Biodiviteeti

Biodiviteeti is the variety and variability of life on Earth, including diversity within species (genetic diversity), between species (species diversity), and of ecosystems (ecosystem diversity). It encompasses the variety of organisms, their genetic makeup, and the ecological processes that support them, from pollination to nutrient cycling. Biodiviteeti is distributed across habitats from oceans to forests, grasslands to urban areas, and it is dynamic across time scales.

Its functions underlie ecosystem services essential to humans, such as food, clean water, medicines, climate regulation, flood protection, pollination, cultural and recreational values, and resilience against environmental change.

Threats include habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive species, climate change, pollution, and land-use changes. These pressures can reduce species populations, erode genetic diversity, and compromise ecosystem structure and function, sometimes leading to irreversible losses.

Conservation approaches aim to maintain and restore biodiviteeti. Strategies include protected areas, habitat restoration, sustainable resource management, agrobiodiversity preservation, and policies that curb pollution and overharvesting. International frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity seek to coordinate efforts and set targets for biodiversity protection. Indigenous and local knowledge often contribute to effective conservation.

Measuring biodiviteeti relies on indicators of genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. Common metrics include species richness, evenness, genetic diversity indices, and assessments of ecosystem health. Data are used to monitor trends, guide land-use planning, assess risks, and prioritize conservation actions.