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The health of the communities we live in relies on well-functioning ecosystems that provide clean air, fresh water, medicines and food security. They also limit disease and help stabilize the climate. Typically, the greater variety or the more ‘biodiversity’ of plants, animals and other living things will positively impact that ecosystem’s ability to thrive. However, biodiversity loss is happening at unprecedented rates, impacting human health worldwide. Earth is forecast to lose 50% of its biodiversity by the end of this century without action to curb climate change and protect the health of global ecosystems. Today, scientists use genomics to map the genetic diversity of people and plants, animals, and insects. It is a diagnostic tool we can use to understand the specific genetic traits of living organisms and could be one of the most potent tools we have in managing and maintaining biodiversity.

This session will highlight innovative approaches that are being developed and applied to understand and enhance biodiversity as we know it on our planet. Stakeholders from all areas will convene and share their vision for how we move forward in this perilous time.