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Biodiversity

biodiversity (GB)
biodiversidad (ES)
biodiversité (F)
biodiversità (I)
biodiversidade (PO)
biodiversiteit (N)

Term (also "biological diversity" or "diversity of life") in the biological sciences an assessment yardstick for the abundance of different life in a specific landscape or in a geographically limited area. This can mean both the genetic diversity within a population and the degree of species richness in a particular location (habitat, region). The biodiversity of a region comprises four levels (stages) of diversity. These are genetic diversity within a species, species diversity in an ecosystem, ecosystem diversity and functional biodiversity. In a broader sense, this refers to the entire species richness on earth. The existence of a large number of different plant and animal organisms is the prerequisite for a stable ecosystem.

Biodiversität - 2 Graphiken

The term biodiversity is used in the media mainly in connection with the threat to biodiversity posed by humans and climate change, either through human influences or long-term natural climate changes. However, "species diversity" is very often used as a synonym for the term, which is somewhat unwieldy in German. In organic agriculture and viticulture, the term is of great importance, which is taken into account by environmentally conscious pest control with protection of beneficial insects as well as in soil care.

Biodiversität - Marienkäfer, Libelle, Schmetterling, Biene

Biodiversity Convention

The definition chosen in the "Biodiversity Convention" (CBD = Convention on Biological Diversity), however, also includes other meanings. The CBD is an international environmental treaty negotiated in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) at the United Nations (UN) Conference on Environment and Development. One of the principles of the CBD is "access and benefit sharing", i.e. access to biological diversity and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from its use. The conservation of biodiversity is seen as an indispensable component of a policy of sustainability. The Biodiversity Convention has now been signed by around 190 states and the European Union. The conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity are considered important foundations for human well-being. In 2010, the UN decided to declare the years 2011 to 2020 the UN Decade of Biodiversity.

Biodiversity in viticulture

In viticulture, too, biodiversity is a prerequisite for maintaining the biological balance and for protecting the environment by controlling pests in a way that is gentle on beneficial organisms. Maintaining and promoting biodiversity is an important goal in fertilisation and plant protection, as is practised to varying degrees in organic, biodynamic and bioenergetic viticulture as well as perma-culture. See also under organic viticulture.

Graphic on the left: By Fährtenleser - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Graphic on the right: By Gretarsson - Own work, CC0, Link

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Prof. Dr. Walter Kutscher

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Prof. Dr. Walter Kutscher
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The world's largest Lexicon of wine terms.

26,367 Keywords · 46,924 Synonyms · 5,323 Translations · 31,701 Pronunciations · 201,867 Cross-references
made with by our author Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer. About the Lexicon

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