With environmental issues so high on the agenda, you’ll probably have heard the term ‘biodiversity’ mentioned a fair bit. But what does it mean, and why does it matter so much?
Biodiversity is all the kinds of life that makes up nature – all the millions of plants, animals, insects, fungi, birds, and even microorganisms. They all work in harmony to support everything we need for both a healthy planet and healthy people.
This short video gives a handy overview of biodiversity and why a healthy eco-system is so important.
When the biodiversity of our planet gets out of balance – like now – this endangers life as we know it. We rely on biodiversity for everything from the food we eat to the water we drink.
What’s happening now?
We’re losing species at a frightening rate. There has been nearly a 70% decline in the population of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish since the 1970s. And around one million plant and animal species are thought to be under threat of extinction.
Human activity has a lot to answer for when it comes to the acceleration of biodiversity loss. Climate change, over-hunting and fishing, industrialized food production and deforestation are all part of the problem.
The destruction of biodiversity is a huge global concern, and it needs action from everyone from individuals, NGOs, non-profits like the World Wildlife Fund and, of course, governments. This year, the UN Biodiversity Conference runs from 25 April to 18 May, where world governments will come together to agree to a new set of biodiversity goals.
We must do all we can to meet them.