May 22 - International Day for Biological Diversity

Biological diversity includes the wide variety of plants/animals/microorganisms and the variety of ecosystems (lakes/forest/deserts/agricultural landscapes) that host multiple kinds of interactions among their members (humans, plants, animals).

Everyone should remember to celebrate and, more importantly, protect biological diversity because of its valuable role for people and planet.

We all depend on biological diversity for: food, medicine, energy, clean air and water, security from natural disasters as well as recreation and cultural inspiration.

“Biological diversity supports all systems of life on earth.”

Did you know that “fish provide 20 per cent of animal protein to about 3 billion people, plants provide over 80 per cent of the human diet and about 80 per cent of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant-b-ased medicines for basic healthcare!?”

Of serious concern, in 2019, the IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) warned about deteriorating biodiversity “worldwide at rates unprecedented in human history!”

Unless action is taken to halt the indirect and direct drivers of biodiversity loss (such as changes in land and sea use, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution and invasion of alien species), “the biosphere, upon which humanity as a whole depends, is being altered to an unparalleled degree across all spatial scales!”

This year’s International Day of Biological Diversity has the theme: From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity.

Of special significance, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) ended in Montreal, Canada, on 19 December 2022 with a landmark adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, an agreement to guide global action on nature through to 2030.

Essentially, the agreement stresses that “nature can be conserved, restored and used sustainably while other global societal goals are simultaneously met through urgent and concerted efforts fostering transformative change.”

Among the twenty-three targets to be achieved by 2030 include: 30 per cent conservation of land and sea, 30 per cent restoration of degraded ecosystems, halving the introduction of invasive species, and $500 billion/year reduction in harmful subsidies.

We all have our role to play for protecting and sustaining Mother Nature beyond the annual May 22 commemoration of the International Day of Biological Diversity.

Looking around us, we see the clear signs of a threatened biodiversity.

Many songs have reminded us about our altered, harmed biosphere.

As early as 1978, the band Asin (Salt of the Earth) banned by the dictator Marcos Sr. for presenting the truth about the situation of the Filipino people and the environment, called our attention with their song - “Masdan mo ang Kapaligiran “ (Look at Your Environment- please check the net for English translation):

“Wala ka bang napapansin sa iyong mga kapaligiran, kay dumi na ng hangin pati na ang mga ilog natin

Hindi nga masama ang pag-unlad, at malayu-layo na rin ang ating narating. Ngunit masdan mo ang tubig sa dagat, dati’y kulay asul, ngayo’y naging itim.

Ang mga duming ating ikinalat sa hangin, sa langit, ‘wag na nating paabutin, upang kung tayo’y pumanaw man, sariwang hangin, sa langit natin matitikman.

Ang mga batang ngayon lang isinilang, may hangin pa kayang matitikman, may mga

puno pa kaya silang aakyatin, may mga ilog pa kayang lalanguyan?

Bakit ‘di natin pag-isipan, ang nangyayari sa ating kapaligiran?

Hindi nga masama ang pag-unlad, kung hindi nakakasira ng kalikasan.

Darating ang panahon, mga ibong gala ay wala nang madadapuan.

Masdan mo ang mga punong dati ay kay tatag, ngayon’y namamatay dahil sa ating kalokohan

Lahat ng bagay na narito sa lupa, biyayang galing sa Diyos kahit no’ng ika’y wala pa. Ingatan natin at ‘wag nang sirain pa, pagkat ‘pag Kanyang binawi, tayo’y mawawala na.”

Together, let us Build Back Biodiversity!

Together, let us restore Mother Nature and happily sing Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World!!!