Back to basics

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is simply the web of life on Earth. It comprises a hugely diverse range of species, genes and ecosystems.

Species include animals, plants and micro-organisms such as bacteria. They range in size from single-celled organisms to blue whales and giant redwoods. There are estimated to be millions of different species on Earth, although many of them have not yet been described by scientists.

The distribution of species is determined by natural factors like climate and geology but in many cases it has been altered by human influence. Different species interact with each other, and with their environment, to form ecosystems, such as forests, deserts and grasslands.

Not all individuals of a particular species are identical. Much of this variation is caused by genetic diversity. For example, a species may include different variants adapted to specific ecological conditions.

Biodiversity has a critical role, and economic value, in supporting the basic services upon which human life depends. For example, biodiversity provides food, timber, fuel and fibre for clothing. Without biodiversity, we would not have fertile soil or clean water, crops would not be pollinated and diseases would not be controlled.

For more information visit the Convention on Biological Diversity website.

What drives UK nature conservation?

Nature conservation in the UK is driven by a wide range of policies, legislation and agreements.

At a global scale, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) promotes the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s biological diversity. There are also various other international agreements or conventions that are concerned with specific species or ecosystems, issues that affect biodiversity or geographical areas. Examples include the Convention on Migratory Species, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (the OSPAR Convention).

Within the European Union, the Habitats and Birds Directives deal directly with nature conservation. Other legislation, such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, has wider environmental objectives. The EU Biodiversity Action Plan provides a framework for action by EU institutions and Member States.

In the UK nature conservation is mainly a devolved responsibility. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own strategies for biodiversity and the environment. They are complemented by a UK strategic framework and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

How is nature conservation delivered?

In the UK nature conservation is delivered by a partnership of Government, statutory bodies and non-governmental organisations.

The legislative and policy framework is set by Government – the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. UK-wide and international aspects are the responsibility of Defra.

Within each of the four countries of the UK there are statutory bodies that are responsible for delivering nature conservation on the ground and advising government. Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales perform these functions in England, Scotland and Wales respectively. Each operates as a non-departmental public body at arm’s-length from Government. In Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (an executive agency of the Department of the Environment) has broadly similar responsibilities and the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside provides advice to the department. UK-wide and international nature conservation functions are undertaken by JNCC.

Many other Government bodies also make an important contribution, including organisations with wider environmental remits like the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and the Forestry Commission. Increasingly, emphasis is being placed on bringing biodiversity conservation and environmental protection into all Government activities.

Non-governmental voluntary organisations (NGOs) also have a crucial role to play. They do it by managing nature reserves, assessing the status of the UK’s biological and geological diversity, influencing policy development and other activities.

Important contributions to UK nature conservation are also made by academic institutions, industry and business and the general public.