How Loss of Biodiversity Affects Human Health & Wellbeing

Picture this: You step into a bustling forest, the air thick with the scent of pine, the ground alive with rustling leaves and the occasional chirp of birds. You feel the vitality in the air, and for a moment, you’re enveloped by the thriving ecosystem around you. Now imagine that same forest, but barren—no birds, no insects, and the trees withering away. This eerie silence is what the world faces as biodiversity continues to decline. But beyond the environmental devastation, there’s another critical question: How does the loss of biodiversity affect human health and wellbeing?

This loss doesn’t just affect the exotic wildlife or far-flung forests; it ripples into our cities, homes, and even our bodies. From the air we breathe to the food we eat, biodiversity is woven into every aspect of our lives, often in ways we don’t realize. And as we lose species at an unprecedented rate, the consequences for our health are becoming increasingly clear.

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity refers to the vast variety of life on Earth, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, the ecosystems they form, and the genetic differences within each species. These living organisms interact with each other in countless ways, supporting ecosystems that provide vital services we often take for granted — like clean air, fresh water, food, and medicine.

Biodiversity starts in the distant past and it points toward the future. – Frans Lanting

The Growing Threat of Biodiversity Loss

Human activity has been significantly impacting biodiversity, primarily through habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species. According to the World Wildlife Fund, wildlife populations have declined by an average of 68% since 1970. And it’s not just the extinction of species that should worry us; the collapse of entire ecosystems is what threatens to unravel the web of life that supports us.

But how exactly does this affect human health and wellbeing? Let’s explore how biodiversity loss is intricately linked to human health, and why this issue is not just an environmental concern but a deeply personal one.

1. The Role of Biodiversity in Ecosystem Services: More Than Just Pretty Landscapes

When we talk about biodiversity, we’re talking about all forms of life—plants, animals, microorganisms, and the ecosystems they create. Healthy, biodiverse ecosystems provide what scientists call “ecosystem services,” which include things we rely on every day: clean air, fresh water, pollination of crops, and regulation of diseases.

Imagine walking through a forest. That serene environment does more than just provide a peaceful backdrop; it’s filtering the air, cleaning the water, and supporting a web of life that keeps the ecosystem functioning. The trees, plants, insects, birds, and animals all play a role in maintaining the balance of this system.

Now picture that same forest stripped of its diversity—species of trees disappearing, animals and insects no longer present. Without biodiversity, these ecosystem services begin to fail. And when nature stops working, so do we.

Take pollinators, for example. Bees, butterflies, and birds contribute to the pollination of about 75% of the world’s food crops. As their populations dwindle due to habitat loss and pesticides, our food security becomes vulnerable. Less biodiversity in agriculture means fewer options for pest control, leading to an increased reliance on chemicals that affect our health. The food we eat becomes less diverse, which in turn affects our nutrition. This is just the beginning of a much larger problem.

2. How Loss of Biodiversity Affects Disease and Immunity: The Dilution Effect

Have you ever wondered why diseases seem to be on the rise? Emerging infectious diseases, including zoonotic diseases (those that transfer from animals to humans), are closely tied to biodiversity loss. This connection is known as the “dilution effect.”

In ecosystems with high biodiversity, diseases are naturally regulated. Multiple species share the same habitat, so pathogens have a hard time thriving because they’re spread across many hosts. For instance, in a diverse forest, a tick carrying Lyme disease is less likely to bite a human because there are plenty of other animals for it to feed on.

However, when biodiversity declines, we lose this buffer. Fewer species means fewer hosts for the pathogens, which increases the chance of humans being bitten or infected. Moreover, biodiversity loss weakens our immune systems. We live in a microbiome-rich world, where our bodies interact with the microbes around us. The more diverse our environments, the stronger our immune systems become. But urbanization and the destruction of natural habitats reduce our exposure to these beneficial microbes, leading to increased allergies, autoimmune diseases, and other health issues.

3. The Mental Health Connection: Nature as a Healer

Biodiversity doesn’t just affect our physical health; it plays a crucial role in our mental wellbeing too. Research shows that spending time in nature can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. This is because natural environments provide restorative experiences that urban landscapes simply cannot.

However, as biodiversity diminishes, so do our opportunities to connect with nature. Cities are expanding, green spaces are shrinking, and our connection to the natural world is weakening. This disconnect can have profound effects on mental health, especially for those living in densely populated urban areas.

Imagine taking a walk through a biodiverse park filled with trees, birds, and flowing water. Now contrast that with a walk down a concrete street with little to no greenery. The difference in how you feel is immediate. Nature has a calming effect on the human mind. It’s as if we’re hardwired to thrive in biodiverse environments.

A study published in Scientific Reports found that people who spend at least two hours a week in nature are significantly more likely to report good health and psychological wellbeing. But as biodiversity continues to decline, our ability to find these natural refuges will also fade, depriving us of the mental health benefits that come with being immersed in a healthy, diverse environment.

4. Food Security and Nutrition: Diversity on the Plate

The biodiversity in our ecosystems directly affects the diversity on our plates. As we lose plant and animal species, the variety of food available to us shrinks. This has a knock-on effect on our nutrition.

Take a moment to think about the kinds of foods you eat daily. Imagine if many of those options were no longer available because the species that produce or pollinate them were extinct. As crops become more homogeneous due to the loss of wild species, we also lose essential nutrients. This can lead to deficiencies that impact our health over time.

Wild species often serve as the genetic reservoirs for the crops we grow today. As climate change threatens food production, these wild species are critical in breeding resilient crop varieties. The erosion of biodiversity limits our ability to adapt our agriculture to a changing world, making us more vulnerable to food insecurity.

What Can We Do? Small Steps Toward Big Change

Addressing the loss of biodiversity requires collective action, but it doesn’t mean we’re powerless as individuals. Here are a few things we can do to make a difference:

• Support Sustainable Agriculture: Choose organic, locally grown foods that support biodiversity-friendly farming practices.
• Create Green Spaces: Whether it’s planting a garden at home or supporting urban greening initiatives, adding diversity to our immediate surroundings can make a difference.
• Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Deforestation and habitat destruction are major contributors to biodiversity loss. Reducing energy use, cutting down on plastic, and supporting renewable energy can help reduce these pressures.
• Advocate for Biodiversity: Raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity and support policies that protect natural habitats and species.

Biodiversity isn’t just about preserving wildlife; it’s about preserving our health and wellbeing. From the air we breathe to the food we eat and the mental clarity we seek, a biodiverse world supports every aspect of our lives. The loss of biodiversity is not an abstract environmental problem—it’s a real and present threat to human health. But with awareness and action, we can protect the ecosystems that sustain us, ensuring a healthier, more resilient future for ourselves and the generations to come.

Let’s take the first step together. The future of our wellbeing depends on it.