Why is biodiversity important?
Quick answer
Biodiversity, the variety of all living things, is important because healthy, varied ecosystems give us food, clean water, clean air, medicines and a more stable climate. Many crops depend on pollinators, and diverse ecosystems recover better from disease, drought and other shocks.
What biodiversity means
Biodiversity works at three levels:
| Level | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic | Variety within a species | Thousands of rice varieties, some resistant to drought |
| Species | Variety of different species | Bees, birds, fungi, trees and microbes in one forest |
| Ecosystem | Variety of habitats | Rainforests, coral reefs, wetlands, grasslands |
Six reasons it matters
- Food: A large share of the world’s main food crops benefit from animal pollination, mostly by insects. Healthy soil depends on billions of tiny organisms.
- Clean water and air: Wetlands filter water; forests and ocean plankton produce oxygen and store carbon.
- Medicine: Many medicines come from or were inspired by nature, such as aspirin from willow bark and penicillin from mold.
- Resilience: Varied ecosystems cope better with pests, disease and extreme weather, like a portfolio that isn’t invested in just one stock.
- Climate: Forests, peatlands and oceans absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide.
- Culture and wellbeing: Nature supports tourism, livelihoods, traditions and mental health.
What threatens it
Scientists point to five main drivers of biodiversity loss:
- Habitat loss from farming, logging and building
- Overexploitation, such as overfishing and hunting
- Climate change
- Pollution, including plastics and pesticides
- Invasive species spread by people
A major 2019 global assessment warned that around one million species face extinction, many within decades.
What helps
Protecting and restoring habitats, sustainable farming and fishing, and reducing pollution all make a difference. At home, planting native plants and leaving fallen leaves give insects a place to live. The oceans hold much of Earth’s biodiversity too; see why the ocean is important.
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