With the increasing loss of biodiversity, there is an increased need to identify targeted global research and conservation strategies. This is the key concept emerging from an article, published in the prestigious journal The Lancet and authored by experts from the National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC). The working group, coordinated by Hellas Cena and Massimo Labra, emphasizes the correlation between safeguarding the species that populate the planet and human well-being. The NBFC, an Italian project involving more than 1,500 researchers and 48 partner institutions, is a concrete message to promote the sustainable management of biodiversity, which plays a crucial role in the functioning of all the planet’s ecosystems and has a direct impact on the well-being of individuals and communities. “Our goal,” the authors write, ”is to highlight the urgent need for synchronized efforts to protect Earth’s biological richness, which is fundamental to sustaining life as we know it. The impact of biodiversity extends to cultural and mental well-being, is intertwined with cultural practices and contributes to identity and belonging. The loss of this most important resource threatens essential ecological services and poses a danger to billions of people around the world.” “At this sensitive time,” reads the article published in The Lancet, ”it is necessary to identify new cohesive strategies to advance our understanding of biodiversity monitoring, conservation and restoration and to promote sustainable use of biological resources. “The connection between biodiversity, sustainable development and planetary health,” the scientists conclude, ”assumes a central role when dealing with environmental crises, pandemics and epidemics. Preserving biodiversity is absolutely necessary to promote global health security, so it is essential to implement integrated strategies at various levels. “In this historical moment,” comments Carlo Calfapietra, director of the Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystems Research of the National Research Council (CNR-IRET), ”the scientific community can enjoy important tools and funding. We therefore have a duty and responsibility to make ourselves heard by the political world, to communicate clearly that money spent on biodiversity research is an investment rather than a cost.”
Link to full article
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00292-7/fulltext#%20