Defining Biodiversity

Y'all, my love of nature and the beauty of Appalachia has led me to a fun new chapter—getting a Graduate Certificate in Natural Resources from Virginia Tech.

My first class in this program is Biodiversity Stewardship, and we were tasked with defining biodiversity in our own terms. I did my best, took a crack at it, and this is what I ultimately came up with.

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity refers to the vast array of organisms living on Earth or in a specific region. Strong biodiversity is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem, and can provide clues about the relationship between species living in an area.

Second sentence adapted from World Wildlife Fund

As I learn more in this course, I will likely adapt and change this definition to better fit my new understanding of biodiversity. Already, it's taking on a more robust meaning than it did previously.

Here's to learning, y'all!