The world celebrates the International Day for Biological Diversity every year on May 22, amid intensive efforts to protect planet Earth-especially the lives of animals and plants, which form a cornerstone of human well-being now and in the future. They provide ecological balance, biological diversity, and an important source of resources that support the survival of ecosystems.
However, indicators show that biodiversity is deteriorating at an unprecedented rate, as about 75% of terrestrial environment and 66% of the marine environment have been significantly altered by human actions. This has prompted international organizations to sound the alarm over the risk of extinction threatening nearly one million species of animals and plants.
Experts attribute this worsening crisis, despite all efforts, to climate change, rising pollution levels, overexploitation of resources-especially forests-destruction of water sources, urban expansion at the expense of green spaces, and harmful human practices. This has sparked global calls for measures capable of transforming our lifestyles and renewing humanity’s connection with nature. Here, UNESCO plays a leading role in global efforts to protect biodiversity by linking science, nature, and culture.
UNESCO-designated sites, which cover nearly 10 million square kilometers across 195 countries, are considered global models for integrating biodiversity conservation with sustainable development. Collectively, World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, and UNESCO Global Geoparks cover 6% of the Earth's landmass. They represent key areas where people strive to live in harmony with other living organisms and exchange knowledge for the benefit of all.
Mangrove forests are among the most important ecosystems for storing carbon, protecting coastlines, enhancing resilience to climate change, and supporting biodiversity. Approximately 26% of the world’s mangrove forests are found in Latin America and the Caribbean. However, these forests are rapidly declining due to habitat fragmentation and overexploitation of natural resources.
To address this, UNESCO's "MangRes" project works to restore mangrove forests in seven World Biosphere Reserves through scientific initiatives led by local communities. One of the most significant efforts is the Biosphere Reserves project in the Amazon River region, which aims to halt forest degradation, preserve biodiversity and ecosystems, and support alternative livelihoods for local communities and indigenous peoples.
Since 2021, UNESCO projects have supported more than 42 initiatives aimed at rehabilitating ecosystems and creating sustainable job opportunities for local communities. These efforts combine scientific knowledge with local and indigenous knowledge to reduce negative impacts on biodiversity and strengthen resilience to climate change. The project also supports local initiatives that promote sustainable production and resource management, improve regional governance, support added value for socially and biologically diverse products.
In the same context, UNESCO's Environmental DNA (eDNA) Expeditions is a global citizen science initiative aimed at advancing knowledge of marine biodiversity and the impacts of climate change on the distribution patterns of marine life across UNESCO World Heritage marine sites.
It is the world's first global use case for detecting ocean biodiversity with citizen-science using shared eDNA collection approaches.
The sampling campaign engaged 250 citizen scientists across 19 countries, who identified over 4,000 species through eDNA sampling.
The biosphere reserves are founded on the principle that communities and ecosystems thrive together. Indigenous Peoples and local communities, including civil society and business organisations, are active partners in protecting and restoring ecosystems while building resilient, sustainable livelihoods.
UNESCO Global Geoparks are established through a bottom-up process that combines environmental conservation with sustainable development while engaging and empowering local communities. There are currently 229 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 50 countries.
The 7th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity will be organized in Bruges, Belgium, between Nov. 17 and 20, 2026. This edition's local organizing institute is the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). The overall theme of the Conference is "The marine biodiversity insights we need, for the ocean we want".
The conference will provide an excellent opportunity to take stock of ongoing actions and initiatives, but also evaluate what still needs to be tackled by the end of the Decade.
In the State of Qatar, natural resources represent a central part of the country's heritage that will be passed on to future generations. Biodiversity plays an important role across all ecosystems by acting as a natural regulator that helps maintain soil fertility, pollinate crops, control insects and epidemics, and support other activities that fall within the national strategic environmental and climate priorities.
Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy also aims to improve efforts to conserve and restore natural ecosystems and protect their unique characteristics. It seeks to ensure that the people of Qatar have access to clean air, pure water, food, and resources. To achieve this, the country is implementing effective management plans to conserve more than 25% of its total land area by 2030 through restoration programs, protection of threatened marine and terrestrial life, sustainable fishing practices, and the preservation and restoration of Qatar's natural habitats.
In this context, Assistant Director of the Wildlife Development Department Dr. Dhafi Heedan told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that enhancing wildlife and preserving biodiversity in Qatar's terrestrial and marine environments were a major focus of the Ministry's plans for 2025 and 2026. These efforts included implementing projects to protect sea turtles at Fuwairit Beach, monitoring nesting sites, and rescuing injured turtles, in addition to protecting mangrove trees, marine habitats, and endangered species.
Dr. Dhafi Heedan said that the Ministry continued implementing projects to fence and rehabilitate natural areas and plant native trees and plants such as acacia, jujube, and ghaf trees, with the aim of restoring vegetation cover and improving natural habitats for wildlife. The Ministry also worked to combat invasive species, conduct field studies and surveys on biodiversity, develop environmental databases, strengthen partnerships with academic institutions, the private sector, and the local community, and implement awareness programs and environmental initiatives that support sustainability and preserve natural resources for future generations.
The Ministry's efforts are focused on addressing environmental and health challenges, most notably high temperatures and humidity, the difficulty of accessing certain land and marine sites, and the risks associated with handling sensitive wildlife and marine species, he explained.
He also warned of the dangers posed by certain human activities such as overgrazing, vehicle damage to vegetation, marine pollution, and invasive species that present challenges impacting ecosystems and biodiversity, noting that the Ministry relies on specialized field teams and well-defined operational plans that mandate the application of occupational safety procedures and the provision of appropriate equipment for fieldwork, including modern monitoring and surveillance technologies.
According to the Ministry of Environment's website, the State of Qatar launched the seed dispersal initiative, aimed at supporting natural vegetation cover, alongside the national campaign to remove the harmful mesquite tree. In addition, there are various initiatives to protect endangered species or to propagate animal species that were once found in Qatar, such as the protection of the hawksbill sea turtle, which began in 2003, and the establishment of the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, which is now under UNESCO protection. Attention is also being given to the annual migration seasons of whale aggregation areas, turtle nesting sites, and dugong habitats, as well as the development of nature reserves, islands, and reefs.
Regarding the government's complementary role with environmental centers, Head of the Nature Conservators Centre Saif Al Hajari told QNA that enhancing wildlife and preserving biodiversity in the State of Qatar is a joint effort undertaken by government agencies such as ministries, universities and their affiliated research centers. There are also special initiatives by civil society organizations and nature reserves that complement the efforts of government agencies to achieve common goals in protecting endangered species and preserving natural habitats, such as the Arabian oryx, the sand gazelle, the houbara bustard and the ostrich, noting that a number of these animals have been released into the reserves for years to reintroduce them to their natural environment.
He added that the efforts of specialized centers also include protecting marine life, such as whale shark monitoring programs, dugong tracking, and sea turtle conservation, in addition to marine ecosystem restoration efforts like mangrove cultivation and propagation projects to enhance the coastal environment and coral reef and seagrass restoration programs.
Furthermore, Dr. Al Hajari pointed to the importance of studying terrestrial and marine ecosystems, monitoring and documenting biodiversity, and developing databases for marine organisms. He noted the launch of the Biodiversity Database Project and the Arabian Oryx Genome Project, which is considered one of the most prominent projects in this field.
Regarding the environmental and social challenges affecting ecological balance and biodiversity, Dr. Al Hajari stressed the importance of strengthening environmental laws and regulations to a level that keeps pace with international legislation, expanding nature reserves, adopting sustainable practices, and implementing environmental rehabilitation projects and utilizing scientific research and technology.
The State of Qatar has ratified several international agreements and protocols, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing. The State of Qatar is keen to implement its obligations by launching national initiatives and strategies that protect biodiversity in a way that serves current and future generations.