Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. Biodiversity englobes the different kinds of lives you’ll find in one area. Biodiversity encompasses various animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms like bacteria. The term came from two words: biological and diversity. In biodiversity, each organism and species work together to support life and maintain balance. It supports everything in nature so that it can supply humans, animals, plants, and others with the things we need to survive, namely shelter, food, and water. As humans put increasing pressure on the planet, we use and consume more resources than ever before and are upsetting the balance of the ecosystem and losing biodiversity every day. Some factors that help to increase biodiversity are.
- Protected areas that conserve habitats and species from human disturbance and exploitation.
- Control of invasive alien species that threaten native ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Sustainable agricultural methods that reduce the use of chemicals, prevent soil erosion, and promote crop diversity.
- Rewilding that restores natural processes and wildlife to degraded landscapes.
- Green infrastructure that integrates natural elements into urban planning and development, such as parks, gardens, and green roofs.
For birds to visit or live in your garden they need food and shelter, so plant trees and shrubs that provide these. Native plants are excellent choices. And, remember, leaving the seed heads on herbaceous perennials, such as coneflowers, for the winter is a good thing. Put off your final cleanup until late winter or early spring. Butterflies add color and movement to a garden. If you want the colorful adults that feed on nectar flowers, you also need plants the larvae can feed on. The Kemper factsheet linked below lists excellent larval and nectar plants. Also, don’t use chemical pesticides in your garden or the organic pesticide Bt, which can damage or kill butterfly larvae. There are many more pollinators other than honeybees but attracting honeybees is a good place to start. The Kemper factsheet (linked to below) will give the basics of bees. It also lists many plants that attract and support bees. How about becoming a beekeeper and raising bees? Also, why not expand your range and learn about the whole host of other pollinators? Explore the Pollinators.org website (linked to below) to learn more about pollinators and how to attract them. Beware of using pesticides in your garden. Honeybees and other pollinators are very sensitive to many insecticides. Adding water to your garden makes it very attractive to birds and other wildlife. Add a birdbath or a pond or stream. Running or bubbling water is particularly attractive to birds. A water garden can provide a habitat for a whole new palate of plants that will also attract a whole range of aquatic wildlife, such as frogs, dragonflies and fish. Consider a rain garden. It may be just the solution you need for a location where water accumulates. A pile of logs or rocks can provide a home for wildlife. It can encourage beneficial snakes and toads to set up home or it could be a home for a family of chipmunks. When not in danger of causing harm to buildings or humans, a dead tree (called a snag) can be retained and preserved as a home for woodpeckers and other creatures that live in dead and dying trees. It is also a good perch for hawks and owls. Don’t just cut down a tree because it is dead, evaluate its potential use or danger first. If it is far from causing any damage to buildings or people, why not leave it standing for wildlife.