What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the sum total of all forms of life - micro-organisms, plants, animals, - living in an area. the area can be as small as your compost heap or as big as the planet.

Because Australia has been isolated for millions of years, the majority of our animals and plats are found nowhere else - they are unique to Australia. Across Australia a wide diversity of life exists from the tropics to the cool temperate; the rainforests to the sandy desert.

Animals and plants do not live in isolation. The concept of biodiversity stresses the way that all living things are connected in webs of life known as ecosystems. We may not notice if one species becomes extinct, but our biodiversity is permanently reduced and the ecosystems that the species belonged to are affected.

The natural diversity of life should be managed and protected for the 'good health' of the environment.