[According to WWF](http://support.wwf.org.uk/biodiversity is defined as: “all the kinds of different life you’ll find in one area – the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world.”
Biodiversity can be seen as natures support network. Each component assists another and helps to sustain life. Not only this, but biodiversity is responsible for providing our basic supplies for survival. Everything from food, water and shelter – biodiversity is at the root.
What is biodiversity loss?
Simply put, biodiversity loss is the disappearance or reduction in biological diversity. Whilst biodiversity should be thriving – this is sadly not the case.
Humans are putting our planet under an enormous amount of strain. By not taking care of our biological ecosystems we have damaged our planet's biodiversity. What’s more, the damage already done may be irreversible.
What is the cause of biodiversity loss?
Many causes of biodiversity loss are sadly man-made. With communities destroying natural habitats around the world, our plant's biodiversity has been interrupted. Some of the main causes of biodiversity loss are:
Climate change
Climate change is a well-known cause of biodiversity loss. The Earth is heated due to global warming and reaches new and unnatural temperatures. As a result, biodiversity is interrupted due to species built for the cold going extinct and others losing their habitat.
Pollution
Unnatural human activity is harmful to our environment. The greenhouse gases we produce are a huge reason why addressing biodiversity loss is critical.
Habitat destruction
Loss of natural areas affects vegetation, animal species and their habitat. Therefore, increasing biodiversity loss.
Overexploitation of resources
Using too many resources such as fish is accounting for biodiversity loss. We are consuming too much and not leaving enough time for our resources to regenerate – causing species to go extinct.
eBioAtlas – the joint collaboration between Nature Metrics and International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN)
What is eBioAtlas?
According to their website, eBioAtlas is: “an ambitious partnership between NatureMetrics and IUCN to rapidly create a global atlas of life in the world’s river basins and wetlands using cutting-edge eDNA technology. It will provide a comprehensive picture of freshwater species in each location, mobilising local stakeholders and citizen scientists to fill in critical knowledge gaps to support conservation efforts and inform global policy to reverse the loss of biodiversity.”
Exodus Travels partners with NatureMetrics and ICUN to support eBioAtlas
Companies external to the eBioAtlas project have been doing their bit and contributing to help stop biodiversity loss. Exodus travels, who specialise in group tours, from walking and cycling holidays to adventure trips, partnered with NatureMetrics and ICUN to support eBioAtlas. Kasia Morgan, Head of Sustainability and Community at exodus travels says: “We’re delighted to be establishing a partnership with NatureMetrics and the innovative eBioAtlas project. As an adventure travel company with a mission to improve life for people, places and planet, we’re excited to work with NatureMetrics to enable our clients to collect freshwater samples on their global adventures, thereby using our business model to contribute towards this crucial work for the long-term conservation and restoration of biodiversity.”
“Exodus Travels and Nature Metrics will be working together to enable interested clients to take freshwater samples across a number of our destinations, while on their adventures.” An incredible way to combine adventure with education.
