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Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the word used to describe the vast variety of living things on Earth. Generally, the greater range of habitats and their varied structure found in an area, the greater range of other biodiversity such as trees, plants, fungi, animals, invertebrates and micro-organisms they will support. Biodiversity is essential for human life.

This range of plants, fungi and animals - the biodiversity - live together in a balanced system called an ecosystem. Each ecosystem is like an intricate web, with the health of each part dependent on the health and functioning of the other parts.

The WWF’s 2022 Living Planet Report found that since 1970, there has been a global decline in mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The decline is a massive 69%, and it is due to humans consuming more, destroying habitats, and upsetting the balance of nature. We have overfished the oceans, cleared forests, polluted our water sources, with 75% of our land environment and 66% of the ocen environment now significantly altered.

The IUCN Red List is a ' list of species and the health of their population. The list is of animal, fungus and plant species, and is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. On the list are more than 41,000 species threatened with extinction, including 41% of amphibians, 38% of sharks and rays, 34% of conifers, 33% of reef building corals, 27% of mammals and 13% of birds.

Biodiversity in Powys

Powys County Council (PCC) has a significant role in protecting biodiversity, with legal requirements originating from Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Visit this page to find out more and follow links to action plans and nature-friendly resources, including the Powys Local Biodiversity Action Plan,

On the Wales Nature Week page there are great resources to help you know how to connect with nature and make your garden friendly to a wide range of creatures - www.biodiversitywales.org.uk/Wales-Nature-Week

On their site, PCC has lots of information in a number of sctions:

• Road Verge Biodiversity and the 'It's for Them' campaign
• the Powys Nature Partnership
• the Powys Nature Recovery Plan
• the Powys Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Click here to access.

You can search the Wales Biodiversity Partnership website for nature events in Powys - and much more!

Page last modified: 05 Dec 2022, 10:51