The importance of biodiversity

Without biodiversity, many of our natural life support systems would cease to function.  Living organisms are responsible for regulating the air we breathe, the climate we live in and the quality of the water we drink.  Without biodiversity we would not have soil, food or the other essentials for life as we know it.  In addition to these necessities every-day contact with wildlife has been shown to improve people’s mental well being, aid recovery from illness and help reduce crime.

Biodiversity also provides us with huge economic benefits.  A large proportion of our medicines, food, raw materials for manufacturing and energy sources are a result of biodiversity.  Every year new discoveries are made relating to the benefits wild species could provide humanity, for example in treating fatal illnesses.  In addition environmental attractiveness also helps to attract inward investment to an area.  In some areas wildlife tourism contributes massively to the local economy, and biodiversity also contributes to the landscape character that attracts tourists to the region.

If biodiversity levels fall, the ability of natural systems to adapt to change, or the potential resource available for humans to make use of, declines.  Therefore protecting and enhancing biodiversity is in all of our interests.