Global health. The current scenario and future perspectives

96 6. Biodiversity and its benefits for human health, an indivisible interaction Alejandra Figueroa Fernández Biodiversity refers, in simple terms, to the diverse forms of life on the planet, from microorganisms (viruses and bacteria) to large mammals, both terrestrial and aquatic, and including humans. These forms of life are expressed in various environments, under diverse climates and geographical conditions, ranging from the most inhospitable to the most abundant and generous. It is in ecosystems where life and human activities develop. In general, ecosystems are resilient, but when certain thresholds are exceeded, they become sick. We lose not only biodiversity but also the benefits it provides: water for human consumption, recreation and for species; fertile soils for crop development and forest regeneration and climate regulation, among many benefits. Oceans, rivers, lakes and wetlands provide everything necessary for human activities: industry, tourism, recreation, health and food. When understanding this, we comprehend that the degradation of biodiversity generates poverty, not only for local communities that directly depend on the contributions provided by managed or wild ecosystems, but for all of humanity. Harvesters, shellfish gatherers, artisanal fishermen, mushroom, seed, and herb collectors, farmers, among others, have wisely cultivated what has made human success possible: establishing a home, feeding and reproducing, like any species. Local and global economies depend on these goods and the physical, chemical and biological processes that make them possible. It is especially relevant to understand this in Latin America, where economies directly depend on biodiversity and what it provides. This article analyzes the concept of biodiversity and its importance, as well as the relationship between society, biodiversity and human health in a context of uncertainties. The initial moment The history of planet Earth has been marked by continuous change. It has shaped a unique biological diversity and went from an inhospitable place to being the home of millions of living beings through extinctions and evolution. The exceptional occurs with the appearance of Homo sapiens and their spread across the planet. When dealing with the concept of biodiversity, we must also understand that humans are included in this conceptualization. People are an “accident” in the evolution of the planet,