LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY: KEY ELEMENT FOR THE KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

Abstract

In order to highlight the interdependence between the loss of biodiversity and the erosion of linguistic diversity, forming a planetary crisis in the context of the Anthropocene, this text addresses the accelerated disappearance of ecosystems and languages, which is linked to a predatory economic model that prioritizes resource exploitation over socio-environmental sustainability. Biodiversity hotspots are critical areas that concentrate a great biological and cultural richness in a vulnerable state, affected by climate change and globalized capitalism. The biocultural paradigm as a theoretical-methodological approach leads to a rethinking of livelihoods, integrating processes of environmental conservation and linguistic protection, which are key axes for the biocultural viability of Earth. The continuity of ecological and linguistic systems depends on public policies that recognize the interconnection between nature and culture, as well as actions to revitalize and strengthen livelihoods and communication of local knowledge at risk of disappearing. Communities speaking local languages in danger of extinction must be key actors in environmental management, as the intergenerational transmission of knowledge and the strengthening of cultural practices contribute both to the linguistic community and to sustainable development. A global rethinking of the human-nature relationship is urgently needed, focusing on public policies, community initiatives, and scientific research that shift away from extractivist logic. The 2030 Agenda and the SDGs provide an essential framework to advance long-term biocultural viability.