What is Biodiversity?

“Biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area—the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world.

Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life.

Biodiversity supports everything in nature that we need to survive: food, clean water, medicine, and shelter.” WWF

"Ours is the first generation that understands in detail the damage that it is causing to biodiversity – and the last with the time to make a difference. "

Royal Society

The UK is one of the world's most nature-depleted countries - in the bottom 10% globally and last among the G7 group of nations, new data shows. 

It has an average of about half its biodiversity left, far below the global average of 75%, a study has found.

A figure of 90% is considered the "safe limit" to prevent the world from tipping into an "ecological meltdown", according to researchers.

Biodiversity is declining faster than at any time in human history. Since 1970, there has been on average almost a 70% decline in the populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. It is thought that one million animal and plant species - almost a quarter of the global total - are threatened with extinction.

What is the cause of all this loss of species and biodiversity?  

There are several factors, in decreasing importance . . . 

  1. Changes in land and sea use – mainly using land for agriculture

  2. Direct exploitation of organisms – eg unsustainable fishing

  3. Climate change, so this is related to co2 emissions but not a sole consequence 

  4. Pollution – eg agrochemicals 

  5. Invasive alien species – getting worse with climate change

Clearly a lot of these are global problems but we believe that local action is the root of a lot of the solutions to stopping and restoring our worldwide damage to nature. The food we eat – 40% of our food is from outside the UK – and the products we buy (eg the 50% of things in supermarkets that contain palm oil) have reverberations around the world. Nobody clears rainforest for fun, it happens because of economic incentives and developed-world markets are a large part of these.  

Even though our own region and country looks a green and pleasant land, we’ve had very substantial loss of habitat and wildlife – more than the global average – and there is plenty we can do to improve our environment.  Only 12% of the UK is covered in forest (9% is urban), the European average is 37% forests.

What Can I Do?

As you read above changing what you eat and thinking about it’s seasonality and country of origin will make an impact, as too will be reducing waste.

Here’s a list of things you can do in your garden to encourage wildlife or go to the Events page and see what’s happening locally and think about how you might help

Plant a tree base: There are hundreds of trees on our streets. Why not use the soil at the base to grow some herbs, flowers or small shrubs. Read our guide to planting tree bases and see how to get started.

Go wild: If you have a garden, allow a small area to grow ‘wild’, or leave a patch of fallen leaves. Insects, birds and small mammals will benefit from the cover and native plants.

Help birds: Put up a bird feeder, or nest box. Some birds will come to a feeder on a balcony, so you don’t even need a garden. If you have a garden, why not add a bird bath too?

Make a home: Put a bat box or hedgehog house in your garden. If you have less room, install a bug hotel for insects to use over winter.

Keep it native: Try and include more native plant species, particularly those that attract bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects to your garden. If you don’t have a garden, do you have space for a window box, or hanging basket?

Drive change: If you have a driveway, or are considering building one. Why not make it a green driveway?

Ditch the chemicals: If you really must use pesticides or herbicides, swap chemical treatments for organic ones. Many gardeners spray instead with a washing-up liquid solution.

Create a water hole: If you have space in your garden, adding a small pond will attract vast numbers of creatures. If you have less space, sinking an old washing-up bowl is a great alternative.

Log it: If you can, leave a small pile of logs. Many creatures, like stag beetles, are dependent on rotting wood, but it is often removed.

Inspire the future: Get children involved in any activities. Inspiring future generations to love and respect wildlife is the best way to protect nature in the long-term.