French biologist Marc-André Selosse said that the destruction of global biodiversity is a defining challenge of the current era [1].
This warning highlights the inextricable link between environmental stability and human survival. Selosse said that the collapse of natural ecosystems does not only affect wildlife but directly endangers human health, food security, and cultural identity [1].
Selosse, a professor at the French National Museum of Natural History and the University of Gdańsk, promoted these views in his new book, "De la biodiversité comme un humanisme" (Biodiversity as a Form of Humanism) [1]. He said that nature must be protected both for its own intrinsic value and because it is essential to human well-being [1].
During an interview with France 24 English, the biologist connected the physical decay of the planet to the decline of the human condition. "Whenever biodiversity decays, you decay," Selosse said [1].
He said the protection of the natural world is a moral imperative. According to Selosse, the loss of biological variety creates a cascade of failures that eventually reach human populations, making conservation a practical necessity rather than a luxury [1].
His work emphasizes a shift toward a humanism that includes the biological world. By framing biodiversity as a pillar of human flourishing, he suggests that the survival of the species is dependent on the survival of the diverse life forms that support the global ecosystem [1].
“Whenever biodiversity decays, you decay.”
The perspective offered by Selosse shifts the conversation on conservation from a purely ecological concern to a public health and security issue. By linking biological diversity directly to human 'decay,' the argument suggests that environmental degradation is a systemic risk to the stability of human civilization, framing the climate and biodiversity crisis as a fundamental threat to human rights and existence.
