Biodiversity is not only what makes the planet so beautiful and extraordinary, it’s what makes life continue to exist on the globe. Biodiversity is a broad term that refers to the great varieties of life on Earth. It encompasses genetic variation, as well as communities of species, individual species, and entire ecosystems. We rely on biodiversity for the resources that support many livelihoods and the natural resources we consume.
The shocking news is biodiversity loss and extinction rates continue to increase, and there’s no reversing the loss of a species, which makes biodiversity such as a crucial topic for everyone to learn about, understand and support.
Although biodiversity is a complex topic, there are many simple strategies you can take to help boost biodiversity in green spaces near you, such as those listed below.
Know What Species Are at Risk
When it comes to boosting biodiversity, the best place to start is by learning about what species are at risk. However, before you dive into this, understanding the difference between threatened, rare, and endangered species is important. It can be useful to learn about what species are in abundance versus those who are living life on the edge.
According to reports by the UN, a quarter of all species are threatened with extinction. While we always see news on the television of animals at risk of extinction in other areas of the world, there are many species that are closer to home that we could see gone within a number of years. Therefore, brushing up on your knowledge on this topic can be a huge help in boosting biodiversity.
To learn about species at risk, you can contact an ecological consultant from Arbtech. They explain the benefits of an ecological consultant, as well as surveys they can conduct which demonstrate what wildlife is lurking in your green spaces.
Boost Biodiversity By Feeding the Birds
There are birds all around us. From the minute our alarm sounds, we associate their chirping with the start of the day ahead. Birds play a huge part in keeping an ecosystem in balance. They do this by providing a food source for predators and monitoring the populations of the many insects they gorge on.
Birds help with plant reproduction through pollination, as well as disperse seeds after they’ve been digested, before leaving droppings in new areas.
Like other animals and plants, once they die, birds provide all kinds of nutrients for decomposers and scavengers. One of the best things you can do today is by putting out a bird feeder. This will bring all different types of birds to green spaces near you. You can have a bird feeder in your garden too which can really bring your outdoor space to life, especially when it’s frequented by all the colourful and wonderful birds of the world.
There are other simple ways to attract birds into your garden such as keeping chemicals to a minimum and understanding the local wildlife, so keep at it and you can reintroduce those bird songs back into your green space and gardens again
Create Shelter
Pollinators like bats, bees, birds, and butterflies are crucial to the survival of many plant species, as well as the foods we eat, and play a huge role in boosting biodiversity in your garden and green spaces.
To keep them safe and sound, setting them up with housing is the obvious solution.
Regarding birds, you can create a birdhouse where they can reside. Nesting boxes are a fantastic way to observe bid activity, as well as attract bird species to boost the diversity in your outdoor space. Common types of birds that use this shelter include chickadees, bluebirds, and titmice.
You can also install a bat house which will give bats a place they can call home. This can help bats who struggle with White-Noise Syndrome disease in particular. Bats are a vital part of our wildlife. They can eat over a thousand bugs in one hour. Just imagine how many more bug bites you would be scratching without them being around! Bats may have a scary reputation. However, they provide tons of value to the environment and planet.
Plant Native Plants
Planting native plants in green spaces near you may be one of the best ways to aid the ecosystem’s healthy biodiversity. It’s important for us all to get behind native planting. Even a few native plants in the area can provide far better shelter, food, and nesting for local wildlife than a non-native plant could. The reason for this is simple. Native plants evolve with animals around them. Many kinds of butterflies like swallowtails and monarchs depend on very specific native plants.
As well as planting native plants in nearby green spaces, why not put some in your own garden too? There are an array of native plants in the UK, including anagallis tenella and butomus umbellatus. Even if you haven’t got tons of space, consider planting native flowers in pots that can sit on the windowsill. Just make sure to avoid using pesticides in your garden as they can be incredibly harmful to native insect populations and pollinators.
Add Water to Your Green Space
Rain gardens feature a drip in the ground. This enables rain to run off from roads and pavements. They’re fantastic for increasing biodiversity as they get rid of pollutants from water before directly flowing into rivers, lakes, and wetlands. What’s more, they attract lots of butterflies, insects, and birds, and require little to no maintenance.
Like with rain gardens, you can look into bioswales that collect water and are designed to curve around natural drainage channels. You can add water features to your garden too that are sure to attract wildlife. They can also boost your home’s value and be flexible for any landscape.
In a nutshell, biodiversity is crucial for the processes that support all life on this planet, including humans. If you care about the environment and all the wildlife that resides in it, there are lots of ways you can boost biodiversity both in green spaces near you and in your own garden.
Small measures like those above can truly make a positive impact on the planet, help support all the nature around us and improve biodiversity in green spaces. While you may not think your actions alone will make a difference, if we all come together and follow suit, this is enormously helpful in increasing biodiversity in 2022 and beyond.
