Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the term for the variety of life and the natural processes of which living things are a part. This includes the living organisms and the genetic differences between them and the communities in which they occur.

The concept of biodiversity represents the ways that life is organized and interacts on our planet. These interactions can take place on scales ranging from the smallest, at the chromosome level, to organisms, ecosystems, and even to entire landscapes.

There is much to be gained from conserving biodiversity. We depend upon plants and animal species for food, medicines and raw materials. The genetic resources contained within them contain the basis of our continued existence. And there is no doubt that the beauty and variety of our living species greatly improve the quality of our lives.