International Year of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is life

Biodiversity is our life

This year has been declared International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by the United Nations; this is in recognition that our planets wildlife is suffering serious losses on a scale never experienced in humanity’s time on this planet. In 2002 world leaders committed to reduce the global loss of species by 2010. The EU made a commitment to halt species loss completely by 2010. Sadly not all these targets are being met, so this year is the time to prove that we can stop this loss.

Why is biodiversity important?
Quite simply, whilst wildlife and biodiversity can do quite happily without us, we cannot survive without it.

Most of the oxygen you breathe comes from plankton in the oceans of the world and lush forests around the globe. The fruit and vegetables you eat were likely pollinated by bees, and the water you drink is part of a huge global cycle involving you, clouds, rainfall, glaciers, rivers and oceans. Your diet depends almost entirely on the plants and animals around us, from the grasses that give us rice and wheat, to the fish and meat from both wild and farmed landscapes. Biodiversity also supplies timber and plant materials for furniture, building and fuel, the mechanisms that regulate your climate, control floods and recycle your waste and the novel compounds and chemicals from which medicines are made. Biodiversity is taken so much for granted, and because it is around you all the time, it is easily forgotten about.

There are as many as 13 million different living species on this planet including plants, animals and bacteria, only 1.75 million of which have been named and recorded. This incredible natural wealth is a priceless treasure that forms the ultimate foundation of human life.

The loss of iconic and symbolic species is not only a cultural tragedy; it also undermines our own survival. The beautiful, bountiful diversity of the natural world is being damaged as a result of human activities. Felling or burning of forests, removal of mangroves, intensive farming, pollution stress and overfishing impoverishes everyone and weakens the ability of the living systems, on which we depend, to resist growing threats such as climate change.

We can stop this loss, the question is will we? The International Year of Biodiversity is our chance to prove we will.

What can you do?
Humans are part of nature’s rich diversity and have the power to protect or destroy it. Now is the time to act. Help us make this a good year for wildlife in Wiltshire.

There are a number of ways you can get involved, one of the most important ways is to record the wildlife you see, and send in your records. The more wildlife we know about, the more we can try to protect. You can do this a number of ways ranging from ad hoc recording to a dedicated long term monitoring scheme that requires monthly surveys. Take a look below at what you can do.

Take part in an IYB event
Download a list of events in Wiltshire for IYB day, which is on 22nd May. Find out about the May Fly Hatch Event for IYB

Record your local wildlife
We love to find out what you have seen, whether it's an ancient tree, a bird, or a spider let us know. Here's how to tell us

Sign up to one of our long term projects
We have number of long term monitoring schemes with commitment ranging from one survey a year to one a month! If enough sites are regularly monitored, we can begin to build up a picture of the changing face of Wiltshire.
Get involved in one of our schemes

Send us your Wildlife Photographs
Add to our gallery by sending us photos of the wildlife you have seen. Don't be shy, we'd love to see them! Send in your photos

Send us your Stories
Tell us about your wildlife encounters, whether it’s hedgehogs feeding in your back garden every night, or a fleeting glimpse of a Barn Owl as you drive across Salisbury Plain. Tell us your stories

Become a member of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
You will join over 20,000 people who are supporting the Trust's work to provide better protection for Wiltshire’s wildlife and habitats. You may be surprised at the variety and extent of the work that you will be supporting. Become a member

For more information take a look at the website of IYB-UK, which is the UK partnership supporting IYB; or the UN IYB website