"Biodiversity underpins the life-support system of our planet. Yet several factors, including human behaviour, have brought us to a critical point. The world is experiencing an unprecedented rate of species extinction, which may have far-reaching consequences for all life forms.
DIVERSITAS brings together biological, ecological and social sciences to address four key questions that underlie our limited understanding of the current situation.
How did biodiversity evolve in space and time to reach current state?
How much biodiversity exists and how does its change or loss affect the system as a whole?
How does biodiversity correspond to the delivery of ecosystem functions and services, and what is the true value of these commodities?
How can scientific investigation support policy and decision making to encourage more sustainable use of biodiversity?"
