Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, including the diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. It encompasses all living organisms—from microorganisms to plants, animals, and fungi—and the ecosystems they inhabit. Biodiversity is essential for maintaining the balance of ecosystems that support life. Biodiversity is critically important for human lives because it underpins everything we rely on: food, clean water, medicine, shelter, and the regulation of climate and soil quality. It supports global nutrition and food security by providing a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and animal products. Additionally, healthy and biodiverse ecosystems provide essential services such as air and water purification, pollination, soil fertility, and protection against extreme weather events. Biodiversity also plays a role in regulating diseases and maintaining overall human health. The loss of biodiversity poses a direct threat to human well-being by undermining these life-supporting systems.