The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling decision XII/21,
Welcoming the memorandum of understanding signed between the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Health Organization,
Taking note of the publication by the World Health Organization and the Secretariat of the Convention of Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health, a State of Knowledge Review,
Recognizing that biodiversity and human health are interlinked in various ways, including the following:
(a) Biodiversity gives rise to benefits for human health, including directly as a source of foods, nutrition, traditional medicines and biomedical discovery, and indirectly as a source of clean water, clothes, heating and shelter, by underpinning ecosystem functioning and resilience and the provision of essential ecosystem services and by providing options for adapting to changing needs and circumstances, and to climate change; biodiversity in urban environments contributes to a feeling of well-being by stimulating physical exercise, providing clean air, and improving mental well-being, among others;
(b) Biodiversity may be related to adverse health effects, notably through infectious agents;
(c) A number of drivers of change may affect both biodiversity and health;
(d) Health sector interventions can have both positive and negative impacts on biodiversity and that biodiversity-related interventions can have both positive and negative impacts on human health,
Noting that better consideration of health-biodiversity linkages could contribute to improving many aspects of human health, including nutrition, reducing the global burden of infectious as well as non-communicable diseases, and improving mental health and well-being,
Noting also that recognition of the health benefits of biodiversity reinforces the rationale for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and thus contributes to the development of national biodiversity strategies and action plans, the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets,
Acknowledging that health-biodiversity linkages are related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to the Sustainable Development Goals,
Also acknowledging the strong linkages between biodiversity, climate change and human health and the potential for synergies provided by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-20302 and the Paris Agreement,
Recognizing that the health benefits of biodiversity are influenced by socioeconomic factors and may be specific to local ecosystems and cultures, that men and women often have different roles in the management of natural resources and family health, and that poor and vulnerable communities, women and children are often particularly directly dependent on biodiversity and ecosystems for food, medicines, clean water, and other health related services,
Highlighting the importance of traditional knowledge as well as conventional scientific knowledge in realizing the health benefits of biodiversity,
Re-emphasizing the value of the “One Health” approach to addressing the cross-cutting issue of biodiversity and human health, as an integrated approach consistent with the ecosystem approach,
1. Takes note of the key messages contained in the summary of Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health, a State of Knowledge Review;
2. Invites Parties and other Governments, to consider using the State of Knowledge Review and its key messages, as appropriate, to promote the understanding of health-biodiversity linkages with a view to maximizing health benefits, addressing trade-offs, and where possible, addressing common drivers for health risks and biodiversity loss;
3. Invites Parties and other Governments to make use of information contained in the annex to the present decision, as appropriate and taking into account national circumstances, to achieve the objective stated in paragraph 2 above;
4. Invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to carry out activities, as appropriate and taking into account national circumstances, inter alia:
(a) To facilitate dialogue between agencies responsible for biodiversity and those responsible for health and other relevant sectors, across all levels of government;
(b) To consider relevant health-biodiversity linkages in developing and updating relevant national policies and programmes, strategies, plans, and accounts including health strategies, such as national environmental health action plans, national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and sustainable development and poverty eradication strategies;
(c) To strengthen national monitoring capacities and data collection, including integrated monitoring and surveillance capacities and early warning systems, that enable health systems to anticipate, prepare for and respond to public health threats resulting from ecosystem change;
(d) To consider health-biodiversity linkages in environmental impact assessments, risk assessments and strategic environmental assessments, as well as in health impact assessments, social and economic valuation and the evaluation of trade-offs;
(e) To address, monitor and evaluate any unintended and undesirable negative impacts of biodiversity interventions on health and of health interventions on biodiversity; 1 General Assembly resolution 70/1, annex. 2 General Assembly resolution 69/283, annex II.
(f) To identify opportunities for and promote healthy lifestyles and sustainable production and consumption patterns and associated behavioural change, that would benefit biodiversity and human health through, inter alia, the promotion of public health campaigns;
(g) To develop interdisciplinary education, training, capacity-building and research programmes on health-biodiversity linkages, using integrative approaches, at various levels and different spatial and temporal scales, and communities of practice on biodiversity and health;
(h) To consider the need to strengthen the capacity of health, environment and other relevant ministries, agencies and organizations to address health-biodiversity linkages in order to support preventative approaches to health and promote the multiple dimensions of health and well-being;
(i) To integrate relevant biodiversity concerns into national public health policies, with particular emphasis on the needs of indigenous peoples and local communities.
