All Health is Local: Biodiversity, Ethics, and Human Health

It is reasonable to assume that future generations will have the same concerns we have about combating disease and illness. Natural compounds have historically been potent sources of medications. Current synthetic identification and production processes are not generating the volume of novel medications predicted, which has prompted a call to return to diverse natural sources. Biodiversity loss threatens our ability to fight off current and future infections by removing powerful potential sources of biologically active compounds needed to spur medication development for cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and antibiotic resistant tuberculosis. International and economic policy should embrace principles of sustainable biodiversity while simultaneously providing market incentives for compliance and innovation in order to maximize the health and well-being of current and future generations.