The International Day for Biological Diversity is right around the corner! In 2000, in an effort to raise awareness and understanding of challenges relating to biodiversity, the United Nations designated May 22nd as The International Day for Biological Diversity. This year’s theme is “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity”, affirming that it’s time to implement the agreed-upon measures from the UN’s adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at the 15th meeting of the UN’s Biodiversity Conference, COP15 in 2022.
The 2023 Biodiversity Day is accompanied by a list of 22 Actions that respond to the 23 Targets for 2030. These targets in the Global Biodiversity Framework include ensuring that 30% of land and sea areas globally are protected and conserved; the reduction, control, and eradication of invasive species by 50%; and the reduction of pesticide use by 66%, nutrient-loss by 50%, and the elimination of plastic waste. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework strives to address and rectify threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services.
“Species are now disappearing hundreds, or even thousands, of times faster than the natural background rate of extinction.”
The United Nations Environment Programme
Nearly 50% of greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity are absorbed by the land and ocean, while the other half remains in the atmosphere. These ecosystems and their biodiversity act as “carbon sinks”. Carbon sinks are essential nature-based solutions to climate change. Limiting carbon emissions and adapting to an ever-changing climate requires the conservation and restoration of all natural areas. By increasing nature’s capacity to absorb emissions, about 33% of the greenhouse gas emission reductions required over the next ten years might be reached.
Biodiversity is paramount to our earth’s health and well-being and, in turn, paramount to our health and well-being. It is an essential component of the processes that support all life on earth, not just humans. This Biodiversity Day, get outside and attempt one, or some, of the 22 Actions (linked above)!
At OneNature, we believe that we must do the work to fully and accurately comprehend the true values of wildlife through a local and traditional perspective, assisted by local communities experienced in stewarding wildlife. A framework that incorporates the well-being of all beings into all levels of policy and decision-making is paramount to the health of our planet and its inhabitants. We must move away from an economy based on unsustainable and unequal economic development and toward one that promotes well-being; this is the path to a better and more promising future. In order to sustain the natural world and human flourishing, wildlife conservation must be at the center of this vision of well-being.
“Change is never easy, and it often creates discord, but when people come together for the good of humanity and the Earth, we can accomplish great things.”
David Suzuki