The living and non-living components of the Earth’s ecosystems—from fungi and plants to microbes, birds, insects, mammals and humans—combine to form biodiversity. Together, they sustain healthy communities and provide critical services like clean air, fresh water, natural medicines, food security and climate regulation.
Scientists are racing to catalog the millions of species on Earth, and to understand how they relate to each other and to their environments. A healthy ecosystem has many species, including some that are unique and only found in a single region (called endemic). But even these local populations can be vulnerable to outside forces that threaten their survival. For example, if a bird or insect colonizes an urban area too quickly, it could displace native species and disrupt the local ecosystem.
Biodiversity is a powerful economic driver: It supports jobs in forestry, agriculture and ecotourism, and provides the raw materials that feed billions of people. It also enables businesses to create products that reduce waste and support health, wellbeing and cultural identity. For example, indigenous medicines are often based on plant or animal sources, and 231 species serve as national symbols in 142 countries.
Biodiversity also protects us from climate change, for example by absorbing carbon dioxide and regulating the flow of water and nutrients. And it can help to reduce hunger and malnutrition, as studies show that reducing the loss of wildlife can boost crop yields. It’s also part of the solution to global warming, with a study led by Bronson Griscom showing that nature can deliver 30 percent of the emissions reductions needed to avoid climate catastrophe.
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