Elurikkus

Elurikkus is the Estonian term for biodiversity, referring to the variety of life at all levels of biological organization on Earth. It encompasses genetic diversity within species, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity, as well as the ecological processes that support them.

Biodiversity underpins ecosystem services that are essential for human well‑being, including food, clean water, pollination, climate regulation, flood control, soil formation, and cultural and recreational values. It also contributes to resilience by enabling ecosystems to adapt to environmental changes and to recover from disturbances.

Biodiversity is distributed across habitats such as forests, wetlands, coastlines and agricultural landscapes. In boreal regions like Estonia, intact forests and peatlands harbor a large proportion of native species, while habitat fragmentation and land-use change can reduce local diversity.

Threats to Elurikkus include habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, pollution, invasive species and overexploitation of natural resources. These pressures can erode genetic resources, alter species composition, and degrade ecosystem functions.

Conservation efforts focus on protected areas, sustainable land-use planning, habitat restoration, and measures to monitor biodiversity. International frameworks, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the European Union's Biodiversity Strategy, guide policies and funding aimed at maintaining and restoring Elurikkus.