UNESCO: Protecting Biodiversity Means Protecting Humanity’s Future
| Message from the Director-General of UNESCO on the Occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, 22 May 2025 On the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, issued a message emphasizing the need to protect the living world as the foundation for sustainable development and peaceful coexistence between humanity and nature. |
The message states: “Biodiversity is a promise of life. This vital force connects ecosystems and makes the continuation of life possible. By protecting it, we preserve the fundamental bond between humanity and nature.” However, Azoulay noted that this vital bond is now under greater threat than ever before.
A Warning for Wildlife and Natural Resources
According to the Living Planet Report 2024, global wildlife populations of vertebrate species have declined by 73% since 1970, while freshwater species populations have experienced declines of up to 85%. The Director-General of UNESCO described these figures as a serious warning and called for effective collective action to reverse this trend.
For more than half a century, UNESCO has contributed to the protection of fragile ecosystems and the promotion of sustainable development for more than 300 million people living in these areas through a network comprising 759 biosphere reserves, 213 geoparks and 271 World Heritage natural sites.
This year, the number of biosphere reserves on the African continent is set to reach the symbolic milestone of 100; a landmark in the global commitment to preserving the continent’s biodiversity, which is one of UNESCO’s priorities.
Open Science for Nature: Data in the Service of Saving the Planet
UNESCO is also a pioneer in collecting and sharing scientific data. To date, the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) has recorded information on more than 190,000 marine species, while the innovative environmental DNA (eDNA) project has successfully mapped the genetic heritage of 4,500 marine species across 21 World Heritage sites.
Referring to this year’s theme, “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development,” Azoulay also emphasized that no human flourishing is possible without respect for the living world. She further highlighted the Fifth World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, China, next September, as an opportunity to chart the course for the coming decade.
In conclusion, quoting Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva, Azoulay recalled: “Our freedom and the freedom of the Earth are inseparable.”
