Every May 22, the global community unites to commemorate International Day for Biological Diversity. This commemoration is not merely an annual ceremony but a moment to enhance our collective understanding and awareness of fundamental issues related to biodiversity. In 2025, the theme proclaimed is "Harmony with nature and sustainable development." Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development emphasizes the importance of an approach involving all governments and all layers of society to achieve the 23 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This commemoration serves as a collective reminder of the central role of biodiversity, not only as an invaluable natural heritage but also as the main foundation for various ecosystem services that support life and human well-being, especially for communities whose lives depend directly on forest ecosystems.
Understanding the Heart of Life: What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity, or more commonly known as biodiversity, refers to the entire variation of life forms on Earth. It includes three main levels: ecosystem diversity (such as forests, coral reefs, grasslands), species diversity (various types of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms), and genetic diversity within each species. Biodiversity is the foundation of life itself and is an essential pillar for realizing sustainable development.
Our dependence on it is absolute, ranging from basic needs such as diverse food, sources of medicinal raw materials, renewable energy supplies, to providing clean air and quality drinking water. Furthermore, biodiversity plays an important role in disaster mitigation and adaptation, as well as being a source of recreation, cultural inspiration, and scientific knowledge. As a concrete example, well-managed Community Forest practices show how preserved biodiversity can provide ecosystem services optimally. Forests rich in flora and fauna not only become a source of sustainable livelihoods for local communities but also play a vital role in global carbon absorption, regulation of the hydrological cycle, and prevention of soil erosion.
The importance of biodiversity is also evident from the fact that more than 80 percent of human food comes from plants. In addition, 80 percent of the population in rural areas of developing countries depends on traditional plant-based medicine for basic health needs.
Global Response to the Crisis: The Kunming-Montreal Framework
Facing the increasingly alarming biodiversity loss crisis, the international community has agreed on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). This agreement serves as a global blueprint with ambitious targets to stop and reverse biodiversity loss trends this decade. KMGBF aims to fundamentally transform the relationship between humans and nature, in line with the grand vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is expected to trigger the transformational change needed in various critical systems – including food and agriculture systems, infrastructure development, consumption and production patterns, as well as governance of water and other ecosystems. All these efforts are essential to achieve the main vision of KMGBF: "living in harmony with nature" by 2050.
To realize this global commitment, governments worldwide are encouraged to take progressive and concrete steps. This includes mobilizing adequate funding, both from domestic and international sources, as well as strategic efforts to shift public subsidies and other investment flows from activities potentially harmful to nature toward practices that support conservation. Furthermore, each country is expected to formulate, update, and implement effective National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). The formulation of NBSAPs must be inclusive, addressing inequality, promoting equitable sustainable development, respecting and integrating traditional knowledge, and actively empowering women, girls, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), and other vulnerable groups.
The Central Role of Local Communities and CFES Commitment
CFES believes that local communities, including community-based forest managers, hold an irreplaceable key role in biodiversity conservation efforts. Traditional knowledge and time-tested local wisdom practices often contain principles of sustainable natural resource management aligned with conservation efforts. We believe that a series of supportive policies, clear regulations, and appropriate incentives are essential to encourage sustainable livelihoods for communities while building a strong and resilient green economy foundation.
Let us together, as part of the global community, shoulder to shoulder realize true harmony between humans and nature for the future of a sustainable and prosperous Earth. Success in preserving biodiversity is not the responsibility of a few parties but the achievement of all of us.
References
Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss, https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/biodiversity/