This issue of environment matterscelebrates the 2010 international year of biodiversity anddescribes some of the challenges and opportunities inprotecting biodiversity for the benefit of humankind. Fromthe world's highest mountain ranges to the lowlandplains, and from the great oceans and coastal wetlands toagricultural landscapes, nations and communities rely on thebounty and services of natural ecosystems. Biologicalresources and the goods and ecosystem services they provideunderpin every aspect of human life and livelihoods, fromfood and water security to general well-being and spiritualfulfillment. In many countries, it is the poorest of thepoor who are most dependent on these benefits. Yet, as theMillennium Ecosystem Assessment showed, biodiversity isunder severe threat, as ecosystems are being lost anddegraded more rapidly and extensively than at any comparableperiod in our history. Habitat loss and fragmentation,overexploitation of resources, pollution, invasive alienspecies, and, increasingly, climate change will all lead tofurther biodiversity loss. One of the key challenges of thecoming decades will be how to reconcile biodiversityconservation and development if we are to achieve the twingoals of poverty alleviation and a sustainable future forall. The World Bank is already a major global funder ofbiodiversity initiatives, including support to more than 624projects in over 122 countries during the last 20 years. Itis actively supporting national actions to safeguardbiodiversity and improve natural resource management. Manyof these projects have supported globally importantprotected areas, but efforts have also been made tomainstream biodiversity conservation in the productionlandscape. As well as national efforts, the Bank hassupported numerous partnerships with internationalnon-governmental organizations (NGOs) to promote global andregional biodiversity initiatives.
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