Tasmanian snow gum, Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
© Ignacio Palacios/Getty Images
International Day for Biological Diversity - Dive into diversity
Today we're celebrating the biodiversity of our planet! What exactly is biodiversity? It refers to all living things, from animals and plants to fungi and microorganisms, in one area. This delicate but vigorous balance in nature is what keeps us all alive. That's definitely worth celebrating! May 22 was officially declared to be the International Day for Biological Diversity by the United Nations in 2000. Unfortunately, the biodiversity of Earth is slowly decreasing due to climate change, the draining of natural resources, urbanisation and pollution, among other factors. It is our responsibility to return nature's favour to us and protect our environment. After all, we are blessed with intriguing species such as the Tasmanian snow gum—the tree seen in today's image—which takes root in one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet, the Mount Field National Park in Tasmania, Australia.