Diversity of life – Biodiversity

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Biodiversity is not the same as species diversity

Biodiversity is a term you read in many places, but what exactly does it mean? In simple terms, biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. Many people use the term species diversity as a synonym for biodiversity, but this falls short. High biodiversity not only refers to the fact that there are many species of living organisms (e.g. animals, plants, fungi), but also to the fact that there is great genetic diversity among them. There is also a third component: the diversity of habitats. To explain these three forms of biodiversity to you in more detail, more Flora Stories will follow in the coming weeks, which will take a closer look at the individual forms. Don’t miss them!

Loss of biodiversity

In May 2019, the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services was published. The report highlights the alarming state of global biodiversity. Data from 1970 to 2018 for a total of 31,821 populations of 5,230 species from all over the world show that the population sizes of the observed mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish have shrunk by an average of 69 percent. The main reason for this is the loss of diverse habitats. The ever-shrinking populations inevitably lead to a loss of genetic diversity. This is why it is so important to protect or restore habitats. This is precisely the motto of this year’s Biodiversity Day.
Biodiversity Day (May 22)
International Biodiversity Day is celebrated every year on May 22. In 2024, the motto is ‘Be part of the Plan’. This motto is a call to action to stop and reverse the loss of biodiversity, because every human being interacts with the environment and can become part of the plan to conserve biodiversity.
Badge: Biodiversity Day
Flora Incognita was developed to make it easy for you to get to know plant species. Only those who know species can protect species! That’s why you can earn the Biodiversity Day badge on May 22nd. All you have to do is identify a variety of different plant species on this day with Flora Incognita. There are three levels: for 10, 20 and 30 different species. Have fun with this task!

This article was featured as a story in the Flora-Incognita app in spring 2024. In this plant identification app, you can find exciting information about plants, ecology, species knowledge, and tips and tricks for plant identification. Check it out!