Biodiversity Information

How We Can Help, Conserve, and Celebrate Biodiversity

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity, or biological diversity, refers to the variety of life on Earth. It includes the diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems:

  1. Species Diversity: The variety of different species within a particular region or ecosystem. This includes all plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.
  2. Genetic Diversity: The variation of genes within species. This diversity allows species to adapt to changing environments and resist diseases.
  3. Ecosystem Diversity: The variety of ecosystems in a particular area, such as forests, deserts, wetlands, and oceans. Each ecosystem has a unique community of living organisms and their physical environment.

Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem health, which provides services that support life, such as clean air, water, food, and medicine. However, it is under threat from human activities like deforestation, pollution, and climate change.

Biodiversity is declining

The global state of biodiversity is in significant decline, with many ecosystems and species under severe threat due to human activities.

  • Species are going extinct at a rate estimated to be 100 to 1,000 times higher than the natural background rate. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists over 42,100 species as threatened with extinction
  • Wildlife populations have declined by an average of 69% since 1970 (WWF)
  • Genetic diversity decreases
  • Ecosystem services such as pollination are at risk

The main causes for the decline are habitat degradation or destruction, and climate change.

The International Biodiversity Day

The International Day for Biodiversity (IDB) is celebrated every year on 22 May which commemorates the adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on 22 May 1992.  Its aim is to increase awareness of our impact on nature.  In 2024 the theme of the IDB was to “Be part of the Plan”, a call to action for all stakeholders to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by supporting the implementation of The Biodiversity Plan. Governments, indigenous peoples, local communities, non-governmental organizations, lawmakers, businesses, and individuals are encouraged to contribute. Everyone has a role to play!

What you can do as an individual

As an individual, you can play a significant role in helping to reverse the decline of biodiversity through everyday actions and choices. Here are some ways you can contribute:

1. Support Sustainable Practices

  • Choose sustainable products
  • Reduce meat consumption
  • Opt for organic and local produce:

2. Protect and restore natural habitats

  • Create a wildlife-friendly garden: Plant native species in your garden to provide food and shelter for local wildlife. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides, which can harm beneficial insects and other creatures
  • Support Reforestation and Conservation Projects

3. Reduce your environmental footprint

  • Minimize Waste
  • Conserve Water
  • Lower Your Carbon Footprint

4. Educate and advocate

6. Participate in citizen science: contribute to biodiversity monitoring

7. Reduce invasive species spread

8. Support eco-friendly businesses

By making conscious choices in your daily life, you can help create a more sustainable world where biodiversity can thrive. Every small action adds up, contributing to the larger effort needed to reverse the decline of biodiversity.