Human Impact on Climate and Biodiversity → Activity 2. Biodiversity data analysis

Introduction
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Activities
Quiz
- Quiz
  5 questions05 min
Conclusion
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Human Impact on Climate and Biodiversity

Activity 2. Biodiversity data analysis

Understand what biodiversity loss means.

Biodiversity loss refers to a reduction in the diversity and abundance of living things, such as plants and animals, in a particular area. Imagine a woodland that used to be full of different trees, flowers, birds and insects, and streams. If people cut down the trees to build their houses, or if the water becomes polluted due to some human activities, some of these plants and animals may no longer survive. This reduction in the number of species can harm the whole ecosystem because each plant and animal plays a special role in it. When we lose biodiversity, we also lose the balance that helps the environment stay healthy.

Explore images of diverse ecosystems and areas affected by biodiversity loss.
Explore real biodiversity data, graphs and charts by accessing the Our World in Data website. Go to the Biodiversity section and explore information on different groups of species and their levels of threat of extinction. Work in pairs or small groups.
Analyse the data and conclude the trends that emerge. You may use the following guiding questions:
- Which groups of species are most affected?
- Have there been any noticeable changes over time?
- What are your predictions? Argue.
Create a simple bar or pie chart based on the data.
Participate in a discussion about the factors contributing to biodiversity loss. Key points in the discussion are:

- Habitat destruction: How are urban development and agriculture reducing natural habitats?
- Pollution: How can chemicals and waste harm plants and animals?
- Climate change: How can changing temperatures and extreme weather events threaten species survival?