Investigate Biodiversity

The Basics of Biodiversity:
Why is biodiversity important?

Many aspects of our lives depend upon biodiversity. We rely on it to keep our air and water clean, regulate our climate, and provide us with sources of food, shelter, clothing, and medicine. In addition, biodiversity improves our quality of life by creating lovely natural spaces where we can relax, play, and admire the beauty of nature.

Every component of biodiversity—from microorganism to grizzly bear—is part of the web of life. Entire ecosystems can be altered by the loss of one component.

Biodiversity’s value includes:

		Economic Importance: the natural products that sustain global trade
		Environmental Importance: the natural systems that balance ecological health
		Medical Importance: the plants, animals, and microorganisms that benefit society
		Scientific Importance: the species and relationships that reveal evolutionary processes

	We’re economically dependent upon biodiversity. A huge number of natural products not only supply us with food, but also boost our economy. For example, more than 40 crops cultivated in the United States (and valued at more the $30 billion dollars annually) rely on a diverse population of insects for pollination—insects that can be harmed by pesticides. And consider the number of fibers, building materials, and other natural resources we depend upon financially! In addition, our national parks not only improve our quality of life; they also generate more than 400,000 jobs and more than $28 billion in economic activity each year. If you’re lucky enough to live next to a park or a nature preserve, you’ll also notice an increase in your property value, too. top
	We’re environmentally dependent upon biodiversity. We know that biodiversity is crucial to sustaining the environment around us. We’ve learned that trees and other plants diminish the risks of climate change and global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When we remove trees and plants, unfortunately flooding, mudslides, and pollution increases. And we’re now just beginning to understand the roles that different species play in this process. top
	We’re medically dependent upon biodiversity. Approximately 50 percent of our medicines contain compounds that are obtained from or modeled on substances extracted from the natural world. More than 3,000 antibiotics—such as penicillin, which comes from a certain type of mold—were originally derived from microorganisms. All species, including those yet undiscovered or currently perceived as “worthless,” hold the potential to provide us with life-saving products. top
	Biodiversity is our past, present, and future. The web of life took millions of years to evolve. Some life forms have barely changed since they began hundreds of millions of years ago. Others, like humans, have appeared fairly recently. And many more have perished forever. The variety and scope of life on Earth is both our inheritance and our responsibility, and the decisions people make affect this web of life. Only through understanding the relationships between species and their environments can we ensure that our decisions will preserve Earth’s biodiversity for our children and grandchildren. top