Biodiversity provides ecosystem goods and services essential to human, animal and ecosystem's health and well-being

Biodiversity is a key environmental determinant of human and animal health. It underpins nature’s contributions to people and provides goods and services that are essential to human health and well-being, such as food, medicines, fuel, energy, livelihoods and cultural enrichment. They also contribute to the provision of clean water and air and perform critical functions ranging from the regulation of pests and disease to that of climate change and natural disasters.

The conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biodiversity therefore has health co-benefits by maintaining the ecosystem services that contribute to fulfilling the psychological need to connect with nature (“nature relatedness”) and realizing the vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050.

World Health Days

• 7 April: World Health Day
• 10 October: World Mental Health Day
• 3 November: International One Health Day - initiated in 2016 by the One Health Commission, the One Health Platform, and the One Health Initiative
• 18 – 24 November: World Antibiotic Awareness Week