The ecosystem and how it relates to endangered species

_Elsa_

The last time we met up with Tiffi she was learning all about the ecosystem. She contacted her character friends to tell them about National Earth Day. You can read part 1 here: What is an ecosystem?

As citizens of the world, we can take actions protecting the Earth, its creatures and their habitats.

She is hoping that her friends will help her observe this important National Earth day on 22 April.  

She contacts Elsa asking her if she’d like to write a story about this. She tells her that she will email all the information that she found online, but she’s not done with googling yet because she wants to read more about the ecosystem and endangered species. She asks Elsa if she can co-author another story with her and suggests that she will start googling for endangered species. She suggests that it can be a two-part story, part 1 can be to learn about the ecosystem and part 2 to learn more about the ecosystem and how it affects endangered species. Elsa loves the idea and tells Tiffi to start googling for part 2 and she will start creating part 1. 

Tiffi remembers the name biodiversity so she googles that first. 

‘Biodiversity is the abundant variety of life on Earth, our interconnections, and our complexities. Tigers, insects, flowers, and trees. Monkeys, snakes, mushrooms, and bees. Biodiversity is the estimated 10 million plant and animal species that share our planet and the role each plays in nature’s unique design.

All life, including our own, depends on a fully functional planet to survive and thrive.  Biodiversity, the vast array of plants, animals, and ecosystems, is the life support system of our planet and underpins the healthy ecosystems that provide us food, clean air and water, stable climate, and medicines.’ (Source)

‘Our planet is made up of delicate systems with complex relationships. Animals and plants have evolved in unison and interact in myriad ways. Ecosystems with healthy populations and a wide variety of plants and animals are self-balancing. Bees and bats pollinate trees and plants, predators control prey, and trees control flooding and moderate our climate. No one animal or plant exists in isolation - not even us.

Why is Biodiversity Important?

• 10M Estimated species living on Earth

• 1.6M Species identified by science

• 85% Of species yet to be studied

All Life on Earth Has Value

Scientists estimate that 10 million species live on Earth, yet only about 1.6 million are known to science. This means we have studied less than 1 out of 5 living species, and their unique role in nature is unknown. Studied or not, every species that vanishes is a loss for our planet, a loss for humanity. 

Although climate change and biodiversity loss are intricately linked and both have profound implications for humanity, media outlets worldwide have traditionally focused far fewer resources and headlines on reporting about biodiversity loss. To help spread the word about this important crisis, we've curated some of the most compelling news coverage on biodiversity--what it is, how it connects us all, and the important role it plays in sustaining all life on Earth, including our own.’ (Source) 

“That would make a great beginning to the part 2 story,” Tiffi thinks to herself.  

She continues to search for more information. 

Let’s continue -  How important is it to protect the species?