Biodiversity is the web of life and source of livelihoods
Biodiversity is not a collection of isolated species but a complex, interconnected web of life. Each organism, from the smallest microbe to the largest animal, plays a role in sustaining ecosystems, creating a balance necessary for the Earth’s health. Fragmenting or commodifying parts of this web destabilizes the entire system.
Humans are part of biodiversity. Biodiversity and cultural diversity are interconnected. Biodiversity is built on co-evolution, where species and cultures evolve together within ecosystems, enhancing resilience. Indigenous and local communities as custodians of the land, play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity through traditional knowledge, seed saving, and agroecological practices. The sustainable systems of the world are based on biodiversity, as the basis of an economy that regenerates nature and creates meaningful livelihoods. We do not need to make war against biodiversity with insecticides or pesticides. Biodiversity is the most effective means to control pests and weeds. Preserving biodiversity requires respecting and protecting cultural diversity, as well as respecting the intrinsic rights of species, nature and people. Biodiversity is a commons, not a commodity or private property to be exploited.
Obligations enshrined in the CBD to uphold earth rights and peoples rights
The Convention on Biological Diversity (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.
The CBD key obligations:
- Sovereignty: Article 3 establishes local and national sovereignty over biodiversity use, conservation and protection, in line with a global responsibility to avoid environmental harm.
- Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge: Article 8(j) establishes the respect, preservation, and maintenance of local and indigenous knowledge, and practices in line with the conservation and use of biodiversity. This includes benefit-sharing with local and indigenous communities.
- Article 19.3 was the basis for Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Rooted in the Precautionary Principle, this article aims to protect biodiversity from potential risks posed by biotechnology,and ensures that countries are informed about and can consent to the introduction of GMOs, and sets a framework for risk management and assessment of biosafety.
Corporate Threats to Biodiversity and Sovereignty in Violation of the CBD :
- Violation of Article 3 – Sovereign Rights Over Resources: The concentration of power and natural resources, to private corporations, along with the global rules of corporate trade, directly threaten local and national sovereignty. Through the financialization of nature, ex. biodiversity credits, corporate powers could take over the world’s most biodiversity-rich areas under private control. Digitalization of genetic resources facilitates extractivism without physical access and without need to consult countries of origin, or local custodians.
- Violation of Article 19.3 – Biosafety and Liability: CBD protocols on biosafety were established to regulate GMOs,which have eroded and contaminated biodiversity. The global push for the deregulation of GMOs brings back a failed technology through by-passing biosafety protocols based on the precautionary principle, prior informed consent and mutual disclosure. Now gene edited GMOs are being deregulated to be considered equivalent to conventional crops, risking zero liability for biodiversity contamination.
- Violation of Article 8(j) – Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Peoples: The industrial food system based on the mechanistic and reductionist view of nature suppresses the diversity of living systems that already conserve and work in harmony with biodiversity. The suppression and undermines traditional knowledge systems and practices, leading to biopiracy, and top-down control.
Making Peace with the Earth to Regenerate Biodiversity
For millennia, indigenous and local communities have been stewards of biodiversity, conserving it by respecting nature’s cycles and rights. With 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity found on indigenous lands, reversing the biodiversity crisis requires acknowledging that traditional knowledge and practices are vital to conservation. Efforts must shift from merely preserving species to protecting entire ecosystems and the communities within them. Biodiversity thrives when humans live in harmony with nature, not through domination, and safeguarding it means recognizing the Earth as a living entity with intrinsic rights.
Defending biodiversity means defending the rights of the Earth, the rights of communities, and ensuring that national sovereignty is upheld. Ensuring that biodiversity governance is guided by decentralised democratic participation and respect for diverse cultural practices. It is time we start listening to women, indigenous people and the small-scale farmers protecting their plants, seeds and cooperating with Mother Nature.
- Defend local and national sovereignty of communities.
- Implement and preserve the founding principles of the CBD.
- Support community-led biodiversity conservation, not corporate appropriation.
- Build local and native seed banks.
- Support and spread biodiversity-based agroecology
- Empower and support the education of a new generation of biodiversity custodians.
- Support local food and local food economies.
- Ensure robust biosafety regulation. Stop the spread of old and new GMOs and stop deregulation.
- Stop the Financialisation of Nature.
- Recognize Nature’s intrinsic rights.
Illustrations by Sara Filippi Plotegher
Join the campaign “Biodiversity is Life, not an Asset Class“
Also read:
Understanding Biodiversity Credits – A Factsheet
Biodiversity is not for Sale – Illustrated Booklet
Webinar – Biodiversity is Life: Rights of Nature vs Financialisation of Nature – Highlights