International Year of Biodiversity 2010
Biodiversity is the word used to describe the variety of life around us.
It reflects the number, variety and variability of living organisms. It includes diversity within species, between species and among ecosystems. Biodiversity includes all plants, animals, fungi and even the really small creatures such as bacteria and viruses. We all depend on biodiversity every day for food, medicine, shelter and other every-day things. It is very important that we look after the biodiversity on earth.
Why is biodiversity under threat?
• Habitat loss
• Pollution
• Population Increase
• Over Use – collecting from the wild
What can we do to help?
• Create micro habitats, such as log piles and mini ponds
• Seed a wild flower patch, or even let a patch of ground just grow
• Don’t pull up so many of the ‘weeds’ they are really good for native
biodiversity
• Plant a tree
• Put up a bird or bat box
• Re-use, reduce, recycle!
• Switch lights off when you leave a room
• Use both sides of paper
• Do not drop litter
The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is an opportunity for the entire world to recognise the importance of biodiversity for all life on Earth, to reflect on our achievements to safeguard biodiversity and focus on the urgency of our challenge for the future.
The key messages of IYB 2010 are:
• Biodiversity is important for human well-being and well as
preserving the quality of the environment.
•The current rate of global biodiversity loss is severe – by some
accounts up to 100 times the natural rate of extinction, and we need
to work together to halt this loss.
•There are many ‘success stories’ that point the way
to the future.
Take Action in 2010 and beyond, because
Biodiversity is life
Biodiversity is our life
For more information on the celebrations for the International Year of Biodiversity, please visit www.noticenature.ie and http://www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/