Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the foundation for the survival of life on our planet. Its preservation is not only an ethical obligation but also a crucial economic and social interest. Our daily activities, from food and medicine production to climate regulation, directly depend on the health and stability of ecosystems. International Biodiversity Day is an opportunity to emphasize that nature protection is not only about the survival of plants and animals but is also vital for the future of humanity.
Biodiversity is also expressed through ecosystem services—the benefits nature provides to people—which are divided into four main categories: regulatory, provisioning, cultural, and supporting services. Regulatory services include natural processes such as climate regulation, flood protection, water purification, and plant pollination.
Provisioning services involve resources that people use directly, such as food, water, medicinal plants, timber, and genetic resources.
Cultural services refer to intangible benefits people obtain through recreation, aesthetic values, spiritual experiences, and environmental education.
Supporting services form the basis of all others, encompassing processes such as soil formation, nutrient cycling, and preservation of genetic diversity.
At the global level, the leading role in biodiversity protection is held by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), adopted in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio. The goals of this convention are the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. The recently adopted Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) further emphasizes these goals, setting an ambitious vision to halt and reverse global biodiversity loss by 2030. This framework foresees the protection of at least 30% of the world’s terrestrial and marine areas, reduction of harmful subsidies, and increased financing for nature conservation.
In Europe, the European Union has adopted the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, recognizing that nature conservation is key to health, economic growth, and society’s resilience to climate change. The strategy aims to restore degraded ecosystems, set legally binding nature protection targets, and integrate biodiversity conservation measures across all economic sectors. These goals are particularly significant for Serbia in its EU accession process, requiring substantial improvements in national environmental protection policies.
An important regional initiative is the Carpathian Convention, of which Serbia is a signatory. The Carpathian region is one of Europe’s most important biodiversity centers, and the convention unites countries in the region around the common goal of preserving natural heritage and sustainable resource use. During the recently held Seventh Meeting of the Parties of the Carpathian Convention in Belgrade, the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework was adopted, establishing clear guidelines for regional cooperation in nature conservation. This marks Serbia’s commitment to active participation in protecting this unique ecological region.
However, biodiversity is threatened not only by direct factors such as habitat destruction or pollution but increasingly by climate change, land-use changes, invasive species, and unsustainable resource use. Managing these risks is critical for social and economic development, requiring an integrated approach that includes risk assessment, mitigation strategy development, and continuous monitoring and adjustment of management measures.
In this context, the business sector plays an increasingly important role. A growing number of companies understand that their operations depend on healthy ecosystems, and integrating nature protection measures into business strategies and investment plans becomes a key element of corporate sustainability governance.
Serbia possesses exceptionally rich biodiversity. Although it covers only 2% of Europe’s territory, it is home to almost three-quarters of European bird species and two-thirds of European mammal species. Nevertheless, this natural wealth is constantly threatened by habitat degradation, uncontrolled resource exploitation, and the impacts of climate change. As a signatory of the CBD and the Carpathian Convention, Serbia is obliged to adopt and implement a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). Currently, a new strategic framework is being developed, aligned with global (GBF) and European goals.
One of the greatest challenges in Serbia is the lack of financial resources and capacities for effective implementation of nature protection policies. According to estimates, Serbia needs investments of around 15 billion euros to meet European environmental protection standards. Therefore, it is essential that the state, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations work together to secure financial resources and expert support.
For Serbia, biodiversity conservation is not only an international obligation but also a strategic opportunity for sustainable development. International Biodiversity Day is a moment to clearly demonstrate our commitment to nature protection and a shared future on the planet.
