The Significance Of Biodiversity: An Urgent Need to Protect Our Planet

Biodiversity—the variety of all living organisms on Earth—is declining at an unprecedented rate, with global wildlife populations falling by 73% since 1970 and approximately 1 million species now at risk of extinction. This crisis directly threatens human survival: UK ecosystems alone provide £41 billion annually in essential services including clean air, pollination, and flood protection, whilst globally more than £40 trillion of economic activity depends on nature. According to Pixcellence's analysis of the latest scientific data, understanding what biodiversity means and why it matters has never been more urgent for conservation advocates, educators, and anyone who cares about our planet's future.

The figures are stark, yet the science is unequivocal: healthy ecosystems are not a luxury—they are the foundation upon which human civilisation depends. From the medicines derived from natural compounds to the insects that pollinate our food crops, from the forests that regulate our climate to the wetlands that prevent catastrophic flooding, biodiversity underpins every aspect of human wellbeing.

What Is Biodiversity and Why Does It Matter?

Biodiversity encompasses the extraordinary variety of life on Earth—from the genetic variation within individual species to the diversity of ecosystems across continents. Scientists recognise biodiversity across three interconnected levels: genetic diversity (the variation in genes within species), species diversity (the variety of species within an area), and ecosystem diversity (the range of different habitats and ecological processes).

This web of life provides what scientists call "ecosystem services"—the essential benefits that nature delivers to humanity without charge. These services include provisioning (food, fresh water, medicinal compounds), regulating (climate regulation, flood control, disease regulation), cultural (recreation, spiritual value, education), and supporting (nutrient cycling, soil formation, pollination). According to research compiled by Pixcellence, these services are worth trillions of pounds globally and are irreplaceable by human technology.

The Scale of the Crisis: Latest 2024-2025 Data

Global Wildlife Decline

The WWF Living Planet Report 2024, released in October, documented a staggering 73% average decline in monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020. This comprehensive assessment tracked 34,836 population trends across 5,495 vertebrate species, revealing the most severe biodiversity loss in modern history. Freshwater species suffered the steepest losses at 85%, whilst Latin America and the Caribbean experienced a catastrophic 95% decline—the highest of any region.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) estimates that approximately 1 million plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction, many within decades. Current extinction rates are estimated at 100 to 1,000 times higher than the natural background rate—a pace unprecedented in human history.

The UK's Biodiversity Crisis

The UK State of Nature 2023 report reveals that Britain has experienced a 19% average decline in species abundance since 1970, with one in six species (16%) now at risk of extinction. The report, compiled by over 60 conservation organisations, found that 151 species have already become extinct in the UK since 1500, and only 14% of important habitats are in good ecological condition.

Britain now retains less than half of its original biodiversity, making it one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. The biodiversity hotspots that remain are under increasing pressure from habitat fragmentation, intensive agriculture, pollution, and the accelerating impacts of climate change.

The Economic Value of Nature

According to the ONS UK Natural Capital Accounts 2025, published in December 2025, UK ecosystems provide approximately £41 billion in annual services, with a total asset value of £1.6 trillion. This comprehensive valuation includes £10 billion annually for recreation and tourism, £7.9 billion for health benefits from nature access, £2.8 billion for air pollution regulation, and £1 billion for urban heat regulation. In 2023 alone, 19.9 million people gained measurable health benefits from nature-based recreation.

Globally, the economic case is equally compelling. The World Economic Forum estimates that more than £40 trillion of annual economic activity—over half of global GDP—is moderately or highly dependent on nature. Pollination services alone contribute £430-691 million annually to UK crop production, with artificial replacement estimated at £1.8 billion.

The Dasgupta Review on the Economics of Biodiversity, commissioned by HM Treasury, concluded that our economies are embedded within nature, not external to it. The review estimated that between 1992 and 2014, produced capital per person doubled whilst natural capital per person declined by nearly 40%—a trajectory that is fundamentally unsustainable. The cost of inaction is estimated at £8-20 trillion annually in unaccounted environmental damage, with the expense of delayed conservation action potentially doubling the eventual financial burden.

Biodiversity and Human Health

The connection between biodiversity and human health operates through multiple pathways. Over 40% of pharmaceutical formulations are derived from natural sources, with 70% of cancer drugs being natural or bio-inspired. Research published in Nature in May 2024 suggests that we lose approximately one potentially important undiscovered drug every two years due to species extinction.

