Features Amed Jkoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. He defines biodiversity. The loss or degradation of biodiversity, now occurring at an unprecedented pace at local and global levels is a threat to our environment, economies, cultures and societies. It is changing our conception of ourselves and our place in the world. Human impact on biodiversity, ecosystems and climate continues to grow and the complexity and diversity of the range of services that flow from biodiversity are often unknown and undervalued.