Biodiversity

Biodiversity simply means the variety of life. It includes all the different species of animals and plants, including birds, butterflies, wildflowers and humans, and even the fungi and bacteria on which we depend. A rich and varied biodiversity depends upon a healthy environment, and if an area has a network of natural habitats which are looked-after appropriately, biodiversity will thrive. The damage caused by intensive agriculture, urbanisation and pollution have all taken their toll on biodiversity. In many cases, this damage can be reversed if traditional agricultural and forestry practices are employed, and sufficient water of suitable quality is available. Links between natural areas and habitats are also important as they allow species to colonise across the landscape, ensuring healthy interbreeding populations. The future of biodiversity is therefore in our hands: we have the knowledge to restore it wherever the will exists.