Reversing biodiversity loss

Why is biodiversity important?

Biodiversity matters. At its simplest, biodiversity is about living nature or life on Earth - different genes, species and ecologies and, as a consequence, the varying landscapes, regions and habitats in which they exist. 

Biodiversity provides food, water and shelter; influences climate; controls disease; and regulates nutrient and water cycles. Biodiversity is integral to spiritual, cultural, psychological and artistic well-being. Biodiversity also has its own intrinsic worth distinct from human life. Humans are embedded in the natural world, and so are a part of biodiversity.

Acting against biodiversity loss

Today, however, the Earth is losing biodiversity at rates not seen in the modern era. Human responses to stop biodiversity decline have been woefully inadequate – with targets missed at both the international and national levels. 

The Royal Society has produced a range of resources to help stimulate debate among policy makers and the public:

• Our short film, Why do we need nature? is voiced by Sir David Attenborough and explores some of the key themes on biodiversity loss
• Our Primer on Why nature matters provides a short overview of the state of nature in the UK and what we can do to protect, restore, manage and create spaces for nature to flourish in
• Our Q&A looks at some of the most commonly asked questions about biodiversity and draws on the expertise of our Fellows to answer them as accurately and dispassionately as possible
• To strengthen the scientific evidence base on biodiversity and make this available to policymakers, the Royal Society has commissioned a series of essays from global experts in fields as diverse as conservation, ecology, environmental change, economics and population. 

Find answers to 16 key questions about biodiversity

• Introduction
• What is biodiversity?
• Why is biodiversity important?
• How do we measure biodiversity?
• What is the scale of biodiversity loss?
• Do new species offset the loss of existing species?
• Where is the most biodiversity loss happening and why?
• Is the rate of biodiversity loss increasing or decreasing?
• What is the state of biodiversity in the UK?
• How do humans affect biodiversity?
• How does the growing global population and increasing consumption affect biodiversity?
• How does climate change affect biodiversity?
• How does deforestation affect biodiversity?
• What can we do to protect biodiversity?
• What can I do as an individual to protect biodiversity?
• Can we allow nature to regenerate without intervention?
• How do we decide what is worth saving or putting our efforts into protecting? 
• Acknowledgements

Further reading

• Biodiversity and climate change: interlinkages and policy options
• The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review commissioned by the UK Treasury and led by Partha Dasgupta FRS
• Classroom resources for schools
• Statement on biodiversity loss by the Science Academies of the G7

Scientific essays about biodiversity 

• The economics of biodiversity: The Dasgupta review
  By Partha Dasgupta
  Read the essay
• Plural valuation of nature matters for environmental sustainability and justice
  By Berta Martín-López
  Read the essay
• Why efforts to address climate change through nature-based solutions must support both biodiversity and people
  By Nathalie Seddon
  Read the essay
• Past and future decline and extinction of species
  By Christopher N. Johnson
  Read the essay
• Amazonia’s future: Eden or degraded landscapes?
  By Thomas E Lovejoy
  Read the essay
• Behaviours for conserving biodiversity
  By R M Cowling
  Read the essay
• Consumption patterns and biodiversity
  By Jianguo Liu
  Read the essay
• Demographic trends and policy options
  By John Bongaarts
  Read the essay
• Emergent and vanishing biodiversity, and evolutionary suicide
  By Simon A Levin
  Read the essay
• Preserving global biodiversity requires rapid agricultural improvements
  By David Tilman and David R. Williams
  Read the essay