May 22 : Celebrating Biodiversity… and Our Responsibility Toward It
Every year, May 22 marks the International Day for Biological Diversity.
But beyond the date itself, it serves as an essential reminder: biodiversity is the very foundation of life on Earth, including our own.
Biodiversity is the extraordinary variety of life. It includes the millions of animal, plant, and microscopic species that share our planet, but also the diversity of ecosystems: forests, oceans, wetlands, grasslands, as well as the genetic diversity within species themselves. In other words, biodiversity represents the vast living fabric of which we are all a part.
A Precious Balance in Danger
And this living fabric supports us every day, often without us even realizing it. Pollinators help produce the food we eat. Forests purify the air and capture carbon. Wetlands filter water and reduce flood risks. Oceans regulate the climate. Even our health depends directly on biodiversity: a large proportion of modern medicines are derived from molecules discovered in nature.
Yet today, biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate. Habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, poaching, and the overexploitation of natural resources are threatening thousands of species around the world. According to scientists, we are currently facing a global biodiversity crisis whose impacts are already affecting humans: food insecurity, extreme weather events, the spread of diseases, loss of natural resources, and ecosystem imbalance. But despite the magnitude of these challenges, there are still reasons for hope.
Acting to Preserve Life
Across the planet, researchers, local communities, conservation organizations, and zoological institutions are working actively to protect endangered species and restore ecosystems. Today’s accredited modern zoos play a far greater role than they once did: they have become true centers for conservation, research, education, and public engagement.
Institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), such as the Zoo de Granby, must meet the highest standards in animal welfare, conservation, veterinary medicine, education, and scientific management. Worldwide, the 254 AZA-accredited institutions welcome more than 209 million visitors each year and collectively invest over $341 million USD annually in field conservation projects.
Real Programs to Save Species
These efforts take many forms. SSP programs (Species Survival Plan), for example, coordinate the management of nearly 300 animal populations within accredited zoos in order to maintain genetically healthy and sustainable populations over the long term. Thanks to these international scientific collaborations, certain species once on the brink of extinction have been saved and even reintroduced into the wild, such as the California condor, the black-footed ferret, and Przewalski’s horse.
Accredited zoos also contribute to scientific research, the development of specialized veterinary care, the protection of natural habitats, and public awareness. Every visit becomes an opportunity to reconnect people with the living world. This educational mission is immense: AZA-accredited institutions reach millions of children and families every year through educational programs and awareness initiatives.
At the Zoo de Granby, this commitment is reflected through support for conservation projects both locally and around the world, participation in international species management programs, contributions to scientific research, and the daily awareness efforts aimed at hundreds of thousands of visitors regarding environmental issues. Because ultimately, protecting biodiversity is not simply about saving iconic animals. It is about protecting the natural balances that make our planet habitable. It is about preserving a living legacy for future generations. And above all, it is about recognizing that humans are not separate from nature: we are part of it.
On this International Day for Biological Diversity, it is important to remember that every action matters. Supporting conservation initiatives, reducing our environmental impact, making sustainable choices, learning more, and raising awareness among others; all of these actions help build a more resilient future. Biodiversity is fragile, but it also possesses a remarkable capacity for resilience when we choose to protect it.
And it is precisely this collective choice that gives us hope
