🌿 Restoring Balance: Biodiversity and the Path to a Sustainable Future – Living in Harmony with Nature

By Deepu Sivadas, IUCN CEM South Asia Regional Chair, on 22 May 2025.

“Biodiversity is the bedrock of life and a cornerstone of sustainable development.” — UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Each year on May 22, we observe the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB)—a moment to celebrate the incredible diversity of life on Earth and to reflect on humanity’s intricate relationship with nature. From the tiniest plankton in our oceans to the expansive rainforests that maintain our climate, biodiversity is fundamental to every facet of our lives. However, this day serves not only as a celebration but also as a call to action.

The theme for IDB 2025, “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development”, arrives at a pivotal moment. It serves as both a reflection and a directive. A reflection of the growing ecological imbalances we have created—ranging from species extinction to ecosystem degradation—and a directive to align our development paths with the limitations and principles of nature. This acts as a reminder that the health of our planet cannot be divorced from human advancement, and that it is not only necessary but urgent, fair, and achievable to restore balance in our relationship with nature.

This theme encourages us to envision and create a future where economic growth occurs alongside, rather than at the expense of, biodiversity. It compels us to transition from isolated conservation initiatives to holistic, system-wide changes in governance, lifestyle, and our appreciation of the natural world. As we confront escalating climate emergencies, zoonotic diseases, food shortages, and rising inequality, the significance of biodiversity has never been clearer.

While biodiversity underpins everything from food and medicine to climate regulation and cultural identity, it is under siege. 

Where We Stand: Reflective Insights and Concerning Trends

The IPBES Global Assessment Report (2019) marked a pivotal turning point by offering exceptional insights into the biodiversity crisis. This report provided a comprehensive synthesis of data, highlighting five primary factors that contribute to biodiversity loss: alterations in land and sea use, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution, and the spread of invasive alien species. Subsequent reports, including the IPBES Nexus Assessment, have reaffirmed and deepened these findings, illustrating how these drivers do not act in isolation but are tightly interconnected, particularly in the contexts of food, water, health, and climate systems. Biodiversity loss is now understood not only as a conservation concern but also as a systemic risk to human security and well-being.

Key Findings and Alarming Trends:

• Nearly 75% of terrestrial environments and 66% of marine environments have been significantly altered by human activity, primarily through agriculture, infrastructure, and urbanisation.
• Over 85% of wetlands present in 1700 had been lost by 2000, with a continuing decline due to pollution, drainage, and climate-related changes.
• Approximately 1 million species are at risk of extinction within the next few decades unless transformative changes occur across technological, economic, and social domains.
• The rate of species extinction is now estimated to be 10 to 100 times higher than the natural background rate, primarily driven by human actions.
• The 2024 update of the IUCN Red List indicates that over 42,000 species are currently threatened with extinction, including 41% of amphibians, 37% of sharks and rays, 36% of reef-building corals, and 26% of mammals.
• Protecting biodiversity should be both inclusive and equitable. Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) manage nearly 25% of the world’s land, often home to vital ecosystems, yet are marginalised from decision-making.

It is imperative to note that these changes are not confined solely to remote forests or deep oceans. They are influencing ecosystems upon which billions of individuals rely for food, water, energy, medicine, and cultural identity. The depletion of biodiversity jeopardises not only conservation objectives but also climate resilience, public health, and economic stability.

However, these findings also highlight a positive reality: we possess the knowledge and tools necessary to take action. Protecting and restoring biodiversity goes beyond merely preserving nature; it involves transforming our systems of production, governance, and values. It requires a shift from exploitation to regeneration and from prioritising short-term gains to fostering long-term resilience.

Moving towards the KMGBF: the World’s Biodiversity Blueprint via NBSAPs, placing National Action at the core of Global Ambition

In response to the escalating crisis, global leaders adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). With its four goals and twenty-three targets, the KMGBF represents humanity’s most ambitious strategy to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

The IDB 2025 theme aligns perfectly with these objectives, emphasising the urgency of integrating biodiversity into all levels of planning and development.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), adopted in 2022, provides a bold and comprehensive global blueprint to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. However, as we stand in 2025—halfway to 2030—the global community faces a critical reality check: the window for action is rapidly narrowing. This midpoint moment serves as both a wake-up call and an opportunity for course correction. To shift from aspirations to tangible results, countries must accelerate and scale up implementation through revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). These national instruments are no longer merely planning documents—they are the cornerstones of delivery, ensuring that biodiversity goals are translated into real-world outcomes.

What Makes the 2025 NBSAPs Cycle Unique?

• Urgency and Accountability: With only five years remaining to meet the 2030 goals, nations must move beyond incremental enhancements. The 2025 NBSAPs should reflect courageous, innovative ideas, encompassing policy innovation, institutional reform, and cross-sector integration.
• Mainstreaming Across All Sectors: Biodiversity is being integrated into national economic strategies, sectoral plans, and budget frameworks—encompassing agriculture, infrastructure, industry, tourism, and education—so that the protection of nature becomes a whole-of-government priority.
• Triple Alignment for Systemic Impact: The updated NBSAPs are now aligned not only with the KMGBF but also with climate action (NDCs) and disaster risk reduction (Sendai Framework), fostering a strong synergy that enhances outcomes across policy silos.
• From Participation to Partnership: National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) should be developed with broader input from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), women, youth, and representatives from civil society. The latest plans should emphasise co-governance, respect for traditional knowledge, and equitable distribution of benefits.
• Justice and Intergenerational Equity: In line with the spirit of the KMGBF, revised NBSAPs must emphasise gender equity, youth involvement, and sustainable planetary stewardship, guaranteeing that today’s actions do not undermine the well-being of future generations.

Living in Harmony with Nature: More Than a Vision

The idea of “living in harmony with nature” is not just a goal — it’s crucial. It requires a profound reevaluation of our values, systems, and economies. It means:

• Embracing planetary boundaries in development decisions necessitates a paradigm shift from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to inclusive wealth metrics that adequately account for natural capital.
• It is imperative to prioritise regenerative agriculture, green infrastructure, and circular economies.
• Additionally, the adoption of the One Health approach is essential, recognising the inseparable relationship between human health and ecosystem health.

Change begins with every one of us! Here’s how you can truly make a difference:

• Stay Informed: Review your nation’s NBSAP and engage in consultations.
• Support Local Conservation: Contribute to or volunteer with grassroots organisations focused on biodiversity.
• Use Your Voice: Advocate for biodiversity in local government strategies, corporate practices, and community discussions.
• Minimise Your Impact: Opt for sustainably sourced products, cut down on waste, and endorse biodiversity-friendly agriculture to minimise your footprint.
• Promote Learning: Foster awareness about biodiversity in educational institutions and communities.
• Participate Online: Share stories and information about biodiversity using #BiodiversityDay and #HarmonyWithNature.

On this International Day for Biological Diversity, let us reaffirm our commitment to a fairer, better world. A world where biodiversity thrives, ecosystems renew, and human communities coexist harmoniously with nature.

Let this serve not merely as a commemoration, but as a moment of transformation. The path ahead is clear, the science is solid, and the time is now.