"Acting locally for global impact"

Biodiversity is much more than the natural wealth we admire in forests, rivers, mountains, and oceans. It is the foundation that sustains our daily lives: the water we consume, the food we grow, the fertility of soils, the regulation of the climate, and the balance of ecosystems. Without biodiversity, the conditions needed to sustain life as we know it on the planet simply would not exist.

Every May 22 marks the International Day for Biological Diversity, a date proclaimed by the United Nations to recognize the importance of protecting life in all its forms: from ecosystems and animal and plant species to the complex natural relationships that make the planet's balance possible.

Biodiversity currently faces one of its greatest challenges. According to international organizations, human activity has significantly altered terrestrial and marine ecosystems, causing the loss of species, soil degradation, water pollution, and the intensification of the effects of climate change.

In the face of this reality, this date seeks to raise awareness and drive concrete actions to conserve and restore ecosystems, promoting a more balanced relationship between people and nature.

2026 Theme: "Acting locally for global impact"

This theme highlights that great changes begin in territories and communities. The recovery of biodiversity depends on the active participation of governments, organizations, companies, farmers, and communities working together in a coordinated way. The global goals for 2030 can only be achieved through local actions that are solid, sustainable, and aligned with the real needs of each region.

Today more than ever, conserving biodiversity means strengthening community work, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, protecting water resources, and promoting nature-based solutions that help regenerate ecosystems and improve people's quality of life.

The Impact of Firm Waters on Biodiversity

The Aguas Firmes project, a public-private partnership driven by the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) and its partners Grupo Modelo and the Mexican Coca-Cola Industry, is an example of how local actions can generate positive impacts on a large scale.

Through collaborative work among communities, farmers, technical partners, the private sector, and governments, Aguas Firmes promotes solutions that contribute to the conservation of ecosystems and to strengthening the water and climate resilience of the territories.

The actions implemented within the project have helped recover ecological functions that are essential for biodiversity. These practices favor soil conservation, improve water infiltration, strengthen natural habitats, and promote more sustainable and resilient productive systems.

Nature-based Solutions – NbS

Since 2021, the 36 Nature-based Solutions works implemented by the project in the aquifers of Apan, Calera, and Mexico City have generated a potential infiltration of more than 14 million cubic meters of water. They have also contributed to the visible regeneration of the soils, where it is now possible to see species of flora and fauna reclaiming the habitat.

Together, these conservation actions have made it possible to permanently restore more than 3,000 hectares, establish more than 115,000 plants, and reduce soil erosion processes.

Sustainable Agricultural Practices

These practices have contributed to climate change mitigation. The project's interventions have the potential to capture more than 160,000 tons of CO2 equivalent, demonstrating that sustainable land management can generate simultaneous benefits for water, climate, and biodiversity.

Financial Inclusion

The project makes it easier for more farmers to access loans, impact investment schemes, and financial training. So far it has benefited 793 farmers with access to financial solutions that strengthen both their finances and the care of the environment.

Governance

Through the Aguas Firmes project, platforms for dialogue and inter-institutional coordination have been strengthened, favoring the creation of new spaces for collaboration and decision-making aimed at sustainable water management.

In line with the 2026 global theme, Aguas Firmes reaffirms that the most significant environmental transformations begin at the local level: in communities, in the field, and in the everyday decisions that make it possible to build a more sustainable future for everyone.

Caring for biodiversity means not only protecting species, but also preserving life, water, territories, and the well-being of present and future generations.

Tags: Biodiversity