number of plant diseases, climate change, unnatural migrations and human introduction of pathogens, whether natural or chemical.
In order to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity, the United Nations celebrates the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22. The theme for International Day for Biological Diversity 2025 is: “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development “This theme emphasizes not only the need to conserve biodiversity but also its integral role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights the importance of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and supports global efforts to ensure a balanced coexistence between humanity and nature. This important day serves to raise awareness about the need to protect and preserve the rich variety of life forms on Earth — including animals, plants, microorganisms, and ecosystems. Biodiversity is the foundation of life, providing essential resources like food, medicine, clean water, and climate regulation that are crucial for human survival. The United Nations General Assembly implemented the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1993. Initially, the day was celebrated on December 29, the date on which the Convention came into force. However, in 2000, the date was changed to May 22, to mark the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The International Day for Biological Diversity serves as a powerful reminder that every form of life on Earth is interconnected. Protecting biodiversity is not just an environmental issue but a necessity for human survival and well-being. It is our collective responsibility to conserve nature and ensure a healthy, sustainable planet for future generations.
(The writer can be reached at:sjugeshwor7@gmail.com)