Biodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Biodiversity underpins the health of our planet and our own wellbeing — yet nature is declining at an unprecedented rate. This introductory webinar explores what biodiversity really is, why it matters to everyday life, and how protecting nature is essential to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Designed for a broad audience, this session connects global challenges such as food security, clean water and climate change to the natural systems that support them. It also introduces how scientists monitor biodiversity change and highlights practical pathways towards a more nature-positive future.

During this webinar, participants will explore:

• What Biodiversity Is — and Why It Matters: An overview of biodiversity and how it supports food production, clean water, human health, climate regulation and wellbeing.
• The Global Picture — Are We losing Nature?: A summary of current trends in wildlife and habitats, with examples of species declines and their wider ecological and societal impacts.
• How Biodiversity Supports Key Sustainable Development Goals: How nature underpins key SDGs such as Zero Hunger, Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action and Good Health — and why biodiversity protection is critical for achieving them.
• How Scientists Measure and Monitor Nature: An introduction to biodiversity monitoring, including wildlife surveys, satellite data, citizen science and global databases such as GBIF, and why good data are essential for informed decision-making.
• What We Can Do — Pathways to a Nature-Positive Future: Practical examples of conservation actions that work, and the roles individuals, businesses, communities and governments can play.

Whether you’re a student, environmental professional, sustainability practitioner, policy maker or simply interested in nature, this session will equip you with a clear understanding of biodiversity, its role in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and pathways to a nature-positive future.

The 90-minute event will consist of a 1-hour presentation followed by a Q&A with the tutor using questions provided by the live audience.

The presentations will be recorded and shared with those who booked alongside Q&A transcripts and relevant links following the event via our online learning platform.

Biodiversity Specialist: Prof Jeff Ollerton

Professor Jeff Ollerton is a consulting ecological scientist and author, with more than 30 years' experience studying pollinators and their flowers. He is the author of 'Pollinators & Pollination: Nature and Society' (Pelagic 2021) and 'Birds & Flowers: A 50 Million Year Relationship' (Pelagic 2024). Jeff is also a visiting Professor at the University of Northampton (UK) and the Kunming Institute of Botany (China).

Check out Jeff's previous work with the Biological Recording Company:

1. entoLIVE presentation: Biodiversity Net Gain: What Could BNG Mean For Pollinators?
2. Online course: Surveying For Pollinators

Skills For Ecology Webinars

Our Skills For Ecology webinars focus on technical skills useful in ecology and conservation roles, such as use of technology, field surveying and practical conservation skills.

• Check out upcoming Skills For Ecology webinars: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/training-webinars-4423333
• Catch up with previous webinars through our Skills For Ecology online courses: https://courses.biologicalrecording.co.uk/collections/skills-for-ecology