Nature’s Wild Heart: The Battle for the Future of Biological Diversity on Our Planet

Introduction: A Wild Heart Beats

The introduction takes the reader through an emotional and intellectual journey into biodiversity, described as the “wild heart” that beats our planet, keeping all forms of life in balance, including our own. Imagine the Earth as an organism, in which each species and each ecosystem are like the organs of a body: from the Amazon forest that acts as the lungs of the planet, to the bees and other pollinators that act like arteries to transport nourishment everywhere.

This chapter highlights the profound link between biodiversity and human life, explaining how the well-being of ecosystems directly influences our health, food security and quality of life. We use practical examples, such as the role of forests in filtering the air and regulating the climate, and how the seas, with their biodiversity, provide us with crucial resources. The message is clear: without a healthy heart, no organism can survive. Without biodiversity, our survival is at risk.