WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?

‘Biodiversity’ encompasses the whole variety of life on Earth. It includes familiar wildlife, such as garden robins, and rarer species, such as otters. Biodiversity includes the places where species live – habitats – such as saline lagoons and saltmarsh, and distinctive groups of habitats and species – ecosystems – such as an estuary.

Biodiversity is a key test of sustainable development, that is ‘development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. Sustainable development conserves and where possible enhances biodiversity while meeting economic and social goals.