COVID-19 and its link with Biodiversity, Illegal Wildlife Trafficking and Bioculturality

This year the motto of the International Day for Biological Diversity is "Our solutions are in nature" to emphasize hope, solidarity and the importance of working together at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature. The current trend of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the extreme importance of combating the loss of biodiversity. Within this framework, the UNESCO and UNEP Offices in Mexico will organize the Virtual Dialogue "COVID-19 and its link with biodiversity, illegal wildlife trafficking and bioculturality".

The Convention on Biological Diversity is the international instrument for "the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable participation in the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources", which has been ratified by 196 countries.

Given the importance of public education and awareness for the application of the Convention at all levels, the General Assembly proclaimed May 22, the date of approval of the text, International Day for Biological Diversity in 2000.

The appearance of COVID-19 has shown that when we destroy biodiversity we destroy the system that supports human life. The more biodiverse an ecosystem is, the more difficult it is for a pathogen to spread rapidly or dominate. Loss of biodiversity provides an opportunity for pathogens to pass between animals and people.

We must learn and adapt faster than ever, and the COVID 19 virus has lessons that apply to global crises of biodiversity loss. For this reason, our best vaccine for the future is to protect nature and biodiversity. It is no longer just a matter of ecology but of being aware that if we want to reduce the occurrence of pandemics we must have a healthy nature.

Loss of biodiversity also means that we are losing, before discovery, many of nature's chemicals and genes, of the kind that have already provided humanity with tremendous health benefits. Traditional medicine continues to play an essential role in health care, especially in primary health care.

In this framework, the UNESCO and UNEP Offices in Mexico will organize the Virtual Dialogue “COVID-19 and its link with biodiversity, illegal wildlife trafficking and bioculturality” on May 22 at 12 noon and with the participation also from UNODC and CONANP.