Biodiversity is the diversity of life. The term refers to all living species on earth, not just humans, plants and animals but fungi and bacteria too! You can see how climate change is having a negative impact on biodiversity in the video below.

Dig a little deeper

The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, more commonly known as the ‘IUCN Red List’, was initially created in 1964. It has grown to become the most detailed source of information regarding the risk of extinction for animal, plant and fungus species all over the world and is a critical indicator of the health of global biodiversity. 

The IUCN Red List is a tool used to encourage action for protection of biodiversity and changes in policy in order to allow for this to happen. This tool is used by all kinds of people and organisations around the world from government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGO's), students and educational organisations.

Over 142,500 species are currently on the IUCN Red List, more than 40,000 of which are threatened with extinction, including 41% of amphibians, 37% of sharks and rays, 34% of conifers, 33% of reef building corals, 26% of mammals and 13% of birds. 

Definitions

• Amphibians: Small vertebrates that need water or a moist environment to survive. They include frogs, toads, salamanders and newts (National Geographic).
• Conifers: Groups of trees that grow needles instead of leaves and cones instead of flowers. They grow in colder parts of the world. Pine trees and fir trees are two types of conifers (Nasa, Earth Observatory). 
• Extinction: The complete disappearance of a species from Earth (National Geographic). 
• Mammals: These include all species that are warm-blooded and have backbones (vertebrates), including humans. Female mammals feed their young with their own milk and nearly all mammals give birth to live young! (National Wildlife Federation).

Sources:

Isbell, F. 2010. ‘Causes and Consequences of Biodiversity Declines’. Nature Education Knowledge Project.

IUCN, 2021. ‘Background and History’. IUCN.

National Geographic. 2020. ‘Biodiversity’. Encyclopedia entry. National Geographic.

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 2015. ‘Sustainable Development Goal 15’. United Nations.

United Nations. 2019. ‘UN Report: Nature’s Dangerous Decline “Unprecedented”; Species Extinction Rates Accelerating’. United Nations.