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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

How Ancient Horseshoe Crabs First Enter the World
May 30, 2024
Denizens of Earth for 450-plus million years, horseshoe crabs are older than dinosaurs. But these marine arthropods are now in sharp decline due to habit loss and harvesting by the pharmaceutical industry. Biomedical companies use the animals’ blood to manufacture diagnostic tests, even though synthetic alternatives exist: a needless, cruel, and destructive practice. To save a species, we need to understand what’s driving its extinction. Maryland collects data on how companies and fishermen kill, bleed, or injure thousands of horseshoe crabs annually. But the state won’t share that information — so the Center for Biological Diversity sued to get it. As we work to shed light on what’s happening to Maryland’s horseshoe crabs, we’re also fighting to get these ancient earthlings protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Watch and share this mind-blowing video of horseshoe crab eggs hatching, by Heidi Cleven. ********************* About the Center: The Center for Biological Diversity is a 501c3 nonprofit headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. At the Center, we believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive. We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive. Where to find us: WEBSITE: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CenterForBioDiv FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CenterforBio... INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/centerforbi... TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@centerforbiodiv TAKE ACTION: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/a... For questions or media inquiries, email us at center@biologicaldiversity.org.