The One Health framework, now embedded in the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted in May 2025, recognises the fundamental interconnection between human health, animal health, and ecosystem integrity. Approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic—originating in animals—with over 70% traced to wildlife. As biodiversity declines and natural habitats fragment, the risk of pathogen spillover from wildlife to humans increases, with spillover events rising approximately 5% annually.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Research from Texas A&M University in 2024 found that people living in areas with higher biodiversity—measured through a comprehensive "NatureScore"—are 51% less likely to develop depression and 63% less likely to develop bipolar disorders. Studies consistently demonstrate that spending at least 120 minutes per week in nature is associated with significant improvements in physical and mental health, including a 20% improvement in working memory.

The NHS Green Social Prescribing programme, backed by £5.77 million in cross-government funding, has demonstrated 85% uptake when offered to patients, with over 8,500 people referred between 2021 and 2023. This evidence-based approach recognises that access to nature is not a luxury but a fundamental component of public health infrastructure.

UK Policy Response: Biodiversity Net Gain and Beyond

The UK has implemented one of the world's most ambitious mandatory biodiversity requirements. Since 12 February 2024, all major developments in England must deliver a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain, extended to small sites from 2 April 2024. This legislation, enacted through the Environment Act 2021, requires developers to ensure that habitats are enhanced or created to a measurable degree and maintained for at least 30 years.

By November 2024, 19 registered gain sites had been established, with over 2,500 hectares listed for off-site biodiversity gains. This represents a fundamental shift in how development interacts with the natural environment, moving from a model of "minimise harm" to "deliver measurable improvement."

Government Targets and Progress

The Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 sets ambitious targets: halting species decline by 2030, achieving a 10% increase in species abundance by 2042 (compared to 2030 levels), creating or restoring 500,000+ hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042, meeting the 30x30 commitment (protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030), and achieving 75% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in favourable condition by 2042.

However, progress remains concerning. According to the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), current prospects are "largely off track." Only 2.93% of England is currently effectively protected (down from 3.11% in 2023), and just 35.5% of SSSIs are in favourable condition (down from 38.5% in 2016). The UK's 377 Marine Protected Areas cover 38% of UK waters, with three Highly Protected Marine Areas designated in July 2023.

The Climate-Biodiversity Connection

The IPBES Nexus Assessment, published in December 2024, confirmed what conservationists have long understood: climate change and biodiversity loss are interlinked crises that must be addressed together. More than half of global GDP (over £40 trillion annually) depends on nature, yet £5.6 trillion per year is invested in activities that actively damage biodiversity. Delaying climate action adds over £400 billion annually to eventual costs.

Nature-based solutions offer some of the most cost-effective approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Research published in Nature Climate Change in 2024 found that combined natural regeneration and plantation approaches remove 40% more carbon than either strategy alone, with nature-based solutions offering 10 times more low-cost potential than previous IPCC estimates suggested. These approaches are more cost-effective than engineering solutions in over 80% of comparative studies.

Blue Carbon: Coastal Ecosystems

Coastal ecosystems—mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows—represent just 1% of ocean area but store approximately 50% of ocean sediment carbon, sequestering carbon at 10 times the rate of mature tropical forests. According to Pixcellence's review of marine research, these "blue carbon" ecosystems contribute an estimated £152 billion annually in services globally. Yet 64% of the world's wetlands have been lost since 1900, and 90% of UK seagrass meadows have disappeared over the past century.

UK peatlands store 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon and cover 12% of UK land area (3 million hectares). However, with 80-87% currently degraded, they account for 3.5% of UK greenhouse gas emissions rather than sequestering carbon. The Flow Country in Scotland was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024, recognising the global importance of this peatland ecosystem.

Conservation Success Stories: Grounds for Hope

Amidst the concerning trends, remarkable conservation successes demonstrate that dedicated action can reverse decline and restore species populations. These examples, documented by Pixcellence through extensive research, provide both inspiration and practical lessons for future conservation efforts.

UK Species Recovery

The red kite represents one of Britain's greatest conservation triumphs. From near-extinction in the 1980s, the population has increased by an extraordinary 2,232% between 1995 and 2022, with over 4,400 breeding pairs now established. The UK now hosts approximately 17% of the world's red kite population.

Beaver reintroduction has accelerated, with the first London beavers in 400 years released in 2024 and wild releases set to be licensed UK-wide from February 2025. Pine marten recovery continues apace: 18 individuals were reintroduced to the Forest of Dean, with 13 released in the Lake District in 2024. White storks are breeding in the UK for the first time since 1416, with 19 breeding pairs recorded at Knepp Estate in 2024.

