It's Not Just About "Having Many Species"
When you hear "biodiversity," you might picture the Amazon jungle or colorful fish living in coral reefs. Of course, those are part of biodiversity. But that's not all there is to it.
Biodiversity refers to the richness and interconnectedness of all life on Earth.
The Three Levels of Biodiversity 1. Ecosystem diversity: The variety of environments such as forests, rivers, oceans, and cities. 2. Species diversity: The variety of living things from plants and animals to bacteria. 3. Genetic diversity: Individuality within species, such as differences in color, shape, and patterns.These three levels are intricately intertwined, supporting our planet's environment (biosphere).
Why Does It Matter? (The Portfolio Effect)
In the investment world, there's a saying: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket." By diversifying assets, you reduce risk during market crashes (portfolio theory).
Nature works the same way. Having diverse organisms makes ecosystems more resilient against "shocks" like climate change or disease outbreaks. This is called resilience.
For example, if a disease spreads through a field with only one crop, everything will be wiped out. But in a forest with diverse plants, even if one species gets sick, others survive, and the forest's overall function is maintained.
"Ecosystem Services" That Support Our Lives
We receive many benefits from biodiversity. These are called ecosystem services.
* Provisioning services: Food, water, timber, medicinal ingredients, etc. * Regulating services: Climate stability, flood mitigation, water purification, etc. * Cultural services: Beautiful landscapes, recreation, spiritual comfort. * Supporting services: Oxygen production, soil formation—the foundation that supports everything else.
According to WWF reports, more than half of the world's GDP (approximately $44 trillion) is moderately to highly dependent on natural capital. Business and our daily lives cannot exist without nature as the foundation.
What's Happening Now?
Unfortunately, biodiversity is being lost at an unprecedented rate. Scientists call this the "Sixth Mass Extinction." It's on the same scale as when dinosaurs went extinct.
The main cause is human activity: habitat destruction through development, overharvesting, pollution, climate change, and invasive species.
What We Can Do: Nature Positive
But there is hope. The world has now made a major shift toward "Nature Positive." The goal is to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and put it on a path to recovery.
The IKIMON project is part of this larger movement. Paying attention to nature around us and knowing "what lives where"— that's the first step toward Nature Positive.
Next, let's look at the relationship between business and biodiversity.