Tell me: what is biodiversity and why it’s so important?

And if 20th May was the International Bee day, it is not a coincidence if not so much later, we find the International Biodiversity day.

Biodiversity. A word that we hear more and more often, but what does it mean exactly? Would you be able to tell me more about its meaning?

Before keeping on reading, stop for some seconds and try to give me a definition, like if you have to explain it to a child. Would you manage? Once you get aware about its real importance, most probably you will wonder what can I do for biodiversity? Here below the replies, keep on reading and you’ll see 🙂

What is biodiversity?

I must admit it, I tried and I struggled quite much to give an explanation of this word. In any case, no problem: there is always a solution!

Already at a first glance, you can notice that this word is composed by two others: Bio (from Greek, it means life) + diversity. Hence, how can we translate it? As the variety of living organisms exisiting on the earth, in a same or different species or, more in general, in different ecosystems.

But why is this variety so important? I mean, ok, world is wonderful right because of this variety, but there must be something more, musn’t there? That’s right: thanks to this variety – and we speak about a variety on more levels (genetic inheritance, species and ecosystems varieties) – we are able to react better to changes. Biodiversity allows to a specific species or ecosystem to react – and hence to survive – to specific upside downs or dangers or new conditions.

These can be related to pollution, climate change, intensive farming, uncontrolled hunting, deforestation,… and have you noticed? When we speak about endangered animals, this is strictly connected to these reasons. Pondering about it: unfortunately causes that threatens biodiversity are often linked to human beings and his actions.

And why are bees related to biodiversity?

Now that we have clarified this famous biodiversity concept, would you be able to tell me whether bees are connected to it? And if yes, why? As pointed out here Why are bees so important? – Gaeblini, consider that three quarters of the plants that produce fruit and vegetables, exist thanks to pollinators! Do you remember who the pollinators are? If you are doubtful, you can have a look at our article about this fantastic team Have you ever wondered what people have been doing for pollinators? – Gaeblini, here we have spoken also about some helpful way to actively support them. Among pollinators we find our dear bees as well. Hence, protecting bees means also protecting great part of plant biodiversity. In this wonderful synergy, bees take a bit of nectar & pollen and in exchange they grant the plants’ future through the pollination. Now the connection between bees and biodiversity is clearer, isn’t it?

Always remember: our solutions are in nature

Every 22nd May, since some years, United Nations speak about biodiversity, every year underlying a different aspect. Last year, in 2020 – the year of the pandemie – they spoke mainly about the importance of nature with the slogan ‘our solutions are in nature‘. In my opinion, this is a very nice sentence. In the end, it’s really this way, isn’t it? Even if we may feel super autonomous and at ease with an extra advanced technology, we depend much on nature. With this motto, they want to highlight the fact that we are part of the nature itself (the motto states OUR solutions), so it’s not something separated or far away from us which we should not be interested in. What United Nations wanted to stress last year is right this: it’s essential everyone’s commitment in more areas for building a future that is as much as possible in harmony with nature.

Help bees, help biodiversity

In this all bees are facing many challenges and it’s our duty to be aware of this and do something actively to fix up what damaged. Bees are a microcosm that can increase the sustainibility level of our lives. With some simple practices we can protect biodiversity. Bees are not only honey, about one third of worldwide food production depend on bees pollination. For this reason they are to be considered essential: both for the spontaneous flora variety and from the economic point of view for agriculture. Eh – just a thing – no! Bees don’t eat fruits, they don’t break grapes or cherries, etc, those in case are the wasps…Actually bees are essential for agriculture and they don’t damage anything.

So what to do?

At this point you may think ‘yes ok, after this sermon I got it, but in practice what should I do??’. You are absolutely right, I wondered the same me too indeed. Now that I am really aware of the importance of biodiversity, for sure indisputable, what can I do to protect it in my daily life? Any suggestion to don’t make the situation worse?

There are really so many things that can be done: starting from not throwing away the rubbish in the environment (dunno, when you eat a candy at home, you throwh the paper on the floor?) – it may sound obvious, but it seems it’s not. Opt for local and seasonal fruit and vegetables, respect animals also while hiking. If you have the possibility, diversify as much as possible the crops from your garden and avoid pesticides and chemical substances. If you have to go to the bakery 800m away from your house, go on foot or by bike. Read and find out more, stay hungry! Help actively other people to better understand these concepts, starting from the village where you live: it would be nice to take biodiversity into consideration into public areas, parks, lawns and street borders. Otherwise try to sensitise people about these topics through gifts: something more useful than what my mom would call as ciapapolver (a word in dialect to tell ‘a useless thingy that only catches dust’). Choose gifts that are nice for their deeper meaning: a book about eco-tourist trips for a lover-trips friend, a natural honeypot for mom’s day. Some bio chocolates for dad’s day or again for your sister a solid shampoo, which is more and more arousing curiousity.

I have found these and many other ideas on this PDF guide written by the EU Commission https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/info/pubs/docs/brochures/biodiversity_tips/en.pdf . I suggest you to have a look at it! I am sure you will find several interesting ideas 😉

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Have you ever given a gift that could also protect biodiversity somehow? Would you like to receive one? We would like so much to read a comment of yours 🙂 Awaiting your sustainable gift idea and if you think this article was interesting, please let us know and share it!

A hug,

The Gäblini