Biodiversity

What is biodiversity?

Biological diversity is the variety of all life forms - the different plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems of which they form a part.  It is not static, but constantly changing; it is increased by genetic change and evolutionary processes and reduced by processes such as habitat degradation, population decline, and extinction. The concept emphasises the interrelatedness of the biological world. It covers the terrestrial, marine and other aquatic environments.

In fact, biological diversity is considered at three levels:

• Genetic diversity - the variety of genetic information contained in all of the individual plants, animals and microorganisms that inhabit the earth.  Genetic diversity occurs within and between the populations of organisms that comprise individual species as well as among species;
• Species diversity - the variety of species on the earth;
• Ecosystem diversity - the variety of habitats, biotic communities and ecological processes.

How do we maintain biodiversity?

Maintaining biological diversity is much more than just protecting wildlife and their habitats in nature conservation reserves.  It is also about the sustainable use of biological resources and safeguarding the life-support systems of earth. Ecologically sustainable management of all Australia's terrestrial and marine environments is essential for the conservation of biological diversity.

Why conserve biodiversity?

The benefits of conserving biological diversity are numerous. Biological diversity is the primary source for fulfilment of humanity's needs and provides a basis for adaptation to changing environments.  An environment rich in biological diversity offers the broadest array of options for sustainable economic activity, for nurturing human welfare and for adapting to change. 

Benefits arising from the conservation of Australia's biological diversity are not, however, restricted to the continued harvest of resources - they include the provision and maintenance of a wide array of ecological services.  The maintenance of hydrological cycles (groundwater recharge, watershed protection and buffering against extreme events), climate regulation, soil production and fertility, protection form erosion, nutrient storage and cycling, and pollutant breakdown and absorption are some of the services. They are fundamental to our life but they are often grossly undervalued.  

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(Reproduced from The National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity, 1996, Commonwealth of Australia).