More than 100 countries pledged to better protect nature at UN biodiversity talks last week
		
	 
	
		
		Any of 850 000 viruses could cause the next global crisis. Experts say we should focus on prevention
		
	 
	
		
		South Africa has not signed the Leader’s Pledge for Nature, despite the Earth’s interdependent crisis of biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation and climate change
		
	 
	
		
		They have played a crucial role in protecting biodiversity on their land but are largely relegated to the back seats in discussions at the local and international levels that aim to maintain ecosystems