There is nothing more important than good health. Good health means being in good physical condition and not being sick, but it can also mean having access to all of the different things we need to have a happy life. These might include good schools, fresh air, clean water, lots of space, and supportive friends and neighbors. All of these benefits help us take care of ourselves and our loved ones. While it might seem as though having all of these things depends upon living in a nice neighborhood and town, it’s really biodiversity that gives us the ability to enjoy all of these assets!

But why biodiversity?

We have learned about the food chain and how energy transfer and cycle matter are necessary in everyday life. Decomposers create the nutrients that feed producers and consumers, which allows the circle of life to function. So, if there were no decomposers depositing nutrients into the soil, then plants couldn’t grow, and animals and insects wouldn’t have anything to eat. We depend upon all of these different plants and animals to perform their jobs so that there is a thriving environment that supports everything. It’s biodiversity that gives us the trees, plants, animals, insects, and lots of other resources we need to make the things we use every day.

Biodiversity in the world’s ecosystems is what allows us to live happily and healthfully. It’s the biodiversity in nature that gives us the important raw materials for our food, clothes, homes, and medicines, and also provides the jobs that give us the income that supports our lifestyles. But if we don’t protect our biodiverse ecosystems, we put ourselves and all of the living things in these environments in danger.

The loss of global forests seriously threatens the security and health of the human population. It isn’t possible to survive in a world without biodiverse ecosystems. Here are the different reasons a biodiverse ecosystem must be protected, preserved, and encouraged.

Biodiversity is important for maintaining our food supply.

Biodiversity is critical for the health of crops and our food supply. This is because diverse elements in the ecosystem promote resistance to diseases, environmental extremes, and pests. Also, livestock needs a nutritious diet of diverse foods with plenty of micronutrients to stay healthy and thrive. When biodiversity is compromised, it can seriously harm our ability to access food and even water! Healthy forests purify water by absorbing rainfall, filtering it, and slowly releasing it into rivers and streams.

Biodiversity gives us medical information and resources.

All of our medicines and medical treatments are the result of researching and using elements found in nature. The wide variety of plants, insects, and animals in the natural world – particularly in the world’s rainforests – gives the medical community an abundance of materials for medical research. Medical treatments for conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and different viral infections are studied using plants and animals from the land and oceans.

Biodiversity is important to different global cultures.

Biodiverse ecosystems give people living in nearby communities a sense of environmental awareness and an appreciation of nature. If you look at the artwork from different areas of the world, it generally features depictions of the plants and animals that are native to the region. So the diversity of the natural world contributes significantly to the cultural practices of the people around the globe. From artwork, to spiritual and religious traditions, to cuisine, a region’s ecosystem plays a large part in forming and nurturing communities.

Biodiversity is important for fighting against climate change.

Climate change is widely considered the biggest threat to human health and security. Protecting biodiverse ecosystems can help reduce the volume of greenhouse gasses released from human industrial activities. Mature forests are carbon sinks, which means that they absorb harmful CO2 from the atmosphere via photosynthesis and release oxygen. They might also help contribute to cooling the planet by transpiring water that forms rain clouds.

Protecting global forests is critical to reversing climate change and protecting biodiversity. Forest Founders is committed to reversing climate change by supporting tree planting programs and carbon accountability initiatives. To learn more about our mission, please visit our information page.