Biodiversity Strategy - Gosford City Council - NSW Government

Genetic diversity is the variety of genetic information contained in all individual plants, animals
and micro-organisms.
Species diversity is the variety of species on earth, usually a measure of the number of
species (richness) and their relative abundances for a given area at a given point in time.
Ecosystem diversity is the variety of habitats, biotic communities and ecological processes. An
ecosystem consists of plant, animal, fungal and micro-organism communities and the
associated non-living environment interacting as an ecological community” (NPWS 1999).
These three levels of diversity are interrelated and interdependent as described in the NSW
State of the Environment 2000 (EPA 2000). For example, increasing loss of vegetation across
the landscape leads to the declining health of ecosystems and results in decreasing populations
sizes and genetic variability. This eventually results in species extinctions.
Figures 1.1 to 1.3 These illustrate the three levels of biodiversity, that is genetic diversity, (as
demonstrated in differing shell colours and shapes within the one species), species
diversity (a Six Spined Leatherjacket (Meushenia freycineti) and ecosystem
diversity (rock platforms at Pearl Beach). (R. Lonie, D. Harasti and R. Lonie)
A - 1.3
Why does Conserving Biodiversity Matter?
Biodiversity is necessary for the successful functioning of ecosystems. Human beings rely on
biodiversity for food, medicines and materials. Some of the primary benefits of biodiversity
conservation include:
• Economic benefits for industries such as agriculture, tourism, forestry, fisheries and
aquaculture with boosted local productivity by maintaining the foundations of a
healthy and sustainable environment and ‘ecosystem services’ (such as healthy
soils, clean air, clean water, and ecosystem, species and genetic diversity);
• Mitigation of potentially devastating and costly environmental problems, including
salinity and erosion
• Tourism and recreation resources (natural beauty, range of recreational activities
including swimming, bushwalking, boating);
• Overall improved environmental health including water and air quality, influencing the
health of local communities;
• Conservation of heritage values, particularly relevant to indigenous communities and
their close cultural association with the land;
• Landscape/ aesthetic amenity;
• Scientific values (such as genetic material for commercial uses, micro-organisms for
contaminated site remediation);
Biodiversity - Technical Report Page 34