Biodiversity is the abundance and variety of living organisms on Earth. It includes everything from bacteria and protozoa to fungi, flowering plants, birds, fishes, insects, mammals, frogs, elephants and whales. Each species has unique characteristics that enable it to survive in its habitat. Biodiversity provides us with food, fuel and medicine, preserves our cultural and spiritual heritage, and is fundamental to a healthy planet.
The biodiversity of our ecosystems is declining due to habitat loss, pollution, climate change, overfishing and human development. Many species are endangered, some facing extinction. We need to protect biodiversity for our own survival.
Biological diversity provides important services, such as water purification, carbon sequestration and pollination. Ecosystems like forests, peatlands, grasslands, seabeds and wetlands act as natural sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide, storing it in plant and soil matter and reducing greenhouse gas levels. Biodiversity is also crucial for our ecosystems to adapt to climate change.
Local biodiversity impacts daily life, affecting freshwater availability and food choices. Regional biodiversity refers to habitats and ecosystems that synergize or differ on a regional scale. Biodiversity on a national scale involves the ability for a country to thrive according to its biodiversity resources and includes laws such as the U.S. Endangered Species Act and India’s Biological Diversity Act.
Biodiversity on a global scale is about bringing all nations together to work cooperatively to protect the world’s ecological health. Recent diplomatic breakthroughs such as the 30×30 Initiative to protect 30% of the globe’s lands and oceans by 2030 are encouraging.