Discovering biodiversity

Biodiversity is more than just a "buzz-word". To put it simply, biological diversity or "biodiversity" means the variety of life. It includes every different habitat from heathland to rainforest, and every species of animal you can imagine (including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, plants, fungi, and even micro-organisms).

Marine turtle

Biodiversity does not stand still - it is constantly changing, as species and habitats are lost and new ones are created through the process of evolution. One way we can see evolution working is by studying the fossil records.

People have always had an impact on nature and its biodiversity - we are continuously creating and destroying habitats. The origins of many heathland areas, for example, began over 6,000 years ago with Bronze Age man clearing the land for grazing animals, and since the war vast housing developments and forestry plantations have destroyed them again, endangering the many rare species that have evolved to live there.

It is clear that human activity has a great impact on the earth and it is in our own interest to promote a wide variety of life. The earth is our life-support system - we depend on plants and animals for food, medicine and clothing. In fact we depend on our earth for everything. Mass destruction of whole ecosystems is now part of our everyday lives and is happening throughout the world.

European Otter

It is now widely believed that the rapid destruction of all types of habitats is happening too quickly for the animals and plants in them to adapt, and if man goes on changing things so quickly the human race will eventually become extinct too!

It's hard to imagine isn't it?

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