Biodiversity

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the variety and number of species in a specific area. It refers to all living things and their interactions — including animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Each of these species plays a role in ecosystems to maintain balance and support life on Earth.

 Scientists often describe biodiversity at three levels: 

• Species diversity (the variety of species)

• Genetic diversity (differences within species)

• Ecosystem diversity (the range of different habitats). 

Biodiversity changes over time as species evolve or go extinct. Understanding biodiversity is important because it provides essential services — such as clean air and water, fertile soil, food, medicine, and climate regulation. It also helps ecosystems stay strong and adaptable in the face of changes, like climate shifts or diseases. 

Without biodiversity, ecosystems can break down, directly impacting our health, economy, and future.

 Learning about biodiversity helps us appreciate nature’s complexity and take action to protect the web of life we depend on.