I think biodiversity, or the variety and variability of life on Earth, is crucial for animals and plants for several reasons. Firstly, it enables ecosystems to carry out essential functions like nutrient cycles and soil formation. These ecosystems provide habitat for a multitude of organisms. Biodiversity also aids in the provision of other essential ecosystem services like air and water purification, natural disease control, and climate regulation. A more diverse ecosystem is also more resilient to disturbances and can recover more quickly from environmental stressors. Lastly, but not any less important, is the cultural value. I mean, our various cultures, values, and customs are built around the diverse plant and animal life that surrounds us. So it’s a vital piece of our collective identities and our history.

From my perspective, biodiversity holds an inherent value to animals and plants. It’s kind of like a natural insurance policy for the health of our world. The more diverse a community of animals and plants is the more it can withstand and recover from a variety of disasters. Natural diversity is like each species holds a unique place in the ecosystem, sort of like pieces in an incredibly complex puzzle. Remove one piece and the whole picture is incomplete. More directly, biodiversity ensures food security, provides materials for shelter and medicine, and is essential for economic development. Loss of biodiversity reduces the productivity of ecosystems. So, to put it simply – biodiversity is the life support system of our planet.