Unit 06 - There’s No Place Like Home

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the term for the immense richness of life on earth. This includes variety among and within living things and ecological systems. Scientifically, biodiversity is recognised at four levels — landscape, ecosystem, species and genetic information.

Why protect biodiversity?

The interrelated nature of life on earth means that each life form depends on many others to function successfully. Healthy environments are diverse environments. For the air we breathe, the water we drink and other life-sustaining processes we depend on many living forms.

Why investigate where animals live?

Understanding where rainforest animals live, why they live there and how they have adapted to life in that environment will help students gain an appreciation of the importance of local environments. Understanding leads to engagement and emotional attachment, students who feel strongly about the rainforest and its inhabitants might become advocates for the rainforest as adults.

This unit is designed to help students develop an awareness and understanding of the rainforest and its inhabitants.