Biodiversity is crucial to the reduction of poverty, due to the basic goods and ecosystem services it provides. Globally, some 2.6 billion people worldwide draw their livelihoods either partially or fully from agriculture. More than 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity, while over 1.6 billion rely on forests and non-timber forest products. Loss of biodiversity poses a significant threat to their livelihoods. Biodiversity must therefore be protected and sustainably used for achieving poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Biodiversity and the SDGs

To learn more about how the important role that biodiversity plays in achieving each of the 17 global sustainable development goals (SDGs), explore the SDG-Biodiversity Toolbox. For guidance on how to include biodiversity in Voluntary National Reviews, see the Secretariat’s 'Biodiversity and the VNRs' Guidance Note.

Biodiversity Guidance for Voluntary National Reviews to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

The SDG-Biodiversity Toolbox

Ecosystem services: linking biodiversity and sustainable development

In order to link biodiversity considerations with poverty eradication and sustainable development, the environmental community and the stakeholders who specifically deal with the economic and social dimensions of development need a common framework, a common language. The concept of “ecosystem services” provides such a language as it describes “the benefits people obtain from ecosystems."

Ecosystem services include provisioning services such as food and water; regulating services such as flood and disease control; cultural services such as spiritual, recreational, and cultural benefits; and supporting services such as nutrient cycling that maintain the conditions for life on Earth. To learn more about the language of ecosystem services visit the website of The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB).

Decisions and Information on Biodiversity and Sustainable Development

• CBD/COP/14/INF/26, Biodiversity Guidance for Voluntary National Reviews
• CBD/SBSTTA/21/2/ADD1, Biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• UNEP/CBD/COP/13/10, Mainstreaming and the Integration of Biodiversity across Relevant Sectors, and Further Implications of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and of Other Relevant International Processes for the Future Work of the Convention
• UNEP/CBD/COP/13/10/ADD1, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development: Technical Note
• UNEP/CBD/COP/13/24, The Cancun Declaration on Mainstreaming the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity for Well-Being
• UNEP/CBD/COP/13/INF/19, Contribution of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 to the Sustainable Development Goals: Potential impacts of national priority actions identified in the regional capacity-building workshops
• UNEP/CBD/COP/13/INF/29, Further Information on Major Developments Related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• UNEP/CBD/COP/13/INF/30, Identification of Best Practices and Lessons Learned on How to Integrate Biodiversity, Poverty Eradication, and Sustainable Development: Summary of Submissions Received and Synthesis of Lessons Learned
• Decision XII/4, Integrating biodiversity into the post-2015 United Nations development agenda and the sustainable development goals
• Decision XII/5, Biodiversity for poverty eradication and sustainable development
• Decision XI/22, Biodiversity for poverty eradication and development
• Decision X/6, Integration of biodiversity into poverty eradication and development

Meetings on Biodiversity and Sustainable Development

• Biodiversity at the 2018 HLPF
• Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Development and the SDGs: sharing and developing workable solutions (December 2016, Cancun)
• Roundtable discussion: Biodiversity for Poverty Eradication and Development (October 2015, Brussels)
• First and Second Meeting of the Expert Group on Biodiversity for Poverty Eradication and Development (December 2011, Dehradun; December 2013, Chennai)