The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have produced a report on biodiversity and health that shows the significant contribution of biodiversity and ecosystem services to improved human health.
The report, ‘Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health,' which was launched during the 14th World Congress on Public Health, in Calcutta, India, outlines the ways that the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity positively impact human health.
13 February 2015: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have produced a report on biodiversity and health that shows the significant contribution of biodiversity and ecosystem services to improved human health. The report, titled ‘Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health,’ which was launched during the 14th World Congress on Public Health, in Calcutta, India, outlines the ways that the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity positively impact human health.
Maria Neira, WHO Director for Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, said the report should serve as a useful reference for defining the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the post-2015 development agenda, which represent “a unique opportunity to promote integrated approaches to protect human and planetary health.” CBD Executive Secretary Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias said that despite the clear role that biodiversity plays in human health, this linkage is not being made in policy forums. He hoped the report will help “shed some light on this critical issue.”
The report addresses a number of areas, including: water, air quality and human health; biodiversity, food production and nutrition; microbial diversity and non-communicable disease (NCD); infectious diseases; medicines, including traditional medicine; physical, mental and cultural wellbeing; pharmaceuticals and biodiversity; climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR); and sustainable consumption and production (SCP).
The report calls for: creating coherent cross-sectoral strategies that ensure that biodiversity and health linkages are “recognized, valued and reflected in national public health and biodiversity conservation policies;” and coordination with programs and plans of other relevant sectors that are developed and implemented with the involvement of local communities. The report suggests integrating work in the social and natural sciences through interdisciplinary approaches, such as the ecosystem, ecohealth and One Health approaches.
The report includes contributions from a variety of partners and over 100 experts, including Bioversity International, COHAB Initiative, EcoHealth Alliance, Harvard School of Public Health and the UN University (UNU). [CBD Press Release] [Publication: Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health: Summary of the State of Knowledge Review]