Biodiversity

• Biodiversity

  The variety of all the different species of organisms on earth
• Biodiversity

  • Can refer to an individual ecosystem (e.g. Amazon rainforest)
  • Is important for ecosystems as species depend on each other and help maintain the environment
  • A high level of biodiversity means there are lots of different species, making an ecosystem more stable and less dependent on one species
• Humans are having a negative effect on biodiversity
• Deforestation

  The destruction of tropical forests, often to provide land for rice fields, grazing cattle, or growing crops for biofuels
• Tropical forests contain a very rich biodiversity
• Large areas of tropical forests are being destroyed