Definition of biological diversity (biodiversity)

In terms of the discussion so far, non-renewable, renewable, and environmental

resources combine to constitute ‘biological resources’ (the word biodiversity is a

contraction of biological diversity). These biological resources are simply the physical

manifestation of biological diversity. Biodiversity has varied definitions but this manual

defines biodiversity in accordance with the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) and that

is: biological diversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources

including inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological

complexities of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between

species and of ecosystems1

(See other definitions in Box 1). These three are the levels of

biodiversity. The first one, genetic biodiversity, defines the adaptation capacities of the

species in the long term by way of evolution, thus species or groups of them with less

flexible genomics will tend to become extinct. At species level, this is basically

supported by a recognized structure (taxonomy), sampling, and derivation of statistical

operators; the number and types of species and changes on their populations are used to

give a comprehensive measurement of the health of an ecosystem. The ecosystem level,

refers to a community whose spatial and temporal boundaries are not defined, as may be a

fragment of forest or may be the entire biosphere; its study focuses on patterns of

distribution of the species and their roles: functions and interactions to maintain the

homeostasis of the system