Biodiversity is the degree to which species vary throughout the environment. It is used as a measure of an ecosystem's health. Biologists and ecologists who study biodiversity typically look for the number of species and the way in which species differ. They also study the distribution of biodiversity across the globe and trends that may be contributing to decreased biodiversity.
The period since the emergence of humans has displayed an ongoing biodiversity reduction and an accompanying loss of genetic diversity. Named the Holocene extinction, the reduction is caused primarily by human impacts, particularly habitat destruction. Conversely, biodiversity impacts human health in a number of ways, both positively and negatively. W
What communities can do[edit | edit source]
- Set up nature trails
- Advocate for and promote the idea of wildlife corridors
- Wildlife surveys
- promote and encourage wildlife gardens
- Ecosytem restoration camps, see Environment quality, Other resources
Biodiversity in agriculture[edit | edit source]
Increasing biodiversity in agriculture may increase the sustainability of the farm.
The biodiversity of farms is an aspect of agroecology.
Cities and biodiversity[edit | edit source]
Cities and Biodiversity Outlook
Wildlife garden[edit | edit source]
A wildlife garden (or wild garden) is an environment that is attractive to various forms of wildlife such as birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, mammals and so on. A wildlife garden will usually contain a variety of habitats that have either been deliberately created by the gardener, or allowed to self-establish by minimising maintenance and intervention.
Many organic gardeners are sympathetic to the philosophy of wildlife gardening, and will usually try to incorporate some aspects of the wild garden into their own plots in order to both act as a means of biological pest control, as well as for its value in promoting biodiversity and generally benefitting the wider environment. W
Nature needs half[edit | edit source]
At the 9th World Wilderness Congress in Mérida, Mexico, WILD, with the collaboration of a spectrum of international organizations, governments and individuals, introduced Nature Needs Half, which aspires that humans give up use of half of land and water on Earth, in order to support wilderness. Nature Needs Half is an idea put forth by the WILD Foundation. Marine biologist Sylvia Earle and Jane Goodall have endorsed Nature Needs Half, with Earle's only criticism being that she "hoped that half would be enough". Since its inception, WILD has begun collecting and conducting case studies of places around the world that have, or are on track to achieve, at least half protection.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Citizens data initiative[edit | edit source]
- More than 1,200 species of bats comprise nearly a quarter of all mammals, and their ecological services are essential to human economies and the health of whole ecosystems worldwide. Source: unep.org, 21 January 2011
- In Asia, more than 70 percent of primates are classified on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered – meaning they could disappear forever in the near future. Source: IUCN, August 2008
- The great apes are the closest living relatives to man, bonobos sharing 98.4 per cent of our DNA, gorillas 97.7 per cent and orang-utans 96.4 per cent. Source: Defra
Inspiration[edit | edit source]
- Surf's up, dolphin dudes! guardian.co.uk
Maps[edit | edit source]
Quotes[edit | edit source]
"We are not defending nature, we are nature defending itself" Resistencia Indigena [1]
"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature." Frank Lloyd Wright
"If you hurt nature you are hurting yourself" ~ J Krishnamurti
Video[edit | edit source]
News and comment[edit | edit source]
See separate article: Biodiversity news
Events[edit | edit source]
Feb 2 World Wetlands Day, 2021: Tue
Mar 3 World Wildlife Day, 2021: Wed
Mar 20 - 30 Pesticide Action Week 2020: Fri - Mon
May 22 International Day for Biological Diversity, 2021, Sat
Campaigns[edit | edit source]
No to Biodiversity Offsetting!
See also[edit | edit source]
- Biodiversity UK
- Biodiversity news
- Biological diversity
- Natural climate solutions
- Ethical consumerism
- Extinction Rebellion
- Food, sustainable community action
- Open spaces
- Trees, woodland and forest
- local information can be found, or shared, via our many location pages
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External links[edit | edit source]
- Wikipedia: Biodiversity, Biocultural diversity, Biosphere reserve, Convention on Biological Diversity, Endangered species, Great Apes Survival Partnership, IUCN Red List, Orangutan, Tiger, World Land Trust
- Ape Alliance
- Biocultural Heritage, site dedicated to promoting the interlinked biological and cultural riches of indigenous peoples and local communities
- Biodiversity Media Alliance
- the Gorilla Organization
- Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- International Animal Rescue, animal welfare non-profit organization based in the United Kingdom that comes to the aid of wild and domestic animals with hands-on rescue and rehabilitation. International Animal Rescue returns rehabilitated animals to the wild while also providing permanent sanctuary for those that cannot be released. International Animal Rescue specializes in comprehensive sterilization and vaccination programs for stray dogs and cats, particularly in developing countries. They also work to educate the public in the humane treatment of all animals. International Animal Rescue has offices in the United Kingdom, United States, India, Indonesia, Malta and the Netherlands. [2]
- International Fund for Animal Welfare
- IUCN Red List of threatened species
- Open Source Beehives, global network of citizen scientists aiming to discover the reason bee populations are declining throughout the world
- Orangutan Land Trust, UK charity with the objective of providing sustainable solutions for the long-term survival of the orangutan in the wild by ensuring safe areas of forest for their continued existence. The organizations President and co-founder, Lone Drøscher Nielsen is a prominent wildlife conservationist. W
