Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth, encompassing different levels such as genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. It includes all living organisms like animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms, as well as the ecosystems they form. Biodiversity is essential because it supports ecosystem services that humans depend on, such as food, clean water, medicine, air quality, and climate regulation. Biodiversity is unevenly distributed globally, with higher diversity in tropical regions due to favorable climate conditions. Forests and marine ecosystems are particularly rich in biodiversity. However, biodiversity is rapidly declining due to human activities such as habitat destruction, climate change, overexploitation, pollution, and the introduction of invasive species. This ongoing loss is sometimes called the sixth mass extinction, threatening the balance of ecosystems and human well-being. Efforts to conserve biodiversity include protected areas, environmental policies, sustainable management, and community-based conservation. Biodiversity is crucial for the stability of ecosystems and overall planetary health, making its conservation vital for current and future generations.
