Today, we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity under the global theme “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development.” This year’s theme serves as a powerful reminder that efforts to safeguard biodiversity and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, are fundamentally interdependent. Progress in one enables progress in the other.
But this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity also carries a clear warning: time is running out, and we must act now. By 2025, only five years will remain to reach the near-term targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals. Among the most urgent priorities is the global commitment to protect 30 percent of the world’s land and ocean areas by 2030 (30x30) — a target that cannot be met without significant and immediate action on marine biodiversity.
Marine Biodiversity: A Cornerstone of Resilience
Marine biodiversity is the foundation of planetary health, food security, and climate resilience. Yet, the world’s oceans are under immense pressure — from overfishing and pollution to acidification and warming temperatures. One of the most powerful tools to reverse this decline is the effective designation and management of marine protected areas, or MPAs. These are designated marine regions that help restore ocean ecosystems, protect vulnerable species, and support the livelihoods of communities who depend on the sea.
Building on these efforts, the Implementing Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction — commonly referred to as the High Seas Treaty — is the first cohesive, international, and legally binding framework specifically aimed at protecting biodiversity in the high seas. As such, it forms a critical part of the broader international frameworks needed to meet global conservation goals.
Marking this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity, parliamentarians throughout our network are sharing powerful reflections on the importance of protecting marine biodiversity through the establishment and effective management of marine protected areas, to ultimately safeguard the human rights of both present and future generations.
On this International Day for Biological Diversity, we are reminded that true progress requires harmony, not only among ourselves as people, but between humanity and the natural world we depend on for our very existence.
Marine biodiversity is a vital part of this balance. Our oceans are not just vast bodies of water; they are living systems that sustain livelihoods, regulate our climate, and support life in countless visible and invisible ways.
Protecting this biodiversity, particularly through Marine Protected Areas, is not optional; it is essential. It is a commitment to intergenerational justice and to the survival of communities whose lives and cultures are inseparably tied to the sea.
As Co-Convenor of PGA’s Human Rights and Environment Program, I am proud to support initiatives that empower parliamentarians to take action towards the protection of human rights in environmental matters. This includes advocating for transparency, participation, and justice in environmental governance, as emphasized by Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration.
Today, let us recommit to bold, science-based action to preserve our marine ecosystems. It is only through responsible stewardship that can we truly achieve sustainable development and secure a future where people and nature thrive together.
Hon. Amanza Walton-Desir, MP (Guyana), Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, PGA Board Member, and Co-Convenor of PGA’s Human Rights and Environment Program.
Safeguarding marine biodiversity is vital for the health of our planet. Marine protected areas are essential tools in this effort, helping to preserve critical habitats, support the recovery of marine species, and build resilience against climate change. By protecting key areas of the ocean, MPAs ensure the long-term sustainability of marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Each of us can do our part to protect and preserve.
Hon. Valerie Woods, MP (Belize), Speaker of the House of Representatives, PGA Board Member.
Parliamentarians have a crucial role in advancing the protection of the ocean and its marine biodiversity. On this important day, we call on members of parliament to:
- Support your country’s engagement in international processes to advance global marine biodiversity goals, ensure progress toward 30x30 is collectively met, and the High Seas Treaty enters into force.
- Speak with fellow parliamentarians on the widespread value of MPAs to protect marine biodiversity, support climate resilience, food security, and long-term sustainability.
- Call on your government to ratify the High Seas Treaty before or during the UN Ocean Conference (9-13 June) through verbal or written parliamentary questions.
- Visit PGA's resources to learn more about the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework: