Biodiversity
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is most often associated with the earth’s vast variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms, but the term encompasses diversity at all levels—from genes to species to ecosystems to landscapes. Scientists estimate there are approximately 8.7 million species globally, of which approximately 2.2 million are marine. In spite of 250 years of research and over 1.2 million species already identified, it is possible 86% of existing species on Earth and 91% of species in the ocean still await description.
In each ecosystem, including those that occur within or among forests, wetlands, mountains, deserts, and rivers, living creatures interact with each other as well as with the air, water, and soil around them, forming an interconnected community. The ecosystem services provided by biodiversity are estimated to be worth trillions of dollars—double the world’s GDP. Biodiversity also includes genetic differences within species, such as different breeds and varieties, as well as chromosomes, genes, and genetic sequences (DNA). Biodiversity also has human benefits. For example, many new medicines are harvested from nature, such as the rosy periwinkle, which provides two very important cancer-fighting medicines.
Events and Articles
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GEO Week 2022
Convening under the theme, “Global Action for Local Impact,” GEO Week 2022 brought together practitioners to discuss the potential for earth observation to assist in addressing global challenges. The week was heavily focused on the future direction of GEO, with participants engaging in sessions related to the road to GEO post-2025.
3rd Meeting of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fishery Bodies
Breakout sessions challenged attendees to consider where regional coordination and cooperation intersects with effective area-based conservation measures, marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and addressing marine litter.
5th Session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the BBNJ
Despite more progress at this two-week session than over the last decade, delegates were unable to reach consensus on a new high seas treaty addressing marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and, instead, suspended the session, to be resumed in early 2023. (View coverage of the resumed BBNJ talks in late February - early March 2023)
9th Session of the IPBES Plenary and Stakeholder Day
After a week of intense negotiations, delegates approved the summaries for policymakers and chapters of two new assessments: the sustainable use of wild species, and the methodological assessment of the diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its benefits, including biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services.
4th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
After six intense days of deliberation, delegates acknowledged that they are still far from agreement on a new global biodiversity framework. A fifth meeting of the Working Group is now likely and, in the view of many participants, necessary.
62nd Meeting of the GEF Council
GEF Council Members endorsed the more than USD 5 billion replenishment for the next four-year period of the GEF and adopted Work Programs worth more than USD 238 million, launching projects that will contribute to a green and blue recovery and direct significant resources to small island developing States and least developed countries.
13th Meeting of the Monaco Blue Initiative
In a year when the Ocean features prominently in global environmental negotiations, attendees were urged to view the status quo as "the enemy."
UNEA's Role as a Governance Architect
Once called “the world’s parliament on the environment,” the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) has a unique role in global environmental governance. It is high-level and universal—the only forum for stakeholders from all countries to discuss the environmental challenges we face.
Geneva Biodiversity Conference
Delegates prepared the foundations for the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which must adopt the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF) later this year. Work on the GBF progressed slowly so delegates had no choice but to schedule a fourth meeting of the Working Group in Nairobi in June 2022.
74th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
Delegates successfully completed a challenging agenda of 89 items, 117 documents, and 5,000 pages, encompassing issues from big cats conservation, to tree species, to fish, sharks and rays, marine turtles, seahorses, Tibetan antelopes, and saiga antelope, preparing the way for the next Conference of the Parties in Panama in November.