Skip to Content

Biodiversity

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including genetic material, species, and ecosystems. Global populations of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians have declined sharply in recent decades because of activities such as land-use changes and pollution. Preservation of biodiversity, while intrinsically important, is crucial to human life and business success. For example, diverse ecosystems provide services crucial to human life, including pollination, water purification, and carbon storage.