“When biodiversity has a problem, humanity has a problem” - United Nations
It doesn’t take too long to work out how real the UN’s statement is for all of us, reaching into every part of our lives. And yet this is the reality facing the world right now, which is why the theme of 2024’s International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22) ‘Be part of the Plan’ is so important.
‘The Plan’ is the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, an international agreement signed in December 2022 at COP15 that sets goals and measures to stop and reverse the loss of nature by 2050. While some of the most pressing actions need to be implemented at the top, arguably we all need to be aware—and to raise awareness—of our individual responsibilities in protecting biodiversity.
Some of the stats quoted on https://www.un.org/en/observances/biological-diversity-day are really sobering. One million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. And this is while three billion people rely on fish to provide 20% of their animal protein, and over 80% of the human diet comes from plants. As many as 80% of the world’s people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant-based medicines for basic health care.
2050 isn’t far away. If the Plan’s measures aren’t implemented by 2030, we won’t achieve its goals. Visit https://www.cbd.int/biodiversity-day to find out what’s happening and how you can support this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity.
