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How to Preserve Biodiversity for Kids

Biodiversity is a scientific term referring to the variety of life on planet Earth. There are three specific types of biodiversity: variety of genes, species and ecosystems. Genetic biodiversity is gene variation within a species, like the difference between a poodle and a pit bull. Ecological biodiversity refers to different types of ecosystems on the earth, like forests and coral reefs. Species biodiversity is the wide variety of species on Earth, from birds to trees. Teaching kids about biodiversity can be as simple as exposing them to nature and its variety and teaching them to respect it.

Instructions

    • 1

      Study the wide variety of species, genetic variations and ecosystems on the Earth to better understand their differences and interconnectivity. There are around 1.75 million identified species on Earth, and many more that haven't been identified yet. An understanding of the scope and variety of creatures on the Earth is elemental to understanding how to preserve biodiversity. Studying special and ecological biodiversity is also important in broadening kids' horizons, exposing them to concepts that may ultimately drive a career in fields effective in preserving biodiversity.

    • 2

      Involve kids in lobbying for legal preservation of biodiversity. A simple means of action is writing letters to congressmen and other government officials requesting the passage of legislation that would protect the environment and preserve biodiversity. Older kids may submit letters-to-the-editor for local papers, supporting biodiversity legislation or community action. Participate in community projects that support local biodiversity, like ecosystem restoration through park clean-ups or tree-planting. As a family or as a class, create a Certified Wildlife Habitat™, to protect biodiversity in a local wildlife habitat.

    • 3

      Reduce, reuse and recycle, to protect the Earth's species and ecosystems from destruction. Using less keeps valuable ecological resources---wood, land and animals---from being destroyed. This protects more than just the resource you are using less of: it also supports biodiversity by decreasing the impact on other species or ecosystem elements reliant on that resource. Reusing and recycling items that have already been created similarly reduces environmental impact. These steps are among the easiest ways kids can contribute to biodiversity preservation.

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