On 22th May the world celebrates International Day for Biological Diversity to raise awareness of the value that diversity brings to our ecosystems, human life and wildlife.
Biological diversity (or biodiversity for short), and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offer huge benefits to people in the search for new medicines, the fight against climate change and maintaining healthy soil for sustainable food production.
What are Nature-based solutions (NbS)?
According to the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), nature-based solutions (NbS) are “actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature”. Nature-based solutions have the potential to make an essential contribution to reaching net-zero CO2 globally by around 2050, alongside other decarbonisation strategies.
In this article we will explore the benefits of biodiversity and how a few nature-based solutions benefit both people and nature.
You can find out more about Nature-based Solutions at the Nature-based Solutions Initiative
How biodiversity fights climate change
- Trees, plants and wild grasslands help soil to retain rainwater and prevent flooding by slowing down the flow of water through the ground.
- Birds, bees and insects are pollinators estimated to create a third of the world’s crop production, with pollination essential for foods like apples, cherries and almonds.
- Maintaining the healthy soil required for food production relies on invertebrates such as worms being able to thrive within a healthy ecosystem.
- Mangrove swamps and coral reefs form natural barriers to create storm and flood defences in coastal regions.
Biodiversity and medical discoveries
A report by the Convention on Biological Diversity shows that over 80% of registered medicines have come from, or been inspired by, natural remedies. As we lose habitats and biodiversity, the potential discoveries of new medicines are also reduced.
It is estimated that one essential undiscovered medicine is lost every two years to biodiversity loss. At the same time, the overharvesting of wild plants in the search for new medicines drives biodiversity loss.
Biodiversity as disaster prevention
Trees work on numerous levels to mitigate the worst effects of heavy rainfall and help prevent flooding.
- Natural sponges: Trees soak up rainwater and store water like natural sponges, slowly releasing rainfall back out as water levels drop over time.
- Slowing the waterflow: Trees break up the impact of heavy rain like natural umbrellas, so that it reaches the ground more gradually and avoids overflow.
- Solid roots, solid earth: Roots keep the soil condensed like a natural mesh to avoid serious displacement and mudslides during heavy rains.
As climate change makes extreme weather and heavy rainfall more frequent, over 700 million people living in low-lying coastal areas are at risk, vulnerable to rising sea levels and tsunamis. Apart from improved early warning systems, healthy Coral Reefs and Mangrove plants provide a natural barrier against tsunamis.
Biodiversity projects to support
The Great Green Wall of Africa aims to plant a barrier of trees 8,000 km long and 15 km wide, stretching across the African continent to reforest the areas of the Sahel region most at risk from desertification. Organisations like Tree Aid have planted over 28 million trees since the project started, similar to the greenbelt movement that has planted over 50 millions trees since being founded in 1977 by Kenyan nobel-prize winner Wangari Maathai.
Beyond the terms Flora and Fauna, the Fungi Foundation has coined the term ‘Funga’ to express the diversity of Fungi life that maintains ecosystems, campaigning to include it in legal decisions.
The Community Revolution partners that support biodiversity and Nature-based solutions
The work of The Community Revolution connects education, technology and sustainability to positively impact the lives of communities across Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. We particularly aim to support; women, black and ethnic minorities, migrant communities and actors involved in agribusiness and farming. The Community Revolution’s partners reflect this mission.
One of these is Ghana Permaculture Institute. It started life in 2004 as a network to connect and work with small-scale and low income farmers in Ghana. Today, the institute works on many levels. This includes capacity building, teaching practical farming methods to be implemented and shared within communities (including the illiterate).
It also includes creating additional value for high-value crops, including Moringa-based products that can be prepared, developed and sold on the international market.
Join our community
Join our community dedicated to sustainable transitions, community growth and environmental stewardship on this International Day of Biological Diversity 2025. Follow us on social media for updates and inspiring stories.
Participate in live community engagement sessions and sign up for our email newsletter to stay informed and inspired. Let’s work together to protect our planet and promote sustainable development. Together, let’s make a difference to celebrate the beauty and resilience of our planet. Happy International Day of Biological Diversity!
