WEAVING FOR A THRIVING PLANET 11 Life depends on biodiversity Our air, water, and food rely on the variety of life found in ecosystems around the world. Because of human activity, however, one million plant and animal species are currently on the verge of extinction. The extinction rate of species is now thought to be about 1,000 times higher than before humans dominated the planet. In 2020, the United Nations reported that “nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history.” Biodiversity loss is moving ecological systems ever closer to a tipping point beyond which they will no longer be able to fulfill their vital functions. Yet it is not too late for change. If we build strong communities that focus on regeneration we are able to restore natural ecosystems, preserve biodiversity and build economies that thrive while allowing people and the planet to thrive too. New innovations for a transformative change are urgently needed. That’s where Ashoka makes the difference, evidence based. Over the past decades the Ashoka network has proven that it is possible to achieve a warm, social just, biodiverse, inclusive and regenerative sustainable world. Ashoka Fellows and partners are now joining forces to scale at large and multiply our collective impact. Photo credit: Savory Institute Photo credit: Herenboeren
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