When biological diversity, or biodiversity for short, has a problem, humanity has a problem.
Biological diversity is frequently understood in terms of the wide variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms, but it also includes the differences within each species itself—for example, variations in crops and livestock—and the variety of ecosystems (lakes, forests, deserts, agricultural landscapes) that host multiple types of interactions among their present species (humans, plants, animals, microorganisms).
Biological diversity resources are the pillars upon which we build civilizations. Fish provide 20% of all animal protein for approximately 3 billion people. More than 80% of the human diet consists of plant-derived products (crops). Nearly 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant- and herb-based medicines for their basic healthcare.
But biodiversity loss threatens us all, including our health. It has been proven that biodiversity loss can cause the expansion of zoonoses—diseases transmitted from animals to humans—while on the other hand, keeping biodiversity intact offers excellent tools to fight pandemics such as those caused by coronaviruses.
The United Nations proclaimed May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity to increase understanding and awareness of biological diversity issues.
THE THEME FOR 2026: LOCAL ACTION FOR A GLOBAL IMPACT
As the global community is called upon to re-examine our relationship with the natural world, one thing stands out: despite all technological advancements, we continue to depend on vibrant and healthy ecosystems for essential needs, such as drinking water, food, medicine, clothing manufacturing, shelter, energy, etc.
Therefore, it is important to respect, restore, and protect biodiversity.
In December 2022, the United Nations adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (The Biodiversity Plan). This ambitious plan sets 23 targets for 2030 and 4 global goals for 2050 to prevent and reverse biodiversity loss. Among the targets: restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems, conserving 30% of land, inland waters, and sea, reducing the introduction of invasive species by 50%, and mobilizing USD 200 billion per year for biodiversity, all by 2030.
This year, International Day for Biological Diversity features the theme “Acting locally for global impact,” placing a powerful central idea: major changes start locally on a small scale. The success of the global plan to reverse biodiversity loss depends on the strength of local action—the commitment of communities, organizations, and governments working together.
This campaign also highlights the sense of urgency. In 2026, only 4 years remain to meet all the targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework set for 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We must act NOW!
MESSAGE FROM ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Biodiversity is the living web that sustains humanity.
However, climate chaos, pollution, and the relentless exploitation of land, sea, and freshwater are pushing our natural world toward a total collapse, with devastating consequences for humans, their future, livelihoods, and sustainable development.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework shows the way forward. But the pace must be accelerated with ambition and accountability.
Governments must take the initiative to accelerate implementation, mobilize funding, and remedy capacity gaps that are holding back progress.
But the 2026 theme underlines that success depends not only on government action. Indigenous peoples, local communities, women and youth, the academic world, businesses, cities, and regions all have a vital role to play in protecting and restoring nature.
The United Nations supports all Member States with inclusive, science-based measures, updating National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), expanding protected areas, restoring ecosystems, and integrating nature into sustainable development planning and climate action.
On International Day for Biological Diversity 2026, let us support those acting locally for global impact and collaborate to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, so that people and nature can thrive together.
THE BIODIVERSITY SITUATION IN ARUBA
In 2009, Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation approached the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal to conduct a pre-feasibility study for the instrument known as the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. They managed to get the green light from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in 2010, the Secretariat assigned the current director of said Secretariat in Montreal, David Cooper, as liaison. However, the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles made it impossible to access data from the five islands, and an uncooperative attitude from some government officials toward the project—which had the approval of the Dutch government and the collaboration of the United Nations—prevented the project from being concluded.
In 2024, Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation participated in the 4th UN Conference on SIDS in Antigua, and in 2025, participated in the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
At the COP12 Conference of the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) in the Wider Caribbean Region, held in Aruba in October 2023, Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation, as an observer participant, made an intervention emphasizing the value of citizen science and open data to support decision-making for the SPAW Protocol. A pilot project was proposed using satellite and sensor data, aligned with the Blue Carbon framework, to increase the monitoring of mangroves and ecosystems in general.
The need to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) to improve data analysis and predictive monitoring was highlighted, efforts which would align with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, promoting the use of open science, community participation, and biodiversity conservation.
Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation participates in 4 community groups dedicated to artificial intelligence with the specific objective of creating AI standards for sustainable development. These Community Groups are part of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an organization created by the inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee. This organization creates standards for web use through Working Groups and Community Groups.
Now we can proudly announce that we are preparing to introduce a development program for digital twins, precisely within the framework of the theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity, for local action through stakeholder collaboration applying citizen science and applied science in general.
And this will count on collaboration with islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific, scientific institutes, and dozens of NGOs belonging to international collaboration networks in both marine and terrestrial biodiversity, as well as international entities in the fields of telecommunications and artificial intelligence.
Specifically, we can mention the BioDT program (for land and general biodiversity) and EUDITO (European Union Digital Twin for the Ocean).
Our participation in both conferences created valuable contacts for collaboration, and Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation has successfully laid the first stone for the foundation of collaborative science and technology within the framework of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, so that the entire community of Aruba can participate in Local Action for Global Impact in collaboration with other islands.
