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Biodiversity

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A beautiful waterfall surrounded by lush green forest in Victoria, Australia.

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity means all the different kinds of life on Earth. This includes plants, animals, fungi, and tiny organisms. It is like a big puzzle with many pieces, each one special and important.

Where Do We Find Biodiversity?

The world is full of life, but some places have more than others. Areas near the equator, called the tropics, are very warm and rainy. These places, like forests, have lots of different plants and animals. Even though tropical forests cover a small part of the land, they hold about half of all the world's species.

Why is Biodiversity Important?

Biodiversity helps keep our planet healthy. It gives us clean water, food, and materials for energy. Forests, with their many plants and animals, are especially important. They help us have fresh air and protect us from strong winds and heavy rains.

Protecting Biodiversity

People are working hard to protect biodiversity. They set up special areas called protected areas, like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. These places help keep plants and animals safe. By protecting these areas, we help keep our world beautiful and full of life for everyone.

Images

A colorful scientific illustration showing the connections between different species, representing the idea that all living things are related through evolution.
A collection of fungi and lichens gathered during a nature exploration in the forests of Northern Saskatchewan.
Models of different species showcasing the amazing variety of life on Earth at a natural history museum.
A colorful chart showing how different parts of the environment have changed over time, with red indicating areas that are damaged and blue showing areas that remain healthy.
A graph showing how the number of plant and animal species has changed over the past 540 million years.
A beautiful summer field in Belgium with bright blue cornflowers and red corn poppies growing among the crops.
A colorful display of forest fruits growing in the rainforest canopy of Barro Colorado Island, Panama.
A diagram showing how biodiversity and ecosystem services support human well-being and how conservation strategies can help protect nature and fight poverty.
An orangutan at the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Malaysia, where rescued baby orangutans are cared for and prepared to return to the wild.
World map showing how the number of animal species changes from the equator to the poles, with the equator shown in red (most species) and the poles in blue (fewest species).
People hiking on the Eagle Creek Trail in Oregon, surrounded by natural scenery and plants.
A striking male Silver Pheasant displaying its ornate feathers at Malagos Garden Resort in Davao City.
Scientists compare wheat plants to study how they grow in salty conditions.

Related articles

Life
Earth
Equator
Tropics
Species

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Biodiversity, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.