“Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself” – Chief Seattle, Duwamish tribe

While gardening is a human construct and is far from being a natural environment, gardening does play a key role in supporting biological diversity and human well-being. One question that might arise is why should we care about the state of biological diversity on our planet?

The importance of preserving and conserving biological diversity cannot be overestimated. Let’s not sugar coat this – planet earth can do without humans, but humans cannot do without planet earth (at least not yet) – especially its biological diversity. Biological diversity or biodiversity essentially means the “variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms”. Biodiversity has been created through “billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and increasingly, by the influence of  humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral part upon which we so fully depend” (1).  Biodiversity encompasses several levels. These are: genetic diversity –  the variation between individuals and between populations within a species; species diversity – the different types of plants, animals and other life forms within a region; and community or ecosystem diversity – the variety of habitats found within an area (i.e. grassland, marsh and woodland). Functional diversity is also sometimes included, which captures the different roles of organisms play within an ecosystem i.e. the energy capturing role of a plant and the role of an herbivore in keeping plant growth in balance. (2)

About 1.75 million species have been identified, many of which are small creatures like insects. What’s more, scientists suggest that there are actually about “13 million species, though estimates range from 3 to 100 million”. (3)

References 

1. Convention on Biological Diversity. “Biodiversity – The Web of Life”. https://www.cbd.int/convention/guide/
2. World Resources: A Guide to the Global Environment. “Biodiversity: Conditions and Trends”. New York: Oxford University Press. 1994, pg 147-148).
3. Convention on Biological Diversity. “Biodiversity – The Web of Life”. https://www.cbd.int/convention/guide/

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