Nature & biodiversity

Nature is in crisis. Wildlife populations have plummeted, ecosystems are under pressure, and biodiversity is rapidly declining. These changes threaten not only plants and animals, but also human health, food systems, and our shared future. Education has the power to make a difference. By connecting students with nature, we help them understand the challenges, see their role in the bigger picture, and develop the skills and values needed to take meaningful action.

This overview combines key facts about biodiversity with four concrete educational approaches based on the 4 pillars of Nature-Inclusive Education, from Collectief Natuurinclusief. Those are; Learning for, with, about, and as Nature, and are designed to support teachers in creating learning experiences that are informed, relevant, and deeply connected to the natural world.

Facts about nature & biodiversity

Key facts

• Population Decline: Monitored wildlife populations declined by 73% between 1970 and 2020.

• Species Extinction: Around 1 million plant and animal species are currently threatened with extinction.

• Extinction Rates: Current extinction rates are 10 to 100 times higher than the natural background rate.

• Habitat Degradation: 75% of land and 66% of marine environments have been significantly altered by human activity.

• Groups at Risk: Over 40% of amphibians, nearly 33% of reef-forming corals, and over a third of marine mammals are threatened with extinction.

Drivers of the Crisis

• Habitat Loss & Degradation: Driven by overexploitation, agriculture, and deforestation.

• Pollution: Increasingly affects species, especially in marine environments.

• Climate Change: Combined with nature loss, it’s pushing ecosystems toward dangerous tipping points.

Consequences of Nature Loss

• Human Impact: Ecosystem degradation affects health, food security, and water availability.

• Loss of Ecosystem Services: Key services like pollination, soil fertility, and water purification are at risk.

• Increased Disease Risk:
  Disrupted ecosystems heighten the risk of zoonotic diseases (e.g. COVID-19).

Didactic opportunities

Learning for Nature

Foster young people’s action competence with autonomy.

1. Promote students’ involvement, willingness, and ability to act freely and responsibly.

2. Base education on autonomy and personal growth, supporting citizenship development.

3. Focus on the mutual relationship between humans and ecosystems, now and in the future.

Learning with Nature

Nature as a versatile learning environment and co-teacher.

1. Start by going outside—short lessons or full immersion, for all ages and subjects.

2. Combine disciplines outdoors (e.g., math with biology, art with natural materials).

3. Welcome and act on spontaneous moments in nature as valuable learning opportunities.

Learning about Nature

Build broad, cross-disciplinary knowledge about nature.

1. Integrate nature across all subjects—science, history, language, economy, and technology.

2. Offer a knowledge-rich, interdisciplinary curriculum weaving nature into every subject.

3. Use natural curiosities (e.g., mushrooms, rain showers) to spark systems thinking and curiosity.

Learning as Nature

Recognize humans as part of nature, fostering connection and inner growth.

1. Emphasize interconnectedness with all life and ecosystems.

2. Let nature be a partner—slow down, create space, and adapt to the moment.

3. Foster love for life, learning, and the world, integrating Inner Development Goals (compassion, trust, self-awareness) with sustainability.