Fighting the Biodiversity Crisis with the Founder of Wildya, Oliver Dauert
How reconnecting with nature can help solve the biodiversity crisis.
The biodiversity crisis is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet today. Experts believe that the current extinction rate is between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than is natural1. Biodiversity—the variety of life on Earth, ranging from microscopic bacteria to the diverse array of plants and animals—forms the foundation of the ecosystems that sustain life. Without it, ecosystems would collapse, threatening food and water security, economic stability, and even the climate itself. The importance of preserving biodiversity has become even more apparent in recent years, as scientists and activists emphasize its role in mitigating climate change and fostering ecosystem resilience2. As we continue to see ecosystems collapse, the urgency to act has never been greater.
One individual leading the charge against the biodiversity crisis is Oliver Dauert, the founder of Wildya. Wildya’s mission is to build a vibrant, engaged community that fights for the protection and restoration of biodiversity. As a biodiversity advocate, Oliver is dedicated to making real change happen, and through Wildya, he aims to connect people to nature and empower them to take meaningful action in the battle against biodiversity loss. In this week’s newsletter, Oliver offers important insights into how we can all help combat the biodiversity crisis.
The Importance of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is essential for the health of our planet and the survival of human life. We depend on the diversity of life forms around us more than we often realize. From the air we breathe to the food we eat, and even the medicines we rely on, biodiversity is the backbone of human existence. It also plays a crucial role in regulating vital processes within ecosystems3. Forests, oceans, and wetlands act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing harmful greenhouse gases and regulating the Earth’s temperature. Without these ecosystems, the climate crisis would be even more severe.
“70% of cancer medication, for example, comes from nature4. So, just imagine, like, cancer is such a predominant disease right now, and just imagine we wouldn’t have that.” - Oliver Dauert
The threats to biodiversity, however, are growing. Habitat destruction, climate change, overexploitation, and pollution have led to widespread species extinction and ecosystem degradation. In 2022, the world fell 21% short of deforestation reduction targets, highlighting the failure of current efforts to protect vital ecosystems5. Tropical Asia remains the only region on track to halt deforestation by 2030, demonstrating the importance of targeted, region-specific conservation efforts.
We are seeing firsthand how the degradation of biodiversity impacts us all. As biodiversity erodes, the world becomes more vulnerable to ecological collapse, economic downturns, and public health crises. The time to act is now, and Wildya aims to be at the forefront of that action.
The Creation of Wildya
Oliver Dauert’s journey toward founding Wildya was shaped by his passion for nature and a moment of self-reflection that led him to commit fully to the cause of biodiversity. Despite having a background in business, Oliver always felt a pull toward marine biology and ecology. At 19, he faced a difficult decision: pursue his love for nature or take a more practical path in business. He chose business, but his love for nature never faded.
“I had made the decision, I said, ‘Okay, right now, I believe far more people are listening, unfortunately, to the business leaders rather than to the scientists and the experts who are telling us all the time, ‘Stop what you're doing. We need to do better.’” - Oliver Dauert
Oliver’s recognition that the world needed urgent action on biodiversity led to a significant turning point in his life.
“During COVID, I had a really strong self-reflection session with myself, and I realized, ‘Okay, Ollie, you need to do better.’ I was always seeing myself as this nature lover and enthusiast, and that was all just in my head because in my daily routine, I didn’t really work with nature, I didn’t have many friends who cared about nature, I didn’t watch documentaries, I didn’t read, I didn’t study.” - Oliver Dauert
This period of introspection led him to quit his business job and focus fully on addressing the biodiversity crisis. He initially envisioned an app to connect people to nature as a way of improving mental health and combating the biodiversity crisis simultaneously. Though that idea did not come to fruition as he had hoped, Oliver quickly realized that the core issue was deeper than a lack of mental health solutions. According to him, it was a profound disconnection between people and the natural world. This idea is supported by scientific evidence. One survey of 12,000 Americans found that more than half of the adults in the study spent five hours or less outdoors each week6.
“I just decided, ‘Okay, where do I put my time into?’ and that was biodiversity. And then I had to try to deconstruct, ‘Okay, what’s currently, like, the most damaging thing that we’re doing?’ And then I keep asking, ‘Why? Why are we doing this?’ And sooner or later, I realized that I believe it’s because of our disconnection from nature.” - Oliver Dauert
Oliver’s vision crystallized: if we could reconnect people with nature, the urgent need for action on biodiversity would become clear.
Thus, Wildya was born. The platform aims to empower people at every stage of their environmental journey, whether they’re beginners just learning about biodiversity or seasoned activists seeking to expand their impact.
“It’s basically a platform where people can come on, and we try to empower people to reduce their negative impact on nature and boost their positive impact on nature through communities, through events, through online courses, resources—everything that people need so that they can come in on their journey, wherever they are currently.” - Oliver Dauert
The Challenges of Fighting the Biodiversity Crisis
Despite the growing awareness of the biodiversity crisis, several obstacles stand in the way of large-scale change. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of public awareness about the magnitude of the issue. Research from the Biodiversity Council showed that people are much more aware of climate change than of the magnitude of biodiversity loss7. This knowledge gap prevents people from seeing the urgency of biodiversity conservation.
Furthermore, political and economic barriers continue to hinder meaningful progress. The lack of funding for conservation efforts, as well as the political will to enact strong environmental protections, remains a significant hurdle.
Luckily, awareness of the importance of biodiversity is growing8, thanks in large part to biodiversity activists like Oliver.
Dauert’s Vision for the Future
Oliver is committed to ensuring that Wildya continues to grow and make a tangible impact on the biodiversity crisis. His long-term goal is to reconnect people to nature and build a world where biodiversity is valued and protected at every level—by governments, businesses, and individuals alike. He envisions a world where conservation is not just a niche interest but a global priority.
The biodiversity crisis is a global challenge that requires urgent action. Organizations like Wildya, led by passionate individuals like Oliver Dauert, are at the forefront of efforts to protect and restore the world’s ecosystems. The work is far from easy, but it is necessary. Oliver’s call to action is clear: reconnect with nature, get involved in conservation efforts, and support organizations working tirelessly to combat biodiversity loss.
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