Biodiversity Information

Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the term for the variety of life on Earth, including all species in all habitats. Every living thing has a place in the balance of nature and biodiversity contributes to our quality of life.

It is estimated that there could be between 10 and 100 million species living on Earth. Fewer than 2 million species have been described and given scientific names. Essex biodiversity may only make up a tiny proportion of this, but it is nonetheless important in local, national and for some species and habitats even international contexts.