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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

The Importance of Horseshoe Crabs
November 09, 2022
Horseshoe crabs have been around for a half-billion years. They’ve survived disasters that wiped out most life on this planet, including dinosaurs. A secret to their longevity? Massive beach orgies. Every year, they deposit millions of eggs along the Atlantic Coast, providing protein-rich food for many endangered species — including red knots, who use it to fuel their epic 9,500-mile annual migration. The Center won protection for these shorebirds in 2014. Now a commission of U.S. coastal states wants to increase commercial horseshoe crab harvest limits, including females for the first time. We’re opposing the proposed harvest increase. Horseshoe crabs have come so far and provide so much. We can’t let these ancient creatures — or the others who depend on them — disappear forever. Get more from this piece by Center scientist Will Harlan: https://biodiv.us/3FWWrq1 ***** 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.