Why Should We Care About Biodiversity?

Understanding biodiversity through its meaning and continued relevance allows us to grow, adapt, and thrive through our environment

Large Marine Ecosystems. (n.d.). The CLME + Hub. Retrieved June 21, 2025,.

What Does Biodiversity Mean?

Biodiversity is the variability between all life on Earth, whether that be plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms, or even other whole ecosystems. It is explored between organisms of the same species as well, representing various genetic makeups.

What Is Its Impact on Humans?

Our health, food, water, and fuel are all dependant on biodiversity. Environments can only be sustained through the continued help of many different organisms; they require plants to transform the sun's energy into a consumable form, many ranks of consumers to pass on that consumable energy, and decomposers to break down nutrients from dead organisms and return them to the soil. Without such an array of creatures, we would not have access to thriving environments and hence no resources. Our medicines, crops, food, and fuel are all reliant on self-sustaining ecosystems.

Key Facts

• More than 75% of freshwater resources come from healthy ecosystems

• Upwards of 50% of medicine is made from natural sources

• Over 75% of food crops rely on pollinators

• 40% of the world's economy is reliant on biological products and processes

• 2.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide is absorbed by trees in forests

• 80% of terrestrial biodiversity is stored in forests

• Rainforests alone house half the world's plant and animal species

How Does Genetic Diversity Work?

Genetic diversity in species is crucial for adaptation. Without a variety of traits within a species, if a major natural disaster were to occur, then all organisms within the species would be wiped out without a chance of rebuilding. When random genetic mutations are present in creatures, those traits can be favorable after a disaster. Such traits allow these organisms to live longer, better lives and pass down favorable qualities to offspring. For example, if a species of finch struggled to access food within the trees of an area,and one randomly developed a sharper beak, then this individual would thrive and pass on its fitter qualities to offspring and cause the population to adapt. This is how natural selection occurs in the environment. If all individuals of the same species were genetically identical, then they would be susceptible to extinction. A prominent example is the genetic makeup bananas of today. Overtime, we have selectively bred these fruits from their initial form thousands of years ago to what they are today. Coded for the same bright yellow color, sweet taste, lack of seeds, and large size, the Cavendish banana is the most commonly available fruit of its kind. Though, the DNA in this variety is identical. This means that a single pathogen has the ability to wipe out entire banana crops and end an entire food source.

Alarming Facts

• Human activities have led to species extinctions being 1,000 times higher than before

• 40% of amphibian species are highly susceptible to extinction

• 75% of land surface and 60% of ocean are negatively impacted by human activity

• Freshwater species have experienced an 83% drop, the most significant of all

• There is a net loss of 10 billion trees per year

How Can You Help?

• Support projects aiming to reduce biodiversity loss

• Reduce waste production as much as possible; try recycling items and repurposing them

• Reduce water consumption by taking shorter showers

• Consider sustainable transport such as bikes or carpooling

• Stop using pesticides in your garden

• Make sure to purchase only reliably and ethically sourced products

• Volunteer at conservation organizations

• Remain educated and follow along with The Conscious Planet's blogs

Sources

• Team, S. (2025a, February 21). 30 Facts About Biodiversity. Roll’eat USA. https://rolleatusa.com/30-biodiversity-facts/

• World Health Organization. (2025, February 18). Biodiversity. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/biodiversity