Biodiversity, the rich variety of ecosystems, species and their genetic diversity, is the foundation of a stable planet and human well-being.
It underpins the natural systems that provide clean air, food, water, and protection from climate extremes.
At Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), we see firsthand how intact ecosystems support people and wildlife, regulate the climate, and build resilience.
When biodiversity is lost, these life-support systems begin to fail. The impacts are felt worldwide but fall hardest on people who depend directly on nature for their livelihoods.
Nature is not a cost – it is an investment in our collective future.
Biodiversity Matters for People, Planet, and Economies
Healthy biodiversity is far more than a conservation goal. It enables resilient societies, stable economies, and a livable climate.
Healthy ecosystems store carbon, regulate water supplies, pollinate crops, reduce disaster risks, and help societies adapt to climate change.
For Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), biodiversity is inseparable from culture, identity, and traditional knowledge. Protecting nature also protects the livelihoods, rights, and heritage of the people who have cared for these landscapes for generations.
Nature also powers the global economy. More than half of global GDP depends moderately or highly on nature and its services, according to the World Economic Forum. From agriculture and fisheries to forestry and tourism, healthy ecosystems support industries, livelihoods, and long-term prosperity.
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, encompassing genetic diversity, species, and ecosystems.
But it’s not just a list of what exists. In a biodiverse system, species interact in ways that support pollination, water purification, nutrient cycling, and disease control. Different species often perform overlapping roles, which makes ecosystems more stable and able to adapt to change, whether it’s a drought, disease outbreak, or shifting climate.
When biodiversity declines, these networks weaken. Ecosystems become more fragile, less productive, and more likely to collapse under stress. Protecting biodiversity means protecting the functionality and resilience of nature.
Biodiversity and the Climate Crisis
Ecosystem destruction accelerates climate change. Forest loss reduces carbon sinks, degraded soils release stored carbon, and thawing permafrost leads to the release of greenhouse gases.
Biodiversity is not just a victim of the climate crisis; it is part of the solution.
Protected areas, when well-managed, can serve as carbon sinks, buffers against environmental degradation, and strongholds for ecological resilience. Their role is fundamental to any long-term climate strategy.
A Global Crisis We Can Still Solve
The IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) warns that around one million species are at risk of extinction. This loss is not evenly distributed: tropical regions are among the most threatened – and many have strong FZS presence.
Despite the scale of the crisis, the global 30×30 target calls for protection of 30% of land and sea by 2030. FZS is an active contributor to this effort, focusing on protected areas and wild landscapes that deliver high ecological return on investment.
Every protected landscape reduces the risk of further biodiversity loss for the future.
Continue reading: Scientific papers outlining the state of the planet.
- 1 million species are currently at risk of extinction (IPBES, 2019)
- 69% average decline in monitored wildlife populations since 1970 (WWF/ZSL Living Planet Report)
- Over 50% of global GDP depends on healthy ecosystems (World Economic Forum, 2020)
- Up to 40% of land is degraded, impacting half the global population (UNCCD Global Land Outlook, 2022)
- Biosphere boundaries breached, destabilizing Earth’s systems (Stockholm Resilience Centre, 2023)
Protecting biodiversity means protecting the systems that make life on Earth possible.
For decades FZS teams have worked to safeguard wild places and the biodiversity they support. Our work is science-based, long-term, and grounded in partnerships with local experts and communities. We focus on large, biodiversity-rich wilderness areas where our impact is greatest.
We combine conservation with responsibility: being present where and when it matters, investing in local capacity, and measuring our outcomes.
Nature cannot wait – and neither can we.