What is biodiversity & why does it matter?
The importance of biodiversity
The term biodiversity refers to the diversity within species, between species (including animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms) and of ecosystems that make up our natural world. Our access to food, clean water, medicine and shelter depend on the natural world – as do our mental health and many of our cultural and spiritual practices.
High levels of biodiversity are also key to resilience – enabling species and ecosystems to evolve and adapt to changing conditions.
How bad is the biodiversity crisis?
Some scientists believe the sixth mass extinction has begun - nature and its vital contributions to people (and all other life on earth) are deteriorating worldwide. This is largely caused by changing human activity in land and sea use, natural resource exploitation, climate change, pollution and the introduction of invasive species.
The extinction rate of species is thought to be about 1,000 times higher than before humans dominated the planet.
One estimate suggests that, by weight, 97% of the world’s vertebrate land animals are now comprised of humans and farm animals; only 3% remain wild. Further, 75% of the world’s food is sourced from just 12 crops and five animal species.
A recent assessment of planetary boundaries found that all four biological boundaries were at or close to the highest risk level.
Global architecture to address the biodiversity and climate crisis
The climate change and biodiversity crises are linked
The IPBES Global Assessment Report observes that the level of interconnectedness between the climate change and biodiversity crises is high and should not be underestimated - we will ‘solve both or solve neither’.
If we are not able to limit global warming to 1.5oC, climate change is likely to become the dominant driver of biodiversity loss.
In turn, efforts to preserve and restore biodiversity are needed to limit global warming and address the climate crisis – the UN has described biodiversity as our strongest natural defence against climate change.
Further reading and resources
About biodiversity and human rights
What is biodiversity? (Our Planet)
What is biodiversity and why does it matter to us? (The Guardian, 2018)
Human rights and biodiversity: Key messages (UN Environment Programme, 2021)
In-depth brief: What are biodiversity offsets? (Carbon Brief, 2023)
Biodiversity assessments
Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES, 2019)
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 2023)
Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries (Stockholm Resilience Centre, 2023)
Living Planet Report 2022 (World Wildlife Fund, 2022)
Recommendations and other resources for business
TNFD Recommendations and Additional Guidance publications (TNFD, 2023) (includes a standalone Guidance on engagement with Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and affected stakeholders)
A Blueprint for Responsible Global Business (World Wildlife Fund, 2020)