'Biodiversity' is a made up word commonly used to describe the variety of all life on Earth, be they bug or beast or plant; even invisible micro-organisms and bacteria.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines biodiversity as:
"The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems."
Biodiversity matters...
Not just the fate of individual species but also because it underpins the vital benefits we get from the natural environment, because it contributes to our economy, our health and wellbeing, and because it enriches our lives.
Biodiversity is all around us
Not just in wild places and nature reserves but also in our cities, the places we live and work, our farmland and our countryside. We are an integral part of this biodiversity and exert a major influence over it.
Biodiversity is under threat!
Even with commitments at a global level to halt biodiversity decline, the last 20 years prove that actions on the ground can fall dangerously short.
2010 - 'International Year of Biodiversity'
The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity.
This global campaign was part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which was set up after the 'Earth Summit' held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Nearly 200 countries are signatories to the Convention.
At Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002 these countries promised to achieve a significant reduction of the rate of biodiversity loss at a global, regional and national level by 2010. All the signatories met in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan to report back on progress and discuss options for the future. Like many countries, the UK missed many of the targets that it set. A new agreement, the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 - 2020, sets international aims for the next ten years.
Species of interest in the UK
Badgers: As a keystone woodland species, badgers are an emotive issue in the UK. They have been linked to the spread ov bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle, a major issue for the farming industry, although 25-70% of bTB breakdowns are reported to be of non-badger origin. They are also protected by the Bern Convention, their numbers can be controlled to prevent disease but any action must 'not be detrimental to the survival of the population concerned.'
The Government in England propose a badger cull, to be trialled in 2012, to help reduce bTB incidence in cattle. There is both support and opposition to the cull. The Government's recent consultation called for responses to the recommended badger control guidelines. The Woodland Trust's response can be downloaded from the related links on the right of this page.
In general, the Woodland Trust is sympathetic to the farming industry's plight but has grave concerns about the effectiveness of widespread and sustained badger culling as a means of control of bTB in cattle, and about the use of the methods proposed. The Trust believes the first step towards tackling bTB in cattle should be robust implementation of tighter cattle controls, and investment in development and issue of effective cattle and badger vaccines. Results from the recent field trials of badger vaccinations show a 73.8% reduction in positive blood tests in badgers.