Global Conservation Victories

The Iberian lynx recovery represents what the IUCN has called "the greatest recovery of a cat species ever achieved." From approximately 100 individuals in 2002, the population has grown to 648, leading to a downlisting from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2024. This success resulted from intensive habitat restoration, prey recovery programmes (European rabbit), captive breeding, and reintroduction efforts across Spain and Portugal.

UK Habitat Restoration

Scotland achieved a record year for peatland restoration in 2024-25, with 14,860 hectares restored—bringing the total to 90,000 hectares since 1990. Woodland creation reached 20,660 hectares UK-wide in 2023/24, contributing to a total of 3.28 million hectares. The UK's largest seagrass restoration project has restored 8 hectares, achieving a 5-fold coverage increase at Loch Craignish.

What Can We Do to Help?

Protecting biodiversity requires action at every level—from international agreements to individual choices. Pixcellence's research highlights that while systemic change is essential, personal actions collectively create significant impact and help build the public support necessary for policy transformation.

Individual Actions That Make a Difference

• Create wildlife habitats: Plant native species, provide water sources, leave areas wild, avoid pesticides, and install bird boxes and insect hotels
• Make sustainable food choices: Reduce meat consumption, choose seasonal and local produce, minimise food waste, and support organic and regenerative farming
• Consume consciously: Look for FSC-certified wood, MSC-certified seafood, and Fairtrade products; avoid single-use plastics; choose durable over disposable
• Support conservation organisations: Donate to or volunteer with wildlife charities, conservation trusts, and rewilding projects
• Participate in citizen science: Record wildlife sightings through apps like iNaturalist, join local wildlife surveys, participate in the Big Garden Birdwatch
• Advocate for change: Contact elected representatives about biodiversity policies, support the 30x30 commitment, engage with local planning decisions

Learn More with Pixcellence

Understanding why biodiversity matters is the first step towards taking meaningful action. Explore our comprehensive guides on how scientists measure biodiversity, the human impacts driving decline, and what biodiversity collapse would mean for human civilisation. Together, we can build a movement for nature recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Biodiversity

Conclusion: The Urgent Need for Action

The evidence is unequivocal: biodiversity loss represents an existential threat to human civilisation, yet it remains within our power to change course. The 73% decline in wildlife populations since 1970, the 1 million species at extinction risk, and the systematic degradation of the ecosystems upon which we depend demand urgent, transformative action.

Yet the success stories documented by Pixcellence—from recovering red kites and returning beavers to expanding protected areas and innovative restoration projects—demonstrate that nature is resilient when given the opportunity to recover. The frameworks are in place: Biodiversity Net Gain in the UK, the Global Biodiversity Framework internationally, and growing recognition that healthy ecosystems are essential infrastructure, not optional extras.

What is needed now is implementation at scale, adequate funding, and public engagement that matches the urgency of the crisis. Every garden planted with native species, every sustainable purchasing decision, every voice raised in support of stronger environmental protection contributes to the collective effort required. The biodiversity crisis is also a biodiversity opportunity—to create a future where human prosperity and natural abundance flourish together.

References and Further Reading

1. WWF (2024). Living Planet Report 2024. World Wildlife Fund. www.worldwildlife.org/publications/living-planet-report-2024
2. IPBES (2024). Nexus Assessment Report. Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. www.ipbes.net/nexus-assessment
3. State of Nature Partnership (2023). State of Nature 2023. stateofnature.org.uk
4. IUCN (2024-25). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. International Union for Conservation of Nature. www.iucnredlist.org
5. Office for National Statistics (2025). UK Natural Capital Accounts: 2025. www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/bulletins/uknaturalcapitalaccounts/2025
6. HM Government (2023). Environmental Improvement Plan 2023. www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-improvement-plan
7. Dasgupta, P. (2021). The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review. HM Treasury. www.gov.uk/government/publications/final-report-the-economics-of-biodiversity-the-dasgupta-review
8. CBD (2022). Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Convention on Biological Diversity. www.cbd.int/gbf
9. UK Government (2024). Biodiversity Net Gain Guidance. www.gov.uk/government/collections/biodiversity-net-gain
10. JNCC (2025). UK National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. jncc.gov.uk/our-work/uk-biodiversity-framework
11. NHS England (2024). Green Social Prescribing. www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/green-social-prescribing
12. World Economic Forum (2020). Nature Risk Rising: Why the Crisis Engulfing Nature Matters for Business and the Economy. www.weforum.org/publications/nature-risk-rising