Biodiversity is shortened from ‘biological diversity’. It is the variety of all life forms on Earth, from the tiniest bugs living in the soil to the butterflies in your garden, the plants they feed from, and the biggest whales in the sea. Biodiversity includes the diversity of individuals within a species (genetic diversity), diversity of species within an ecosystem or habitat (species diversity) and the diversity of ecosystems or habitats (habitat diversity).
Why is it important to us?
Biodiversity is the basis of human existence, our life support system. Ecosystems regulate climatic processes, breakdown wastes and recycle nutrients, filter and purify water, buffer against flooding, maintain soil fertility, purify air, and provide natural resources such as wood, textiles, and of course food. All agriculture depends fundamentally on Biodiversity, as do marine and freshwater food resources.
Biodiversity and health
Clean air and water is essential to human health. Plant extracts and derivatives form the basis of most traditional and many modern medicines. The diversity of life forms that exist is nature’s way of keeping important checks and balances in place, keeping populations of disease-causing pests and viruses in check.
Biodiversity Loss
Biodiversity is currently being lost at an unprecedented rate globally, and Ireland is no exception. Biodiversity loss in Ireland is caused mainly by habitat destruction, such as wetland drainage and infilling; through water pollution; from invasive alien species; by unsustainable and excessive consumption; from land use changes such as plantation forestry; and climate change. To allow continued biodiversity loss means losing the essential services that biodiversity provides, and prevents handing down an invaluable gift to future generations.
Countdown 2010 – Halt the loss of Biodiversity
To reverse current trends, Ireland has committed to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010, as part of the Convention on Biodiversity, along with all our European counterparts. Moving toward this target requires full implementation of all existing relevant legislation.
Diversity of and within Irish habitats
Ireland has unique and wonderful habitats, including our bogs and marshes, estuaries and saltmarshes, native woodlands and hedges, and particularly unusual places like the Burren in Co. Clare and undisturbed rocky islands off our coast. We, as citizens, all need to do our bit to make sure these places are left intact for the next generation.
Ireland and Global Biodiversity
Through our consumption patterns we, the people of Ireland, play a role in the loss of global biodiversity. Tropical hardwoods in particular, which make up the likes of garden furniture and decking, are often logged illegally from rainforests. Ireland imports tens of thousands of tones of illegally felled timber each year. Cut flowers are often grown in arid developing nations using huge amounts of polluting pesticides and scarce freshwater reserves. It is important to think about what you buy, how it is produced, and where it comes from, and where possible buy sustainable produced products such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified timber.
- Think carefully about what you eat and where it comes from – buy local, seasonal produce where possible.
- Be wary of using chemical cleaning products at home – these are often very toxic and cause untold damage to aquatic wildlife once passed from your drain in to a nearby stream or river.
- Do not buy peat based gardening products – which came from industrially harvested Irish bogs.
- Slug pellets not only kill slugs, they will also kill the birds who eat the slugs and absorb the toxic pellets.
- Reduce your energy consumption – Climate change and biodiversity loss are inextricably linked.
- Join an Environmental NGO – there are plenty about to cater for different interests. We are tackling these issues and need your support in terms of membership.
