Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the sum of all the different species of animals, plants, fungi and microbial organisms living on Earth and the variety of habitats in which they live. Scientists estimate that more than 10 million different species inhabit Earth.

Biodiversity underlies everything from food production to medical research. Humans use at least 40,000 species of plants and animals on a daily basis. Many people around the world still depend on wild species for some or all of their food, shelter and clothing. All our domesticated plants and animals came from wild-living ancestral species. In addition, almost 40 percent of the pharmaceuticals used in the United States either are based on or are synthesized from natural compounds found in plants, animals or microorganisms.