International Day for Biological Diversity 2021

Message by UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw:

The pandemic has reminded us how much we depend on each other. How much we depend on nature. How much our fate depends on our relationships with nature.

How much we need a good political will, combined with collective action, and sustained investment. When these come together, we can make a difference.

So, despite the major setbacks we suffered this year, there is hope.

Hope that we can build back better from COVID-19.

Hope that this year, we can act together on climate change.

Hope that this will be a year for decisive action to reverse biodiversity losses.

Today is International Day for Biological Diversity, with its theme of “We’re part of the solution”.

On behalf of the UNCCD, I want to remind you: sustainable land management is a huge part of the solution.

The greatest problems facing humanity – including land degradation, biodiversity loss, and global warming – are closely linked.

In studies across the world, land restoration programmes have repeatedly been shown to increase biodiversity by up to half.

It’s not just biodiversity that benefits.

Better food and water security, reduced carbon emissions, and healthy air quality can all be delivered by land restoration.

This is how we build a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future.

We already have the tools – like responsible land governance, and investments that protect and restore nature. Let’s use them.

Together, we can all be a part of the solution in 2021.