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Spotlight on nature and biodiversity

Nature is humanity’s lifeline. Human health, food, economies and well-being depend on nature. Yet nature is in crisis. One million of the world’s estimated 8 million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction. Meanwhile, ecosystem degradation is affecting the well-being of 40 per cent of the global population.

The spotlight on nature and biodiversity highlights updates from around the UN System, from partners and others, helping to call attention to the need for a just, prosperous and sustainable future for all.

05 Apr 2024 18:09

Apply to become a UN World Restoration Flagship

Do you know or are you part of an initiative that is restoring nature?

Here’s the chance to be recognized as a United Nations World Restoration Flagship!

Don’t miss out and apply by 31 May for the most prestigious #GenerationRestoration award.

Apply here

04 Apr 2024 15:07

Young environmentalist helps to save the planet by charting religious landholdings

This archive photo shows founder of GoodLands, Molly Burhans, who was named a Young Champion of the Earth in 2019.

Molly Burhans founded GoodLands, where they work to bring Catholic conservation to the scale and impact of Catholic healthcare and education as the largest global network of its kind. For her pioneering work, Burhans was named a Young Champion of the Earth in 2019, the United Nations’ most prestigious award for environmental action by young people. 

Read this story to discover how Molly Burhans is using digital mapping to help faith groups manage their land for the good of the environment.

03 Apr 2024 10:06

Ms. Astrid Schomaker appointed as Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, following consultation with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), has announced the appointment of Astrid Schomaker of Germany as the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the CBD.

Read the full statement.

22 Mar 2024 12:45

New virtual reality game for nature action

A screenshot of the Unearthed virtual reality game by Meta

Embark on an immersive adventure—interact with bears to protect your cubs, shrink in size to face marauding piranhas as a fish or ride beetles into gigantic Amazonian flowers.

This new Meta virtual reality game, Unearthed, allows players to experience nature in a new way and learn more about its vital role for people, for planet.

14 Mar 2024 08:09

Fighting fire with forests across the Mediterranean

Two firefighters in a cloud of smoke
Photo: UNEP/Celine Barakat

The non-profit Association for Forests, Development and Conservation in Lebanon is devoted to protecting and restoring forest landscapes, including Lebanon's famed cedar trees. 

The association’s work falls under the banner of the Restoring Mediterranean Forests initiative, an ambitious effort to revive woodlands that span from Morocco to Lebanon. The initiative has restored 2 million hectares of forest, creating economic opportunities and helping to counter devastating wildfires in the process.  

Read more

08 Mar 2024 12:06

Access to finance for women proves life-changing for Kenya’s ‘mama karanga’

Women walking down a beach
Photo: UNEP/Habel Lenga

Women’s lack of access to capital is the focus of this year’s International Women’s Day, celebrated on 8 March. Addressing this issue is seen as essential for dealing with climate change and biodiversity loss, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Read this story to find out how a UNEP-supported project aims to build sustainable coral reef fisheries by empowering women in marine area management.

01 Mar 2024 12:34

2030 Seagrass Breakthrough

This video by UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) President H.E. Razan Al Mubarak on World Seagrass Day highlights the 2030 Seagrass Breakthrough, an initiative announced at UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP28 that aims to establish a collective framework of action for seagrass conservation worldwide, aligning with global agendas. 

28 Feb 2024 12:07

Colombia unveils COP16 logo to the world and sends a message of 'Peace with Nature'

 

27 Feb 2024 15:45

Financing Nature-based Solutions for a better future

 

16 Feb 2024 15:07

New global initiative to protect and connect natural areas

Herd of elephants

Natural habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation are two of the most serious hazards to migratory wild animal species. A major new programme launched at the UN wildlife summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, aims to ensure that places important to migratory species are identified, protected, and connected. The Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity (GPEC) was announced on the margins of the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP14) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

Find out more

Related Sustainable Development Goals