Biodiversity

Biological diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. The values of biological diversity include ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic values. Species richness is greatest in the equatorial regions of the world, and tropical rainforests are thought to contain 50 to 90 per cent of all species. Some of the world's poorest countries are located in areas of high importance for biodiversity.

NORDECO works with biodiversity in a number of ways, including policy support and capacity development, sustainable use and in situ conservation, biodiversity and natural resource use monitoring, information and awareness, identification of ecologically sensitive areas, mapping and applied research.

We are a partner in the Countdown 2010 network working together with governments, local authorities, business and civil society towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target.