Biodiversity is the extraordinary variety of life on Earth — from genes and species to ecosystems and the valuable functions they perform. E.O. Wilson, the noted biologist and author who coined the term “biodiversity,” explains it as “the very stuff of life.”
For at least 3.8 billion years, a complex web of life has been evolving on Earth. Millions of species inhabit land, freshwater, and ocean ecosystems. All species, including human beings, are intricately linked by their interactions with each other and the environments in which they live.
Biodiversity — short for biological diversity — is the variety of living things and their interactions. Biodiversity changes over time as extinction occurs and new species evolve. Biodiversity is measured on various levels, including genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity, and phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distributed evenly on Earth—it is greater in the tropics as a result of the warm climate and high primary productivity in the region near the equator. Tropical forest ecosystems cover less than one-fifth of Earth’s terrestrial area and contain about 50% of the world’s species.
A mission for you: Take a 30-minute drive in any direction from where you live. Observe how much new construction is happening. What impact has this had on our environment? Were the areas void of trees, vegetation, and topsoil? Think: What happened to the birds, squirrels, insects, vertebrates and invertebrates, native plants, and beauty?
The release of the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report was announced at the 90th annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The report, produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations, reveals continued widespread declines in American bird populations across all mainland and marine habitats, with 229 species requiring urgent conservation action. The report comes five years after the landmark 2019 study that
documented the loss of three billion birds in North America over 50 years.
In addition to birds, three out of every five salamander species are threatened with extinction primarily as a result of habitat destruction and climate change, making salamanders the world’s most threatened group of amphibians.
Pollinators are declining. There has been a catastrophic 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations in just 50 years (1970-2020), according to World Wildlife Fund ‘s (WWF), Living Planet Report 2024. The report warns that parts of our planet are approaching dangerous tipping points driven by the combination of nature loss and climate change which pose grave threats to humanity. A study led by NatureServe reveals that more than 22% of native pollinators in North America are at an elevated risk of extinction. This first-of-its-kind, taxonomically diverse assessment evaluated nearly 1,600 species—including bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, flower flies, bats, and hummingbirds—shedding light on the growing biodiversity crisis affecting ecosystems and food security.
Do you have a lawn service that sprays your lawn? The use of chemicals in lawn care has become a topic of increasing concern among homeowners, and environmentalists alike. This concern stems from a growing body of evidence suggesting that these substances can have significant adverse effects on the environment. Lawn care chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, are designed to enhance the aesthetic appeal of lawns by promoting lush green growth and controlling pests and weeds.
Homeowners Associations’ (HOA) classification of weeds is used to refer to an unwanted plant. What the HOA considers a weed — dandelions, clover, and chickweed — may be desired by the homeowner for its ecological benefits, and therefore not a weed. These so-called weeds benefit biodiversity by providing food sources to pollinators at times when other plants may not be blooming. Spraying herbicides can reduce the population of these food sources and therefore, may reduce biodiversity.
If this feels a little overwhelming, take heed-You can help! And if things are going to change, we all must try to help. According to Entomology Professor, Naturalist, and Author, Doug Tallamy, there are four actions we can do in our own yards to help improve biodiversity:
- Capture Carbon
Plants naturally sequester carbon by pulling CO2 from the air and storing it in their tissues and the soil.
• Plant Trees and Shrubs.
• Layer Your Landscape: Plant in layers—canopy trees, understory shrubs, and groundcovers.
• Compost On-Site - Manage the Watershed
Reducing runoff helps filter pollutants and recharges local groundwater.
• Minimize the Lawn.
• Use Large Canopy trees to slow down water so that it can infiltrate the soil, rather than running off.
• Conserve Water. - Support a Diverse Community of Pollinators
Pollinators need continuous floral resources and safe nesting sites.
• Plant a variety of plants that will bloom across every season.
• Provide Nesting Habitat: Leave fallen leaves and dead wood, which provide critical winter shelter for many bees and butterflies.
• Reduce Pesticides: Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides and mosquito foggers, as they kill beneficial pollinators along with pests. - Support the Natural Food Web
A healthy food web relies on “keystone” plants that provide energy for insects, which then feed birds and other wildlife.
Prioritize Native “Keystone” Plants: Use tools like the Homegrown National Park guides to identify “keystone” species in your zip code that support the most caterpillar species.
• Remove Invasives: Aggressively remove invasive plants like Bush Honeysuckle, which take up space but provide little to no food for native insects.
• Manage Light Pollution: Nighttime security lights can disrupt insect life cycles. Switch to yellow LED bulbs or use motion sensors to protect nocturnal species.
Thank our champions for identifying these issues. Rachel Carson, Doug Tallamy, Jane Goodall, Sir David Attenborough, J. Drew Lanham, and others.
My friend accused me of being a tree hugger. I own that. Yes, I love Oaks, American Chestnut, Longleaf Pine, Hemlocks, and millions more. I am a naturalist and a citizen scientist. I am going to use eBird every day to count birds, learn something new about nature every day, and involve future generations.
Wildlife is facing unprecedented challenges, habitat loss, climate change, and the rollback of critical federal protections that leave them even more vulnerable, but you and I can help. Wake up and smell the native wildflowers. When we lose the pollinators, we lose us. You are the key to making this world better; the calendar is ticking. We are all responsible for good earth stewardship. What steps will you take to help?
Check out: https://georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/home
The author of this article, Phillip Prichard, is a Paulding UGA Extension Master Gardener and Master Naturalist, and a Birds Georgia, Master Birder, trained to provide education for homeowners on horticulture, sustainable landscaping, and environmentally friendly gardening practices using unbiased, research-based information from the University of Georgia. For more information, contact Paulding County UGA Extension at 770-443-7616 or view our online resources at www.ugaextension.org/paulding.