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Conservation Biology 101

What is biodiversity? Why is it important?

"Biological diversity  means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems" (Convention on Biological Diversity).

Simply, biodiversity is all forms of life that exist on Earth. The complex interactions between all types of life weave the delicate tapestry that supports the structure of our world. The water we drink, the food we consume, every resource we use relies on biodiversity. So, when biodiversity decreases, the availability and quality of those associated resources decrease as well. Pull one thread, and all others are affected.

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

Biodiversity is in trouble. BIG trouble. 

We are currently experiencing extreme population declines and extinctions on a scale never before witnessed in human history. For example, did you know the United States has lost almost 3 billion birds since 1970? Or that insect populations are plummeting, with one European study revealing a decline of 76% flying insect biomass in just 27 years? Or that global vertebrate (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians) populations have declined approximately 69% since 1970?

Why is biodiversity decreasing so severely? Habitat loss and fragmentation are the main drivers. When species no longer have the room or resources to forage, seek shelter, find mates, or simply exist, population numbers drop. Human activities resulting in land and sea use change, pollution, spread of invasive species, and overexploitation are at the center of the problem. The impacts from climate change make many existing problems even worse. In other words, humans are to blame. 

In the United States, development between 1780 and 1980 resulted in over 60 acres of wetlands lost every hour. Poor soil management has resulted in erosion rates that are two times the sustainable rate, and 70% of remaining  global forest is within 1 km of the forest's edge. 

We have mistakenly assumed biodiversity will exist elsewhere as we slowly chip away at habitat, but what happens when there is nowhere else to go?

Why don't "they" do something?

"They" is you. Each of us has a responsibility to educate ourselves and learn how to make informed choices and changes in our lives. That is where The ToolBox comes in! A vast network of environmental resources and organizations already exist that can help each of us make a difference in our corner of the world. The ToolBox acts as the central point of knowledge, creating a foundation from which you can find your passion and support your local conservation programs.

It is up to us, all of us, to do something.

Continued Reading and Learning

If you want to learn more about the basics of conservation biology, try this free PDF book from Oxford University Press: Conservation Biology for All

More on biodiversity and how biodiversity loss impacts you:

National Resources Defense Council: Biodiversity 101

The Royal Society: Why is Biodiversity Important with Sir David Attenborough

World Health Organization: Biodiversity and Health