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Biodiversity can be defined as being the number and variety of living organisms; including genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
The UK supports a wealth of biodiversity, dependent on a delicately balanced environment and vulnerable to impacts arising from human activity. The science of studying this biodiversity is ecology, which looks at the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. Whilst biodiversity has a high intrinsic value, society fails to assign appropriate economic value to ecological resources. As a result of this, along with the rarity and vulnerability of certain elements of biodiversity, legislation and planning policy affords protection and recognition to certain species and habitats. Government legislation and planning policy guidance has moved beyond simple protection of the environment and now also promotes ecological enhancement. This makes biodiversity a key issue and opens up opportunities for exploring new approaches to enhancing the natural and built environments together, and in contributing to the objectives of sustainable development. |
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