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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

Endangered Cat Herding in Florida
April 24, 2019
CAT HERDING FOR CONSERVATION: Newly released body-camera footage from a Florida Fish and Wildlife officer shows wildlife agents engaged in bit of cat herding. After discovering that an endangered Florida panther was trapped on the wrong side of fence between the highway and a wildlife refuge, officers temporarily shut down the highway. Then — using their bodies, a truck and a few loud calls to “Get!” — they slowly corralled the cat toward an opening in the fence, where it quickly fled to safety. Thirty panther deaths were reported in Florida in 2018. According to state records 26 of those death were from vehicle strikes.