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Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of all living things on Earth from plants and animals to ecosystems and organisms.

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All Content on this topic

A world map depicting marine dead zones

A world map depicting marine dead zones

What is a marine dead zone, and how does it affect our food?

As waters warm, gas exchange between the surface and depths begins breaking down, threatening marine ecosystems.

Symbolbild: Flamingos

Symbolbild: Flamingos

What's driving flamingos from East Africa?

Flamingos love the algae in East Africa's salt lakes. But the birds are disappearing rapidly. Can researchers help?

Innovations for a healthier planet — Eco India

Booming harvests in the Thar Desert, using plants to extract nickel from soil, and Italy’s first hedgehog clinic.

Green livelihoods: Profiting while protecting | Eco India

Reducing our morning coffee’s environmental impact, cleaning up the tourism industry, and the green farming moneymaker.

Cluster of green coffee beans growing on a shrub

Cluster of green coffee beans growing on a shrub

Coffee that doesn't come at the cost of biodiversity

India’s Western Ghats are a biodiversity hotspot. Coffee farms have taken a toll, now farmers adapt their methods.

DW Eco Africa (Sendungslogo Composite)

DW Eco Africa (Sendungslogo Composite)

Low-tech fixes for urban heat — Eco Africa

Cairo residents find ways to adapt to extreme heat, Ethiopia works to restore forests and beekeepers promote pollinators

Anant Ambani speaks while wearing traditional Indian dress

Anant Ambani speaks while wearing traditional Indian dress

India: Ambani son investigated over private zoo

India's Supreme Court has ordered an investigation of Anant Ambani over illegal animal imports and financial misconduct.

Farmed oysters in an oyster bed on the Belgian North Sea coast.

Farmed oysters in an oyster bed on the Belgian North Sea coast.

Engineers help revive North Sea oysters in Belgium

Engineers are hoping to restore North Sea oyster beds hit by overfishing, climate change and disease.

Many people clearing waste on a Gambian beach

Many people clearing waste on a Gambian beach

The battle to preserve Gambia's marine ecosystem

Conservationists are fighting to save a coastal reserve in Gambia and the marine ecosystem that it helps to safeguard.

A forest of trees in a tropical rainforest

A forest of trees in a tropical rainforest

US scientists discover trees host up to 1 trillion microbes

A new discovery that tree wood contains specialized microbiomes could hold clues about forest health and climate change.

Aerial view of people praying and bringing offerings at the Ssezibwa Falls, a sacred place in the kingdom of Buganda, 30 kilometers east of Kampala in Uganda.

Aerial view of people praying and bringing offerings at the Ssezibwa Falls, a sacred place in the kingdom of Buganda, 30 kilometers east of Kampala in Uganda.

Uganda's spiritual and ecological sanctuaries

Kabaka's Lake and Ssezibwa Falls preserve cultural and spiritual heritage, and unique ecosystems.

Giant pen shells in the Mediterranean

Giant pen shells in the Mediterranean

Saving the giant pen shell in Greece

Pinna nobilis, or the giant pen shell, is facing extinction. But some can still be found in Greece.

A drawing of a planet on a black board, a hand holding a tool to fix the inner wheels of the planet

A drawing of a planet on a black board, a hand holding a tool to fix the inner wheels of the planet

Humans are using more resources than the planet can restore

Little more than half a year into 2025, mankind has already hit Earth Overshoot Day. Are there ways to slow this down?

Aerial view of a river meadow landscape featuring wetlands and a lush green vegetation

Aerial view of a river meadow landscape featuring wetlands and a lush green vegetation

How Poland's moorlands are welcoming birds again

The Polish village of Rozwarowo in northern Poland is saving the moors. Alfred Smolczynski initiated the process.

A gravel road in the rural part of Colombia. Two people ride along on the open flatbed of a vehicle.

A gravel road in the rural part of Colombia. Two people ride along on the open flatbed of a vehicle.

Poor transportation infrastructure hampers South America

Stagnant economic growth in Latin America is linked to its failure to invest in proper transport infrastructure.

People dressed in black carry life-size cardboard animal sculptures across the Tower Bridge in London.

People dressed in black carry life-size cardboard animal sculptures across the Tower Bridge in London.

Animal puppets highlight climate threat to biodiversity

Life-sized animal puppets, part of international art project "The Herds," are marching from the DR Congo to the Arctic.

