It's a Wild World

Biodiversity: The Web of Life and Why It Matters

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Walk through the nature reserves of Singapore at dawn and chances are that you will hear a thousand voices: birds calling, insects buzzing, frogs croaking, and maybe even monkeys chattering. Every leaf hides a micro-drama, and every lake teems with life. Even in the park near your home, life is unfolding all around you – a bee pollinating a flower, an earthworm aerating the soil, or a sparrow hunting for food.

All of this is biodiversity in action. Biodiversity is not some abstract scientific term far removed from our lives; it is the very story of life on Earth – it is all around you. Whether you are living in a high-rise flat or a private estate, biodiversity affects you more than you might realise.

WHAT EXACTLY IS BIODIVERSITY?

When most people hear the word biodiversity, they picture tropical jungles, rare animals, or exotic flowers. But biodiversity is not only about rainforests – it is everywhere, from the microbes in your gut to the moss growing between pavement cracks.

Biodiversity simply means the variety and variability of life on Earth, and that variety exists at multiple levels. Scientists typically break it down into three main types - and each is essential for keeping the planet's living systems healthy and resilient.

Genetic Diversity

Every living thing carries a unique set of instructions in its DNA, and no two individuals are exactly alike. This genetic diversity is nature's builtin insurance policy. In crops, it means some rice plants can survive drought while others resist certain pests. In wildlife, it explains why some cheetahs run slightly faster, or why some wolves can tolerate colder temperatures. In humans, it determines everything from blood type to resistance against diseases. The more genetic variation a species has, the better its chances of adapting to change whether it is a sudden heatwave, a new virus, or shifting food sources.