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Biodiversity

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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. It is necessary for life to thrive on Earth.

Aldo Leopold, one of the great thinkers of conservation, observed more than half a century ago the importance of protecting species. "To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering," he wrote. Losing species is like throwing away one by one the engine parts of an airplane while flying.

Biodiversity is a major initiative of Conservation International.

Biodiversity conservation provides substantial benefits to meet immediate human needs, such as those for clean, consistent water flows; protection from floods and storms; and a stable climate. 

Curated by mokiethecat

August 01, 2026

Gopher tortoises are critically endangered, yet federal wildlife officials deny them protections under the Endangered Species Act across most of their range. The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit to challenge this decision, bolstered by new research advocating for their protection.

These tortoises are keystone species, with their burrows supporting over 360 other species. Unfortunately, habitat destruction has reduced their longleaf pine habitat to less than 3% of its original size, leading to an 80% population decline over the past 120 years. Please consider donating to support the defense of gopher tortoises and the many species that depend on them: https://biodiv.us/4h2pg70


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