Aerial view of a coastline

Aerial view of a coastline

Better maps could protect India's coastline and communities

Coastal ecosystems are at risk. Researchers, fishers and conservationists hope to change this by mapping what is there.

Living Planet 210318 Podcast Picture Teaser

Living Planet 210318 Podcast Picture Teaser

Epilogue: The true cost of climate change

In this bonus episode, we unpack what didn’t make the series - listener questions, laughs, and fresh insights.

The planet's health concerns all of us | Eco India

Protecting India’s coastline, coping with extreme heat in Bangladesh, saving Tamil Nadu’s trees — and Antarctica at risk

Close-up of astonished, curious faces of two teenagers looking closely at a frog sitting on the back of one teenager's hand in Ghana.

Close-up of astonished, curious faces of two teenagers looking closely at a frog sitting on the back of one teenager's hand in Ghana.

Conservationists are racing to save Ghana's slippery frog

Only 200 of the Atewa Slippery Frog remain. Can conservation help this unique species survive?

Healthy environment, healthy humans | Eco Africa

Avoiding toxic hair braids, saving rare frogs in Ghana and upcycling denim to boost kids' education prospects.

Schoolgirls look at plants on a mountain in cape town and identify them using an app

Schoolgirls look at plants on a mountain in cape town and identify them using an app

Cape Town residents unite to document urban biodiversity

Capetonians have wild-spotted more than 3,500 species in a citizen science challenge that also helps boost conservation.

Learning to value nature and waste nothing | Eco Africa

Zero-waste soap from desert dates, Cape Town's vibrant biodiversity, and recycled scrap metal.

A green landscape with trees and tall grass

A green landscape with trees and tall grass

Nature returns to Ukraine's ravaged Kakhovka Dam landscape

In Ukraine, the ruined landscape around the destroyed Kakhovka Dam is returning to its natural state. But for how long?

Mountain gorilla eating, in a forested area

Mountain gorilla eating, in a forested area

In Uganda, former poachers now protect mountain gorillas

In Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, former poachers turned "gorilla guardians" are supporting conservation efforts.

A flame emanates from a heap of fuel briquets made of weed

A flame emanates from a heap of fuel briquets made of weed

In Tamil Nadu, tribal groups turning forest weed into fuel

In Tamil Nadu's Sathyamangalam forest, tribal communities are fighting the spread of lantana camara, an invasive weed.

Image of pink mushrooms against a black background

Image of pink mushrooms against a black background

The role of fungi in the web of life

Fungi form a hidden network that runs through the Earth like a system of life-giving veins.

Students from the Bunyonyi Secondary School in Uganda get swimming lessons at lake Bunyoni.

Students from the Bunyonyi Secondary School in Uganda get swimming lessons at lake Bunyoni.

Uganda: Learning to protect Lake Bunyonyi's ecosystem

Lake Bunyonyi is famed for its biodiversity. A local school teaches students how to protect this unique environment.

Bottles lie on the seabed of the port of Votsi while volunteer divers from the environmental organization Aegean Rebreath collect garbage - on the Greek island of Alonissos.

Bottles lie on the seabed of the port of Votsi while volunteer divers from the environmental organization Aegean Rebreath collect garbage - on the Greek island of Alonissos.

Greece's island of Alonissos a model for marine conservation

Off the island of Alonissos, volunteer divers are supporting an EU-funded cleanup to protect marine life.

Engines of change: High-tech and human effort | Eco Africa

Protecting Lake Bunyonyi's biodiversity; reviving an indigenous cotton in Senegal.

Alvaro Velasco, 66, a biologist and president of the Group of Crocodile Specialists of Venezuela (GECV), helps an Orinoco crocodile hatch from its egg at the Leslie Pantin Zoo in Turmero.

Alvaro Velasco, 66, a biologist and president of the Group of Crocodile Specialists of Venezuela (GECV), helps an Orinoco crocodile hatch from its egg at the Leslie Pantin Zoo in Turmero.

How Venezuelan researchers are saving an endangered crocodile species

For decades, researchers in Venezuela have raised young Orinoco crocodiles in captivity to save the endangered species.

Surveillance camera image of an elephant standing near a railway track

Surveillance camera image of an elephant standing near a railway track

How artificial intelligence is saving elephants' lives

AI is helping to protect elephants who might stray onto train tracks.

