Did you know that 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity? It's a time to think about the importance of biodiversity and a time to take action to protect it.

But what exactly is biodiversity? "Bio" means "life". Diversity means "variety". So Biodiversity simply means "variety of life" (variety within species, variety among species and variety of ecosystems).

Why is biodiversity so important?

Biodiversity helps keep our food and water sources healthy and our air clean. Many of the ingredients used in medicine are found in plants and animals.

Species (including humans) are dependent on one another. Each species has its own important role to play in the health of our planet.

Imagine a bike that's missing a couple of parts. You might still be able to ride the bike but it won't work well. The more parts you lose the worse the ride will get.

That's how it is with species. The more species we lose the worse off we are.

Gone Forever

Which extinct species would you most like to see today?

A beaver the size of a bear?

Model of a Giant Beaver

Castoroides ohioensis - a giant beaver, roughly the size of a modern day black bear, became extinct approximately 14,000 years ago.

	Fruitadens haagororum Illustration by Smokeybjb

Fruitadens haagarorum is the tiniest dinosaur ever found in North America. Weighing approximately 907 grams (2 pounds), this little creature existed 150 million years ago and is part of a group of dinosaurs that includes Stegasaurus and Triceratops.

We all know that throughout history many species have become extinct - so why are we worried now?

It's true. There is such a thing as "normal" extinction. However, today we are losing species so rapidly that it's unhealthy for the planet. Some experts believe we're losing species 1000 times faster than we should be.

Have you ever seen a passenger pigeon? How about a deep water cisco?

Unless you're extremely old, you've never seen these species. They are gone from our planet. They can't be found in the wild and they can't be found in zoos. They are extinct. Both these species became extinct within the last 100 years because of human activity.

The last passenger pigeon died in a Cincinnati zoo in 1914. A remarkable bird, the passenger pigeon could reach speeds of 112 km/hr (70 mph). It lived in huge flocks of up to a billion birds. Over-hunting was to blame for its extinction.

Model of a Passenger Pigeon Keith Schengili-Roberts

The deep water cisco, a fish found only in Lakes Huron and Michigan, became extinct primarily because it was preyed upon by the sea lamprey and out-competed for food by the alewife. The sea lamprey and the alewife are non-native species - meaning they were introduced to the Great Lakes by humans.

Endangered species in Canada today include: the killer whale (Southern resident population/Pacific Ocean), the northern barrens tiger beetle (Ontario and Quebec) and Ord's kangaroo rat (Alberta and Saskatchewan). There are over 190 species at risk in Ontario alone.

The high rate of extinction we are seeing today is due to human activity. And it will take serious human effort to protect species at risk.

A Whooper of a Comeback!

With the right conservation efforts, species can be saved. Look at the case of the whooping crane. Just six decades ago, the "whooper", one of North America's largest birds, was on the verge of extinction. In 1941 there were only 21 birds left in the wild. Today there are over 500.

Whooping Crane Photo: Ashton Graham U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Check out these "wild" art contests!

Get to Know Contest - Deadline May 28th Celebrate biodiversity by entering the 2010 Robert Bateman Get to Know Contest! The contest is open to all young Canadians aged 19 or younger. Youth are invited to "get to know" local plants and animals and then submit works of art, writing, or photography to the contest for a chance to win wild prizes - including a week-long stay at Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in Alberta, hosted by Parks Canada. For more information, please visit the Get to Know Contest webpage. Don't forget to check out last year's winners, including this gorgeous entry, "Coyote" by 12 year old Emily McDonald of British Columbia. Young Hands Together For Diversity! International Art Competition Deadline June 15th The theme of the competition is "biodiversity" - and what it means to young people around the world. Entries are invited from children and young people in three age categories: 6 - 10 years, 11 - 15 years and 16 - 20 years. There'll be an overall winner, as well as winners and and runners-up for each of the age categories. For instructions about art materials and paper size, please visit the Young Hands Together for Diversity webpage. The competition is now open and entries must be received by June 15th. Put on your artist's cap, start creating and send them your best art work. Have fun!