“Making Peace with Nature” is the title of the 16th United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity hosted by the Colombian government in Cali, from 21 October to 1 November 2024.

The CBD, adopted by most Nations after the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, acknowledged the critical role of indigenous peoples and local communities in conserving biodiversity. It was created to address the erosion of biodiversity through conservation, the threat of loss of local and national sovereignty in protecting biodiversity from corporate exploitation, and to regulate new technologies that rely on and could impact biodiversity.

Unfortunately, the concentration of power and natural resources in the hands of private multinational corporations, along with corporate-influenced global trade rules, directly threaten local and national sovereignty over natural resources.

The world is facing a grave biodiversity crisis with global biodiversity having declined by 69% on average since 1970 across tens of thousands of wildlife populations worldwide. The primary culprit behind this catastrophic decline is globalized industrial agriculture, characterized by the use of agrotoxins, monocultures, land degradation, fossil fuels, and pollution. Despite international recognition of the urgent need for biodiversity restoration and conservation, biodiversity loss has continued unabated.
It is imperative to shift away from exploitative, market-driven mechanisms that prioritize profit over ecological integrity. Instead, we must embrace holistic, ecological approaches that honor the intrinsic value of nature and the wisdom of those who have lived in harmony with it for millennia.

Instead of shifting away from the exploitative systems that have caused this mass extinction, we are witnessing a new wave of greenwashing through a series of false solutions that allow business to continue as usual. In the name of biodiversity “conservation” and “protection,” the financial sector is increasingly promoting the financialization of nature and biodiversity through market mechanisms such as biodiversity credits and Nature Asset Companies (NACs). These schemes are a new form of colonial bio-imperialism, twisting the narrative to portray an illusion of financial support for the marginalized while allowing corporations to evade biodiversity regulations and continue exploiting communities and ecosystems without accountability.

The financialization of nature dangerously commodifies the natural world and undermines genuine conservation efforts.

Our current biodiversity crisis is a stark reminder of the need to fundamentally rethink our relationship with nature. There is a profound interconnectedness of biodiversity and cultural diversity, and indigenous and local communities play a vital role local in safeguarding our planet’s ecosystems. They have been the custodians of biodiversity for generations.

Through traditional practices and deep ecological knowledge, these communities have developed sustainable agricultural systems that work in harmony with nature rather than against it. These regenerative methods are essential to reverse the trend of biodiversity loss caused by industrial agriculture and monoculture. These practices represent a holistic ecological science that contrasts sharply with the dominant mechanistic narrative in the globalized West, which sees nature primarily as a resource to be exploited. 

Navdanya International is committed to promoting an ecological, holistic approach to biodiversity conservation, resisting the commodification of nature, and supporting the communities that live in harmony with it. Our resources aim to support organizations, researchers, scholars, activists, communities and individuals. 

By understanding and supporting these perspectives, we can resist the false solutions of bio-imperialism and work towards a future where biodiversity is celebrated and protected as the foundation of life itself. This commitment to ecological sustainability, biodiversity, and social justice is at the heart of Navdanya International’s mission, and we invite you to join us in this vital endeavor.

Biodiversity is Life: Graphic Novel
An engaging graphic novel that illustrates the importance of biodiversity and the threats posed by its commodification.

Webinar – Biodiversity is Life: Rights of Nature vs Financialisation of Nature – Highlights
A webinar that highlights the intrinsic connection between biodiversity and life, emphasizing that biodiversity should not be commodified, and featuring insights from various experts and activists.