May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity, a date proclaimed by the United Nations to remember the importance of protecting biodiversity in all its forms. This year’s theme, “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development”, focuses on the urgent need to halt biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems, as a basis for ensuring a healthy and equitable future for people and the planet.

Biodiversity sustains life as we know it. The water we drink, the food we consume, the medicines we use or the quality of the air we breathe depend on it. Despite their importance, one million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction, and 75% of the terrestrial environment has already been significantly altered by human activity. These data, collected by the global report of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), show the urgent need for action.

The degradation of biodiversity also directly affects human health. The loss of habitats and the alteration of ecosystems increase the risk of the emergence of diseases that are transmissible between animals and people, as has been evidenced in recent years.

Therefore, recovering biodiversity is key to facing major global challenges, such as the climate crisis, food security or public health. Restoring ecosystems, renaturing cities or protecting natural spaces, promoting Nature-based Solutions (NBS), is not only an environmental issue, but an investment in well-being, quality of life and future resilience.

In this regard, the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity, adopted in 2022, sets out a clear roadmap for reversing biodiversity loss by 2050. But achieving these goals requires a profound change in our relationship with nature, betting on more sustainable models that respect the limits of the planet.

Since its inception, the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has worked to conserve and restore natural capital, raise awareness of its essential value and promote a development model in harmony with nature.