Looking at endangered or extinct flora and fauna.

When we think of extinction of a species our minds often seem to think fluffy white polar bears or the not so cute Tasmanian Tigers. However when we talk of biodiversity, equally important is the planet’s flora that is crucial in sustaining a vital and healthy ecosytem. 

Flora biodiversity is important because it provides essential ecosystem services like clean air, water, and fertile soil, which are critical for human health and survival. 

It also supports food security, provides raw materials for medicines and industrial products, and helps regulate the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide. 

A diverse range of plant life creates more resilient ecosystems that can better withstand disturbances like drought or disease. 

Ecosystem services

Clean water and air: 

Plants filter water and release oxygen, while diverse plant communities and soil microbes help clean water sources and regulate their flow.

Soil health: 

A variety of plants, fungi, and microbes enriches soil, improving its ability to store carbon, cycle nutrients, and resist erosion.

Climate regulation: 

Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and diverse forests and wetlands store large amounts of carbon, helping to regulate the climate.

Pest and disease control: 

Biodiversity helps to naturally suppress pests, diseases, and pathogens, reducing the need for harmful chemicals. 

Human benefits

Food security:

 A diversity of plants is necessary for a variety of crops, and plants are pollinated by other organisms in the ecosystem, ensuring a stable food supply.

Medicines: 

Many of our medicines originate from plants and fungi, and countless others may be undiscovered.

Raw materials: 

Flora provides materials for building and industry, such as timber, latex, and rubber.

Health and well-being: 

Access to green spaces and nature has been shown to improve mental and physical health. 

Resilience and stability

Ecosystem resilience: 

A wide variety of plant species makes an ecosystem more resilient, allowing it to recover more quickly from events like fires, floods, or disease outbreaks.

Interdependence: 

Every species, no matter how small, plays a role in a functioning ecosystem. The loss of one species can have a domino effect, impacting many others.