Biodiversity
From BioenergyWiki
Bioenergy > Issues > Environment > Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the level of diversity among the species living within a given ecosystem or more generally in the biosphere. This applies to every phylum of organisms. It is generally agreed that a high number of species is a good indicator of biodiversity, but the existence of rare or very sensitive species, even within in a simple ecosystem, represents a major indicator as well.
Biodiversity decreases each time a species disappears from a given ecosystem. The reasons for disappearance are many, and include destruction of habitats, climatic/ecosystem changes, food web modifications, illegal hunting and/or trade and overexploitation (of fisheries, for instance) are the most common.
The state of biodiversity is closely followed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) through the Red List of Threatened Species.
Concerns have been raised about the impacts of cultivation of biofuel crops, notably oil palm, on biodiversity. (See, for example, palm oil.)
