Biodiversity encompasses all the different types of life on Earth, from towering redwoods to single-cell bacteria. Generally, areas that are closer to the equator have more biodiversity, but even the harshest environments – from the Arctic tundra to the Sahara desert – sustain some diversity of life. The more species in an ecosystem, the greater its biodiversity. And that biodiversity gives ecosystems a better chance of resisting and recovering from disturbances like disease or climate change.
Biodiverse ecosystems also provide many vital benefits for people, including food security and cleaner water. These benefits, which are often called “ecosystem services,” are delivered through a complex web of interconnected species. When a keystone species disappears, for example, it can unleash a chain reaction that destabilizes an entire ecosystem.
The loss of biodiversity has been driven by human activities, including overfishing and pollution. Global climate change – caused by burning fossil fuels and clearing forests – has also contributed to a decline in biodiversity.
Many governments are implementing regulations to protect biodiversity, and tax or other financial incentives are available for businesses that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. Biodiversity is also a critical part of the solution to climate change, with research showing that protecting nature can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 percent. And without a wide variety of plants and animals, we may be missing out on medicines that could treat illnesses and conditions from cancer to malaria. For instance, the antibiotic salicylic acid (aspirin) comes from a plant.