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Biodiversity

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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. It is necessary for life to thrive on Earth.

Aldo Leopold, one of the great thinkers of conservation, observed more than half a century ago the importance of protecting species. "To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering," he wrote. Losing species is like throwing away one by one the engine parts of an airplane while flying.

Biodiversity is a major initiative of Conservation International.

Biodiversity conservation provides substantial benefits to meet immediate human needs, such as those for clean, consistent water flows; protection from floods and storms; and a stable climate. 

Curated by mokiethecat

San Pedro River
August 14, 2018

Flowing through the arid Arizona-Sonora borderlands, the San Pedro River is a vital lifeline. This "damned miracle" is one of the Southwest's last undammed rivers, supporting over 80 mammal species—including jaguars and pumas—along with amphibians, imperiled yellow-billed cuckoos, 250+ migratory bird species, and unique native fish. Its incredible biodiversity demands protection.

However, the San Pedro is drying up. Unsustainable groundwater pumping by a growing population has caused base flows to decline by 67% since the 1940s, creating a significant annual water deficit. This crisis stems from unchecked population growth and a lack of effective water-conservation planning.

To help protect this critical ecosystem, join the Center for Biological Diversity's e-list of activists and animal lovers here.