Biological Diversity

Biological Diversity refers to the wide variety of all life on Earth. From genes, to ecosystems, Biological Diversity encompasses the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that help sustain life. Biodiversity specifically, refers to all species of animals and plants – everything that is alive on our planet. Biodiversity is important for its own sake, and human survival depends upon it.

Biological diversity comprises 3 levels:

• Species diversity referring to the variety of different species alive on earth
• Genetic diversity, meaning the variety of genes contained in plants, fungi, animals, and micro-organisms
• Ecosystem diversity, lastly referring to all different habitats that exist

What is Biodiversity Loss?

Biodiversity loss directly describes the disappearance, or overall decline of biological diversity amongst living things. How we grow food, produce energy, dispose of water and consume resources destroys nature’s delicate balance that all species depend on, for survival. It’s believed that humans have caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals, and half of living plants in just the last 100 years.

Why is Biodiversity Important?

Biodiversity is essential for human health and well-being, food safety and security and economic prosperity. Ecosystems and ecological processes supply us with oxygen and clean water. Ecosystems and organisms help us cycle carbon and fix nutrients, enabling plants to grow, keeping pests and diseases in check, and they further help protect against flooding.

Jim and Tonic’s Biodiversity Garden

Jim and Tonic are ahead of the game and their plans to create a biodiversity garden are well underway! With 100 individual wildflowers, 3 climbing roses and 3 clematis, rosemary, sage and thyme, Jim and Tonic are aiming to reclaim some of the urban spaces by growing plants beneficial to British pollinator species, such as bees and butterflies.
Make sure you check it out next time you visit MM to see the progress!