What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the diversity of living organisms, all existing animals, plants, bacteria, viruses and fungi, as well as their unique characteristics. It is also an academic discipline which object is biological diversity.
Scientists in the field of Biodiversity study the origins of biodiversity, seek possible ways to use it and methods of protecting and maintaining it.
These methods include working on the conservation of ecosystems (water purification, restoration of endemic forests), combating poaching, combating poverty in some countries of Africa, Asia and Oceania, which can cause poaching, development of ecotourism, creation of reserves and national parks, preservation of seeds of important plants in special bunkers (for example, in Spitsbergen).
In addition to nature reserves and national parks, where people are forbidden to live, biodiversity requires protection and preservation also in cities. Cities may be located on the way of seasonal migration of birds, people living in coastal cities can face marine mammals and fish living in coastal waters, and one of the main tasks of biodiversity specialists is to preserve the populations of these animals without interfering with the lives of citizens.
Study programs in Biodiversity
Biodiversity can either be taught as a part of Ecology study program or as a separate degree. Several study programs in Biodiversity can be found on our website, for example, MA Biodiversity and Systematics in University of Gothenburg, Sweden, or MSc Taxonomy and Biodiversity in Imperial College London, UK, or MA Biodiversity and Systematics in University of Oslo, Norway. Find more study programs in Biodiversity by using the Search button.