Cornwall's biological and geological diversity
Cornwall is a magnificent peninsula, with the magical rugged coastline to the north and the sheltered wooded valleys and estuaries on the south coast. It is a highly diverse county with the rich sea waters containing an abundance of marine life, while the patchwork landscape of farmland, woodland, heathland, moorland and old mining sites are all teeming with wildlife.
This diversity of habitats and species is called biodiversity, a term used to describe the variation among all living things on earth. It includes all species of plants and animals, the genetic variation amongst them, and the complex ecosystems in which they live. Biodiversity can be used as a measure of the health of biological systems.
Some of the habitats and species found in Cornwall are of national and international importance. Many have suffered dramatic decline in recent decades and some once common species are becoming increasingly rare. Unfortunately some species, such as the water vole, have become extinct in Cornwall.
The Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative (CBI) is a partnership of many organisations, businesses and individuals from across Cornwall working together to protect and enhance our wealth of wildlife. To co-ordinate this Cornwall Wildlife Trust hosts a part time Local Biodiversity Action Plan co-ordinator.
2010 has been declared the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by the United Nations. Cornwall Wildlife Trust is a member of the UK partnership supporting IYB.
