What is biodiversity, and why is it important to us?

According to the American museum of Natural history: “Biodiversity includes not only species we consider rare, threatened, or endangered but also every living thing—from humans to organisms we know little about, such as microbes, fungi, and invertebrates.”

It includes the trees and, as above, the mangrove swamps, the sea grasses, the birds and bees and the strange creatures living at the bottom of the sea. They all have a job to do in providing humanity with fresh air, fresh water, healthy food and medicines. They do this by: pollination, seed dispersal, climate regulation, water purification, nutrient cycling, and control of agricultural pests among many other services offered. In addition plants in many forms can provide structural support. For example by keeping soil in place or protecting land from ocean storm surges.

However, biodiversity, or Nature, is also valuable in its own right and provides us with a vast and wonderful spiritual support. To walk in Nature can lift our spirits and provide solace against the busyness of the modern world.

Are we caring for our biodiversity?

The answer to that question is very clearly no! We are not, and if we are to have a future, we must take better care of our most precious assets.

Climate Change and loss of biodiversity are interlinked. We cannot tackle one without the other. An example of that is the logging that is taking place, particularly in our tropical forests. The living trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and lock it into the soil (thus reducing global warming). If we cut down the trees for our own use then there will be more global warming with its consequent chaos. Similarly if we dig up peat bogs to use the peat for our gardens it reduces their ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

If you want to read more about this loss of biodiversity here is an interesting article by the European Parliament.

Each living creature has a role to play in the health of the planet

This lovely fox helps keep his ecosystem in balance by eating small mammals that might otherwise take over and deplete the resources of the food system.

Are we doing anything to stop the loss of biodiversity?

(If you want to know what you can do, please see the actions at the bottom of this Blog.)

Organisations both large and small, groups and individuals, are working hard to make a difference and here are some examples.  Of course there is much more to be done and you can do your bit,

1 COP 16

The latest UN Biodiversity Summit has just taken place in Colombia. It was billed as the People’s COP to heal the planet.

Secretary-General António Guterres said that it must engage all of society and in particular it must strengthen the role of indigenous people who understand and nurture biodiversity on a daily basis.

The President of the COP, Ms. Muhamad, who is Colombia’s Environmental Minister, stressed that biodiversity conservation is deeply linked to climate action, and that extractive use of natural resources is responsible for 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions today, but at the same time, it is also causing 90 per cent of biodiversity loss. But she emphasized that: “Powerfully restoring ecosystems and Nature can contribute almost 40 per cent to the solution of stabilizing the climate and the carbon cycle.” We just need to get on with it.

Will they do it? One always has the feeling that these UN COPs are talking shops – places politicians go to be seen, to make interesting promises and to do nothing! My belief is that the COP process is part of the overall shift to taking care of our planet. Business gets the message that something is happening and starts to move and change. It is an educational process for the rest of us and we can start to change too. And the whole system slowly begins to grind into action. Much too slowly, but things are happening. The outcome of this particular COP was unfortunately marred by a lack of agreement on finance. However a great deal of useful work was done.

2 Deforestation

Beef

According to this article the primary catalyst behind deforestation is beef production – responsible for about 41% of deforestation.

There are many countries in the world where people are vegetarian or vegan, sometimes not by choice (i.e. they would eat meat given the chance). However it is also a huge opportunity and many individuals are eating less meat (often for their health) or giving it up completely. The number of vegans in the world is increasing, as is the opportunity to eat meatless meals. For example, both KFC and Burger King are now doing meatless burgers.

It is also possible to grow meat in a lab using animal cells which are cultured entirely outside the body. This is slowly catching on. The above article shows that plant-based burgers are also being developed.

So all these changes are happening, and people are changing their eating habits for many reasons. Not only will that help the planet but also our personal health. You can make a difference here by changing your eating habits. Perhaps little by little. Start by eating less meat at each meal, try meatless meals and then if you like it, you could become a vegetarian or vegan. Our household is trying to eat vegetarian food from Monday to Friday and just a little chicken at the weekend. As French residents we enjoy exploring the markets and making delicious vegetarian food. It just takes a little longer and one needs to be better organised.

3 Regenerative Agriculture

This is a method of farming that works in harmony with Nature. It is also a method of restoring health to soil that has been depleted, helps retain water, and makes the whole process more resilient in a time of Climate Change. This article shows a number of examples of successful regenerative farming. It includes one of a small farm in Normandy in France where with regenerative practices such as low tilling of the soil and natural fertiliser, the farmer produces over 800 fruits, vegetables and herbs. This improves the biodiversity in the soil and on the farm itself.

4 Biodiversity in Cities

The preservation of Biodiversity in cities is also vital and helps to improve the liveability of the surroundings as can be seen here.

The framework of Toronto’s plan outlines 23 actions that enhance biodiversity and increase awareness of Nature in Toronto under the themes of ‘protect’, ‘restore’, ‘design’ and ‘engage’. Progress is reported annually on the city’s website.

Many more examples, both from individuals and businesses, can be found on the internet. (Check out Rewilding, and my Blog – Biodiversity and Why the Earth needs more of it.)

What can you do to preserve and increase biodiversity?

1. Change your meat-eating habits
2. Find a farmer who uses regenerative agriculture, or at least organic and buy from him
3. Make your own compost if you have a vegetable patch
4. Put up insect hotels
5. Don’t cut your seed heads back too early. Leave them for the birds in winter
6. Don’t buy furniture if you don’t know where the wood comes from
7. Don’t use peat-based compost in your garden
8. Use natural fertilisers, not those based on fossil fuels
9. Plant trees
10. Don’t let your local Council cut down trees, and encourage them to plant wild flower verges and meadows
11. Support organisations that work for Nature
12. Plant local flowers and bushes
13. Write to your governments to encourage them to financially support biodiversity.

The most important action you can take is to cut back on your meat consumption. It is better for both you and the planet.

To subscribe to my blog, please use the form on the Home page.

Photos by Fuu J, Ray Hennessy and Christian Wiediger on Unsplash