Healthy ecosystems, interdependent webs of living organisms and their physical environment,

are vital to all life on Earth. Our ecosystems provide us with clean air, fresh water, food, resources and
medicine. Biodiversity, the variation of life on Earth, is a major factor in nature's resilience. In a
biodiverse ecosystem, if the environment changes and some organisms can no longer thrive, others can
take their place and fulfill essential functions. It is often the most overlooked species that are the most
important to healthy ecosystems. Insects, for example, play an essential role in pollinating flowering
plants, a third of the food we eat depends on animal pollinators.

Unfortunatelyver more people need ever more space. Damaging human activity continues to
encroach on natural environments, thereby destroying the habitats of countless species. As our
numbers rise, cities and industrial areas are growing and merging into each other, fragmenting the
remaining habitat and leaving isolated “islands” of natural populations of plants and animals too small
to survive.

Ever more people need ever more food. In order to meet the unsustainable consumption
patterns of the developed world and feed the numbers of people living on the Earth today, humanity
has developed agricultural systems which rely on monocultures, artificial fertilizers and pesticides.
Monocultures are increasingly susceptible to disease whilst widespread pesticide use destroys insect
populations indiscriminately. In addition, the growing pressure on food supplies means an increasing
proportion of agricultural land is farmed intensively, with fewer off seasons or fallow years in which to
recover. Currently, livestock farming contributes to more climate emissions than the entire transport
sector and is the biggest cause of deforestation. Runoff from farms pollutes water bodies and causes
harmful algal blooms and the collapse of fish stocks.

people produce ever moreclimate emissions. Our planet is on the verge of a climate crisis due to
our endless production of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide and methane. We are already
seeing species decline due to global temperature increase. Every half a degree of warming has a huge
knock-on effect on ecosystems, with mobile species running out of areas to migrate to and temperature-
sensitive organisms like corals undergoing massive die-offs. When keystone species like reef-building
corals disappear, the rich and complex ecosystems they support collapse as well.

people produce waste and pollution. As populations increase, the disposal of waste from
households, agriculture and industry, becomes an increasingly serious issue. Our oceans are becoming
choked with plastic waste which is killing millions of animals, from sea turtles to whales. As well as
affecting the lives of humans, noise, light and chemical pollution all damage the health of wild species.

As trees grow, they help stop climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing
carbon in the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. Trees provide many benefits to
us, every day. They offer cooling shade, block cold winter winds, attract birds and wildlife, purify our air,
prevent soil erosion, clean our water, and add grace and beauty to our homes and communities.

Trees help to clean the air we breathe. Through their leaves and bark, they absorb harmful
pollutants and release clean oxygen for us to breathe. In urban environments, trees absorb pollutant
gases like nitrogen oxides, ozone, and carbon monoxide, and sweep up particles like dust and smoke.
Increasing levels of carbon dioxide caused by deforestation and fossil fuel combustion trap heat in the
atmosphere. Healthy, strong trees act as carbon sinks, offset carbon and reducing the effects of climate
change.

Trees play a key role in capturing rainwater and reducing the risk of natural disasters like floods
and landslides. Their intricate root systems act like filters, removing pollutants and slowing down the
water’s absorption into the soil. This process prevents harmful waterslide erosion and reduces the risk
of over-saturation and flooding. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Association, a mature
evergreen tree can intercept more than 15,000 litres of water every year.

A single tree can be home to hundreds of species of insect, fungi, moss, mammals, and plants.
Depending on the kind of food and shelter they need, different forest animals require different types of
habitat. Without trees, forest creatures would have nowhere to call home.

Young, Open Forests: These forests occur as a result of fires or logging. Shrubs, grasses, and
young trees attract animals like black bears, the American goldfinch, and bluebirds in North America.

- Middle-Aged Forests: In middle-aged forests, taller trees begin to outgrow weaker trees and
vegetation. An open canopy allows for the growth of ground vegetation prefered by animals like
salamanders, elk, and tree frogs.

- Older Forests: With large trees, a complex canopy, and a highly developed understory of
vegetation, old forests provide habitat for an array of animals, including bats, squirrels, and many birds.