BY: Megan Smith

This blog was written by Bushwise Research Coordinator, Megan. She has been researching with Bushwise for the past year. Here are her thoughts on the importance of biodiversity.

“It is that range of biodiversity that we must care for – the whole thing – rather than just one or two stars.” – David Attenborough

When you look up at the night sky, you admire the big picture, from the faintest stars, to the brightest ones. People get excited to point out satellites, or make a wish when a shooting star flies by. But, there’s so much more to nature, and it’s easy to miss.

When we talk about biodiversity, we refer to every living organism, from roaring lions to colourful butterflies. Most people tend to overlook the small creatures in nature. But, did you know that for every one mammal on earth, there are 312 insects?

PHOTO BY: Quintin Swart

We share this planet with 8.7 million different forms of life, and we need to admire biodiversity in its entirety.

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall

There are many ways to make an impact on the earth’s biodiversity. One way can be to increase your knowledge on the natural world and share this knowledge with other people. 

Humans are a small part of this world, just as the earth is a part of our galaxy. And there are tons of creatures to learn about. Most people get excited about the Big Five, but we should be just as excited about the rest of the animal kingdom, big and small.

PHOTO BY: Corina Rewijk

In the wise words of Winnie the Pooh, “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart”.

Interested in learning more about biodiversity? Head over to the Bushwise website to find a course that suits you.