Protecting Biodiversity
Why destroying nature undermines humanity's future
Humans are driving a biodiversity crisis of extraordinary proportions. Extinction rates are occurring at up to 1000 times the natural rate. The Paulson Institute's infographic explains the crisis—and why you should care.
Biodiversity provides much more than natural beauty. Studies suggest loss of biodiversity threatens humanity’s health and economic prosperity. More than half of the world’s GDP is highly or moderately dependent on nature and the ecosystem services it provides. Slowing biodiversity loss requires a comprehensive, worldwide effort to appropriately value, protect, and restore nature. Governments and private corporations must act to fill a funding gap of $711 billion—less than one percent of annual global GDP.
Still, nature’s full value is immeasurable. But we know further destruction will be detrimental to our planet and to humanity. Our landmark Financing Nature report , launched in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability at Cornell University, identifies solutions to the biodiversity crisis: