What is Biodiversity

Biodiversity is a term that describes the variety of life on earth. It comprises all living things from plants, birds and mammals, to insects, microbes and fungi and the ecosystems – bogs, forests, river, oceans, grasslands etc. – that they are part of. Healthy ecosystems are vital for human health and wellbeing, underpinning food production and food security, giving us clean water and fresh air, protecting against climate change, providing the basis of many modern medicines and enriching our lives both culturally and spiritually. Over 31,000 species have been recorded in Ireland and its surrounding seas and many more have yet to be discovered.