Biodiversity: the variety of life on earth :Cross Stitch – Environment and greener living
Human activity is causing the diversity of life on Earth to be lost at an accelerating rate. Find out what biodiversity means, how it affects and enriches the lives of everyone, and what you can do to help conserve it.
Around half of all prescription medicines are based on chemicals from plants and animals
Biodiversity is of huge importance, not just for its own sake, but also because all people depend on it for their survival. It underpins the health of the planet and is a vital part of the global economy. It also contributes to people’s health and wellbeing and enriches the quality of people’s lives.
For example:
- most of the oxygen you breathe comes from plankton in the oceans and forests around the globe
- the fruit and vegetables you eat were likely to have been pollinated by bees
- natural wetlands store and purify water, removing harmful pollutants, and can help defend against floods
- around half of all prescription medicines are based on chemicals from plants and animals
- natural areas and green spaces provide places for recreation and relaxation, and improve people’s wellbeing
Why ecosystems matter
Ecosystems exist in a delicate balance, with each animal, plant and organism dependent on others for its survival. Damage or loss to a part of an ecosystem can cause irreversible damage, making ecosystems less able to support life.
The economic value of the natural world
The natural world has a multi-trillion dollar value to the global economy. Putting a monetary value on the benefits people get from the natural world shows just how important they are.
The government is working to conserve biodiversity in Britain by, for example:
- protecting important wildlife sites
- working with farmers to encourage wildlife conservation on their land
- taking action to control non-native species, which can endanger British wildlife
- tackling crime against wildlife
- developing a Natural Environment White Paper, which will set out policies for conserving biodiversity
For more information on action the government is taking, see the websites of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Natural England.
2010 was the International Year of Biodiversity, as declared by the United Nations (UN). The UN have now declared that 2011-2020 will be the International Decade of Biodiversity. It will be a decade to celebrate the diversity of life on Earth.