Health and Biodiversity

Biodiversity can be considered as the foundation for human health as it underpins the functioning of the ecosystems on which we depend for our food and fresh water; aids in regulating climate, floods and disease; provides recreational benefits and offers aesthetic and spiritual enrichment. Biodiversity also contributes to local livelihoods, to both traditional and modern medicines and to economic development. The current rate of biodiversity loss may have grave consequences and hamper efforts to meet a range of Sustainable Development Goals and Targets, including those related to poverty, hunger and health, by increasing the vulnerability of the poor and reducing their options for sustainable development. Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have formally acknowledged the need for strengthened policy alignment at this nexus by adopting the first COP decisions on biodiversity and health at the twelfth (decision XII/21) and thirteenth (decision XIII/6) Conference of the Parties. In December 2016, in Decision XIII/3, health was also identified as one of four key mainstreaming sectors for the 14th Conference of the Parties.

A new biodiversity-inclusive One Health Guidance was welcomed by Parties at Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 21). The Guidance on how to integrate biodiversity into One Health approaches can be accessed here. Review the SBSTTA 21 Recommendation on biodiversity and health and SBSTTA 21 Progress Report and Guidance on Biodiversity-Inclusive One Health.