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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

Vaquitas Are Still Out There
June 14, 2023
According to a new count, vaquitas aren’t yet extinct — but they’re still very close to it. An expedition last month in their only habitat, Mexico’s Gulf of California, tallied just 10 to 13 individuals. Several were caught on film. Vaquitas are small, shy porpoises with rounded snouts and black-ringed eyes. Mainly because of entanglement in gillnets meant to catch another endangered species, totoaba fish, vaquitas’ population has plummeted from 200 in 2012. But for decades Mexico hardly lifted a finger to enforce the totoaba fishing ban aimed at saving both species. The Center has been working to save vaquitas for more than 20 years. Now we're calling on Mexico's government to better enforce its ban — before we lose vaquitas forever. More about the recent survey: https://biodiv.us/43PxPIE Vaquitas are considered the most endangered marine mammals on the planet. Sadly, their small size makes them all too easy to scoop up in fishing nets — which has almost entirely decimated their populations. In 1997, experts estimated there were 600 of them living in the Gulf of California. “Vaquita are survivors. But we still need urgent conservation efforts to save these tiny porpoises from extinction,” said the Center's Alex Olivera. Video credit: Dan Soibelman/Sea Shepherd Conservation Society