May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity, a date adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992. This commemoration aims to increase understanding and awareness in defence of biodiversity and the threats it faces.

May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity, a date adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992. This commemoration aims to increase understanding and awareness in defence of biodiversity and the threats it faces.

According to the official definition adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity, biodiversity is “the variability of living organisms from all sources, including, but not limited to, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; This includes diversity within species, between species and ecosystems.” In this way, the organization describes that biodiversity is part of nature, and includes all living beings on Earth and the interactions between their members and their environment.

Despite the great global value of biodiversity, the number of species and ecosystems is currently declining at an accelerated rate due to human activity. The United Nations indicates that this anthropogenic activity would have altered the terrestrial environment by 75% and the marine environment by 66%.  

According to data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), worldwide, more than 40,000 species are in danger of extinction, a figure that represents 28% of all species assessed.

In addition to this cause, there are other threats that cause the loss of biodiversity , including changes in land and ocean use, overexploitation of natural resources, environmental pollution, the presence of invasive alien species, and the effects of climate change.

At the national level, Spain has an enormous and rich biological diversity, which is an important responsibility.  More than 50% of the animal species in Europe and more than 5% worldwide are present in our country. Spain has more than 67,000 species, including 53,665 terrestrial species, and is also one of the European countries with the greatest marine biodiversity, with 13,626 species. Likewise, our country has 56% of the types of habitats of community interest and forest areas occupy 55% of the area covered by forest areas.

In 2022, the International Day for Biological Diversity has chosen the theme “Building a shared future for all life on Earth” to continue to build momentum and support for the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to be adopted at the upcoming United Nations Biodiversity Conference #COP15 scheduled for later this year. It is also in the context of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on all continents and in all oceans.

This Decade highlights that biodiversity is the answer to several sustainable development challenges. From Nature-based Solutions (NBS) to climate, health issues, food and water security and driving more nature-friendly lifestyles.

In this way, Nature-based Solutions are presented as a more cost-effective means than other alternatives, as they make it possible to mitigate the effects of climate change, promote food and water security or promote a more sustainable economy. In short, they are presented as a key instrument to address the loss of biodiversity, making an essential contribution to the health of the planet and the survival of the human species.