1. Scoil Phádraig Naofa Athy Green School Committee
Biodiversity
Scoil Phádraig Naofa Athy
Green School Committee

2. What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity is our life support system.
It is the variety of all life forms on Earth, from the tiniest bugs living in the soil to the butterflies in your garden, the plants they feed from, and the biggest whales in the sea.

3. Three Types of Biodiversity
Biodiversity includes:
1. Genetic diversity - the diversity of individuals within a species
2. Species diversity - the diversity of species within an ecosystem or habitat
3. Habitat diversity - the diversity of ecosystems or habitats

4. Dictionary
Species – a group or type of plant or animal. For example, the ash is a species of tree, the squirrel is a species of mammal.
Habitat – the natural environment in which a plant or animal lives. It is the physical environment that surrounds, influences and is utilised by a species. For example, a woodland or a bog is a habitat.

5. Dictionary
Ecosystem – is a community of plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms that live, feed, reproduce and interact together in the same area or environment.
Irish examples include a bog, a woodland, a marsh, a hedge, a lake or even a rock pool.
Ecosystem Services – are the benefits of ecosystems. Ecosystems can provide protection from flooding, regulate climate change, breakdown wastes and recycle nutrients, filter and purify water, maintain soil fertility, purify the air, control pests and diseases and provide goods such as woods, textiles and food.

6. Rapid human population growth has affected the natural world and caused changes to habitats and threatened the existence of millions of species and basic ecosystem processes.
As with climate change, humans have accelerated the degradation of biodiversity around the world.
This led to the adoption of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) of which Ireland became a member of in 1996.

7. The Value Of Biodiversity
The world’s biological diversity is an essential natural resource which humans have used and benefited from for thousands of years.
Biodiversity keeps us alive, therefore, it is vital we conserve it!

8. Economic Benefits Food Medicine Fuel Building materials
Fibre for clothing
Industrial products

9. Threats in Ireland and Abroad
Habitat loss/destruction/fragmentation
Invasive non-native species (also known as Invasive Alien Species)
Land use change/increased infrastructure development
Pollution/litter
Intensive farming practices
Over-exploitation of resources
Climate change.

10. Conserving Ecosystem Services
Protecting areas from soil erosion, floods and other harmful weather conditions
Reducing the risk of local and global climate change
Recycling nutrients/ composting
Pollination
Controlling pollutants
Monitoring the health of the environment

11. Biodiversity In Our School
Biodiversity is the theme we will work on to get our next Green School Flag
Over the next few terms we will all work to improve the Biodiversity in the habitats surrounding our school.

12. How will we promote biodiversity?
To start with.....
We will do this by planting vegetables, flowers and trees in our school garden.
We will create some new habitats for minibeasts.
We will continue to keep our surroundings litter and pollution free.

13. If you are still not sure about the importance of biodiversity.....
The work of earthworms is worth €700 million a year to the Irish economy
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