Close-up of a 5,000-year-old tree in a rain forest

Close-up of a 5,000-year-old tree in a rain forest

Roots of resistance: Defending Chile's 5,000-year-old tree

Chile’s ancient rainforest is home to a 5,000-year-old tree. A planned highway would threaten the fragile ecosystem.

A row of birds is flying in the sky, the moon in the background

A row of birds is flying in the sky, the moon in the background

How climate change is altering bird migration

Migratory birds fly vast distances yearly in search of food. But climate change is altering their behavior. Why?

The oldest tree in Chile is in danger

The oldest tree in Chile is in danger. Plus: how will we manage to phase out coal, oil and gas?

An elk in the forest

An elk in the forest

How Slow TV brings us closer to nature

A rushing river, a soaring bird, a rustle of leaves and … that’s about all. Slow TV is gaining popularity. But why?

Building a green future | Eco India

We look at green architecture in Chennai and Switzerland, and head to Kerala where officials are promoting biodiversity.

Bird's eye view of the Gran Abuelo tree in Chile

Bird's eye view of the Gran Abuelo tree in Chile

Can the world's oldest tree survive 'progress'?

In Chile, the 5,400-year-old Gran Abuelo tree is under threat from a highway cutting through its ancient forest home.

Tinder fungus grows on an old tree trunk.

Tinder fungus grows on an old tree trunk.

Are endangered fungi not 'cute enough' to be saved?

Fungi may not have the best reputation but they are essential for our survival. Now, it's up to humans to help them.

A cyclist stands with his hands in the air and looks out across a city from atop a hill

A cyclist stands with his hands in the air and looks out across a city from atop a hill

Is our mindset blocking climate action?

Just as smoking turned from glamorous to gross, climate action needs a mindset shift, say UN researchers.

An aerial view of the Neithal Trail

An aerial view of the Neithal Trail

The Chennai trail helping visitors understand its ecosystem

Chennai is vulnerable to coastal erosion and flooding. Could this trail help to educate people and boost conservation?

Two nutria touching with noses and seemingly kissing in water from low angle view

Two nutria touching with noses and seemingly kissing in water from low angle view

What are nutria, and how could they possibly be a problem?

This brown, fuzzy critter with its distinctive orange buck teeth may look cute, but it's causing all sorts of trouble.

Full steam ahead in Chile with hydrogen power — Global Us

Chile's first hydrogen-powered train is in operation. India's climate influencers are trying to change attitudes.

Eco India - Chinar Tree

Eco India - Chinar Tree

The race to save Kashmir's iconic chinar trees

Can digital tracking and planting help protect Kashmir's majestic chinars — and the state's fragile ecosystem?

Moveable flood gates rise from the sea in the Venice lagoon, Italy

Moveable flood gates rise from the sea in the Venice lagoon, Italy

Venice's flood barrier keeps the city dry — at what price?

Venice’s high-tech flood barrier is working – but how will this marvel of engineering affect the lagoon’s ecosystem?

Fokus Italien Restaurant Autismus

Fokus Italien Restaurant Autismus

Are Sweden's ancient forests being turned into paper?

In Sweden, the packaging industry is ravaging ancient forests for their wood.

In a forest, a lone grey wolf uses a fallen tree trunk as look-out point

In a forest, a lone grey wolf uses a fallen tree trunk as look-out point

EU to weaken legal protection of wolves

It's estimated that more than 20,000 wolves live in Europe's wild. Their protection status is now being downgraded.

Several red gondolas of a cable car float up a mountain; numerous buildings can be seen on the ground in the background.

Several red gondolas of a cable car float up a mountain; numerous buildings can be seen on the ground in the background.

Nepal's cable cars aim for tourism growth at forest's risk

Nepal is hoping more cable cars will kick off a tourism boom. But activists say construction is endangering forests.

A sloth in a tree

A sloth in a tree

World agrees on how to fund nature protection

Nations have come to a compromise over plans to raise and deliver billions in funding for biodiversity.

A group of Indian women walk through a lush jungle carrying young plant seedlings in their hands

A group of Indian women walk through a lush jungle carrying young plant seedlings in their hands

India: Preserving the biodiversity of Myristica swamps

Local shrine custodians and forestry students have joined forces to protect this delicate ecosystem.