Home
Biodiversity

About This Collection

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

One of the Greenest Schools in America
December 14, 2018
You might expect the country’s greenest school to be a private institution tucked away in a wealthy neighborhood. But check out La Escuela Manzo Ecology in Tucson, Arizona. Manzo is a public elementary school that doubles as a working farm and an ecology laboratory, where K-5 students and renowned scientists collaborate on significant research projects. The school is located in a low-income, predominantly Latino community of Barrio Hollywood and is part of the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) Students at Manzo collect data for significant research and programs with the University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Biosphere 2 working on projects ranging from food science to agrivoltaic-efficiency and climate science. Students study nitrogen cycles and soil science, working hands-on to build compost, grow veggies and raise chickens. They also maintain native desert habitat and an on-campus haven for monarchs and other pollinators. The school runs nearly 100 percent on solar power, and cisterns capture about 32,000 gallons of rainwater for re-use each year. Waste is further reduced through recycling and a compost program that processes more than 4,000 pounds annually. Manzo Elementary students are part of every major conservation effort on the campus. Special thanks goes to UA Community & School Garden Program for all their wonderful collaboration with Manzo.