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Foreword I
The biosphere underlies the whole sustainable development concept, as the layer on
which society and the economy rely. Nature and biodiversity fuel the natural cycles
and life-support systems of the planet, on which humanity ultimately depends.
Crucially, human health and well-being depend on functional ecosystems and the
services they provide. That is why the Convention on Biological Diversity sets out
the vision that biodiversity is to be valued, conserved, restored and wisely used,
maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet, and delivering benefits
essential for all people, including good health. Indeed, managing, restoring and protecting nature in both rural and urban areas provide multiple benefits to human
societies. Ecosystem-based approaches to climate change, nature-based solutions
for food production, and green infrastructure in cities and elsewhere all contribute
to several societal objectives and have a great potential to positively affect human
health.
However, it is well known that the world is facing a steady and dramatic rate of
biodiversity loss from human causes, which may have severe consequences to
human health and put in question a range of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Further, we live in a context of climate change, which, on the one hand, impacts
both health and biodiversity and, on the other, requires thriving ecosystems delivering for mitigation and adaptation. It is thus timely and important to stress the linkages and interdependencies of the climate-biodiversity-health nexus.
Recognizing our fundamental reliance on nature and the value of the services it
provides to human health offers increased opportunities for the biodiversity agenda,
be it in urban spaces, rural areas, or protected areas. In essence, we need innovative
ways to tackle the biodiversity crisis and the societal challenges it contributes to,
including exploring nature-based solutions that foster public health and biodiversity
conservation. The alignment of the health and biodiversity agendas presents an
opportunity to transcend institutional and sectoral siloes and to allow different communities to join forces. A coalition of partners from sectors such as public health,
nature conservation, urban planning, tourism, climate adaptation and others would
be a promising avenue to help pave the way for the transition to sustainability.
Foreword I
The biosphere underlies the whole sustainable development concept, as the layer on
which society and the economy rely. Nature and biodiversity fuel the natural cycles
and life-support systems of the planet, on which humanity ultimately depends.
Crucially, human health and well-being depend on functional ecosystems and the
services they provide. That is why the Convention on Biological Diversity sets out
the vision that biodiversity is to be valued, conserved, restored and wisely used,
maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet, and delivering benefits
essential for all people, including good health. Indeed, managing, restoring and protecting nature in both rural and urban areas provide multiple benefits to human
societies. Ecosystem-based approaches to climate change, nature-based solutions
for food production, and green infrastructure in cities and elsewhere all contribute
to several societal objectives and have a great potential to positively affect human
health.
However, it is well known that the world is facing a steady and dramatic rate of
biodiversity loss from human causes, which may have severe consequences to
human health and put in question a range of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Further, we live in a context of climate change, which, on the one hand, impacts
both health and biodiversity and, on the other, requires thriving ecosystems delivering for mitigation and adaptation. It is thus timely and important to stress the linkages and interdependencies of the climate-biodiversity-health nexus.
Recognizing our fundamental reliance on nature and the value of the services it
provides to human health offers increased opportunities for the biodiversity agenda,
be it in urban spaces, rural areas, or protected areas. In essence, we need innovative
ways to tackle the biodiversity crisis and the societal challenges it contributes to,
including exploring nature-based solutions that foster public health and biodiversity
conservation. The alignment of the health and biodiversity agendas presents an
opportunity to transcend institutional and sectoral siloes and to allow different communities to join forces. A coalition of partners from sectors such as public health,
nature conservation, urban planning, tourism, climate adaptation and others would
be a promising avenue to help pave the way for the transition to sustainability.