The world is summoned to take actions, during this year, to protect the diversity of our lives and our food, that’s the biodiversity.

What is Biodiversity?

In accordance with the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), the term biodiversity or biological diversity is defined as the variability among living organisms from all kinds including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part. It includes diversity within species, between species and ecosystems.

The biodiversity is the result of billions of years of evolution, as a result of natural processes and our influence.

In each ecosystem, living creatures, including humans, build a community interacting with the air, water and earth that surrounds them.

Biodiversity is therefore a combination of life forms and their interactions among themselves and with the environment making The Earth a uniquely and habitable place for humans which provides a wide range of goods and services that sustain our lives.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) stated that “Biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate, mainly due to the way we use nature to sustain production, consumption and trade in the global economy in which we live.

Humans depend on ecosystems to survive, and also give us supplies such as food and materials, the capture of carbon dioxide from the air, clean water supply and earth protection against erosion

Scientists believe that that the loss of the biodiversity may increase infectious diseases in humans, due to the continued extinction of plants and animals.

The loss of biodiversity and the habitat destruction would increase the incidence and distribution of infectious diseases, as many of these new diseases are emerging, and others that were just local are now considered global.

The H1N1 swine flu virus, malaria and other diseases that have increased in recent years may be related to biodiversity loss.

“There can’t be a more challenging goal than starting a reconstruction of the wonderful diversity of life that still surrounds us” Edward O Wilson

Prof. Norberto Ovando: Vice President – Association of Friends of the National Parks – AAPN
Expert World Commission on Protected Areas – WCPA – IUCN.
Member of ‘Countdown 2010’ – IUCN –
Latin American Network of Protected Areas – RELAP