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Dec 7 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
It's time for #COP15, where world nations are meeting to agree targets to protect and restore Earth's biodiversity - the incredible variety of life we share the planet with.

Follow our thread for six examples of why biodiversity is so important.
#1. We rely on biodiversity for much of our food production, including the pollination of crops.

#DidYouKnow that 35% of global food production is in some way dependent on animal pollination?
nhm.ac.uk/discover/insec…
#2. Thanks to plant and soil biodiversity, we have been able to develop a wealth of medicines, from painkillers to cancer-fighting drugs. Biodiversity saves lives.
nhm.ac.uk/discover/natur…
#3. Shallow water ecosystems such as kelp forests protect our coastlines from erosion.

These large seaweeds also provide habitats for lots of marine organisms and are hugely valuable to fisheries.
nhm.ac.uk/discover/seawe…
#4. Many people depend on diverse ecosystems for their income. For example, it's estimated that around six million people rely on fishing coral reefs to make a living.
Diets and livelihoods are being negatively affected by a dramatic decline in reef cover.
nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/…
#5. Biodiversity also provides pest control, as species that are part of established ecosystems keep each other's numbers in balance.

We've even turned to parasites for help - those that kill specific pest hosts make good alternatives to pesticides.
nhm.ac.uk/discover/posit…
#6. Making space for nature in towns and cities makes them healthier, more pleasant places to live.

Trees and other plants reduce the impact of pollution and provide a cooling effect of about 3-4°C compared to built-up areas.
nhm.ac.uk/discover/why-w…

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More from @NHM_London

Natural History Museum Profile picture
Dec 5
The dirt beneath our feet often goes unnoticed, but it's key to sustaining all life on Earth. A teaspoon of soil can contain more organisms than there are humans living on Earth!

But why is soil so important?
One of the most important things that healthy soil with high biodiversity does, is fight off pests and allows fresh, nutritious plants to grow.
It also regulates the movement of water and prevents flooding by controlling whether rainfall, snowfall and irrigation water will flow over land or through it.
Read 6 tweets
Natural History Museum Profile picture
Dec 4
It's #WildlifeConservationDay! Although there is always more to do when it comes to wildlife conservation, it's not all doom and gloom. There are many conservation success stories!

Here are 5 beautiful species that have been pulled back from the brink of extinction:
Peregrine falcons dive bomb their prey at more than 320 km/hr, making them the fastest animal in the world.

They became endangered in the 1970s, but with the banning of the DDT pesticide, captive breeding programmes and large-scale protection, they were saved from extinction. A peregrine falcon sitting ...
Mallorcan midwife toads raise their young differently - females lay a string of eggs and males then tie these around their legs until they are ready to hatch.

They were once thought to be extinct, but conservation actions have helped increase their numbers and distribution. A Mallorcan midwife toad wi...
Read 6 tweets
Natural History Museum Profile picture
Apr 21, 2021
In tomorrow's free #OurBrokenPlanet event, we'll be discussing the importance of valuing Indigenous and First Peoples' knowledge in handling the climate crisis, from policy to how we each interact with nature.

Let's meet the speakers who'll be joining us. nhm.ac.uk/events/reshapi…
.@SorengArchana is a 25-year-old UN Youth Climate Advisor and Indigenous environmental activist of the Kharia Tribe of Odisha, India, who works to promote awareness of traditional knowledge and practices of Indigenous communities with regards to climate change. A photo of Archana Soreng
@SorengArchana 22-year-old @Brianna_Fruean is an activist and environmental advocate for Samoa. At the age of 11, she became a founding member of @350 Samoa and Future Rush, with the aim to promote youth and community engagement in climate change and sustainable issues.
Read 4 tweets
Natural History Museum Profile picture
Mar 9, 2021
Just over a week ago, a fireball was seen streaking across the night sky in the UK.

Now, for the first time in 30 years a UK meteorite has been recovered, from a driveway in Gloucestershire.

But this meteorite started its journey long, long ago... 1/
nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/…
In fact, it started its journey over FOUR BILLION YEARS AGO.

While Earth was taking shape deep within the hot, chaotic swirl of dust and gas as the Sun coalesced at the centre, other bodies were forming further out where the temperatures were cooler. 2/
It is thought that there was a hypothetical boundary called the snow line, beyond which further away from the Sun, water vapour could condense into water ice.

Because there was no pressure this water did not go through its liquid phase, but rather went straight to solid. 3/
Read 13 tweets
Natural History Museum Profile picture
Jun 17, 2020
Our #Pride2020 recreation of the Progress Pride flag uses the full range of our collections to celebrate the amazing diversity of the natural world.
For #MusPride today, we're revealing exactly what's hiding behind the stripes...
A #PrideMonth THREAD >>>
1/12
The white of our flag - included in the Progress variation of the Pride flag to represent the non-binary community and those transitioning - is a section from the wing of a large white butterfly, Pieris brassicae.
#MusPride 2/12
The next two colours represent transgender folk, with the light pink chevron coming from the Museum's mineral collection. This is a piece of thulite (also known as rosalite) dotted with white calcite crystals which give it a lighter shade.
#MusPride 3/12
Read 12 tweets

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