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The urgent need for action became clear as speakers addressed the alarming statistic that 73% of wild animal populations have disappeared in the past 50 years. Faith leaders called this both an environmental emergency and a crisis of ecological justice.
"Without biodiversity there is no life, without plants there is no oxygen," said Dr Louk Andrianos, WCC consultant for Care for Creation, Sustainability, and Climate Justice. "We are in crisis, especially for biodiversity, and scientific and political efforts to protect biodiversity are not sufficient without the engagement of faith-based organizations."
The webinar brought together participants from all continents, representing diverse faith groups, nongovernmental organizations, and academic institutions.
Rev Dr Jessica Heatherington, an eco-theologian from the United Church of Canada who serves as convenor for the Working Group on Biodiversity and Creation Justice of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, challenged participants to move beyond traditional stewardship models. "We are neither overlords nor caretakers," she said. "We are part of the Earth community, and God is inviting us to recognize our place within the Earth community once again."
Indigenous voices played a central role in the discussion. Jocabed Solano, representative of the Kuna community in Panama, emphasized that Indigenous peoples are "true guardians, custodians of wisdom that sustain life's systems." She highlighted how Indigenous knowledge offers unique methods for preserving ecosystems while protecting languages, histories, and worldviews.
The webinar addressed positive outcomes from COP16 in Cali, where faith coalitions achieved greater visibility for Indigenous rights and better sustainable use of biological diversity components through the Cali Fund from the use of genetic resources, according to Flore Ghetii's report as representative of the Faiths for Biodiversity Coalition. She said, "New ways now exist for organizations to report their biodiversity conservation efforts to global frameworks."
Rev. Rachel Mash, coordinator of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network, connected biodiversity loss to the upcoming Season of Creation theme of "peace with creation." She noted that "where there is no peace there is violence, and we see how violence also has an impact on biodiversity loss."
Faith communities worldwide are encouraged to participate in the Season of Creation from 1 September to 4 October. Organizations can engage with biodiversity protection initiatives in their local contexts and share their conservation efforts through new reporting mechanisms established at COP16.
