- University of Edinburgh, Corporate Services, Social Responsibility and Sustainability, United Kingdom of Great Britain – England, Scotland, Wales (alan.peddie@ed.ac.uk)
If I asked you what percentage of people at your workplace are literate, I imagine the answer almost certainly would be 100%.
If I asked you what percentage of people at your workpace are biodiversity literate, the response would likely be very different.
Despite the growing urgency of the nature crisis, most people feel unsure about what biodiversity really is, why it matters and how they can meaningfully act to help.
This gap inspired The Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh to create Biodiversity Literacy Training™, a programme designed to bring knowledge into the mainstream and empower people to take action.
Biodiversity Literacy Training™ is a day-long, hybrid learning experience that combines an interactive online course, a guided workshop, and a certification pathway. It is designed to take participants from any background, regardless of their education, experience, or even initial enthusiasm, and equip them with the understanding and confidence needed to become biodiversity literate citizens.
The training not only explains the science of biodiversity and the scale of the crisis we face; it also helps people reconnect with the natural world, appreciate its irreplaceable value, and recognise the everyday ways in which nature silently supports all aspects of life.
Over the past two years, the programme has been delivered at the University of Edinburgh, producing more than 500 certified individuals. Impressively, 100% of participants say they would recommend the training to colleagues and friends, highlighting both its accessibility and its impact. For too long, biodiversity has been pushed to the sidelines of conversations about Net Zero. Biodiversity Literacy Training™ aims to change that narrative by placing nature back at the centre of sustainability conversations, where it belongs.
Ultimately, the training seeks to build a community of informed, motivated individuals who not only understand biodiversity loss but are inspired to help reverse it. By spreading awareness, taking practical actions, and advocating for change, participants become part of a growing movement working to address the often invisible yet rapidly accelerating decline of nature.
How to cite: Peddie, A.: Biodiversity Literacy Training™, World Biodiversity Forum 2026, Davos, Switzerland, 14–19 Jun 2026, WBF2026-656, https://doi.org/10.5194/wbf2026-656, 2026.
