In pictures: Variety is the spice of life, celebrating World Biodiversity Day

Posted by Angela Glienicke — 15 May 2015 at 11:33am - Comments
All rights reserved. Credit: © Greenpeace / John Novis
A blue-crowned motmot (Momotus momota) seen in the Amazon rainforest

The United Nations has declared May 22nd The International Day for Biodiversity. This year's theme focuses on sustainable development goals. We all enjoy living in a colourful world where different species play their various roles in the maintenance of an ecosystem that is so vital for our existence.<--break-><--break->

Our photos show some of the natural wonders at risk from large scale deforestation, overfishing or climate change and also present some examples of sustainable lifestyles. If these photos inspire you to protect our natural world, join the movement.

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A Papuan tree frog is pictured on a fern in a forest on the outskirts of Manokwari, Papua. 

© Paul Hilton / Greenpeace 2013

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Common bluebell (Hyacinthoides) are seen in the Haller forest in Belgium.

© Markus Mauthe / Greenpeace 2010

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Wild cat in the first 'wild cat village' in Huetscheroda, Thueringen, Germany.

© Michael Loewa / Greenpeace 2013

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Small-scale farmer James Njoronge inspects his maize crop in Thika. Community-based organisation G-BIACK trains and promotes Grow Bio-intensive Agriculture and other development technologies among small-scale farm holders in Kenya.

© Sven Torfinn / Greenpeace 2013

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Ground-hugging mat plants duck the worst of the wild sub-Antarctic winds high on Enderby Island, New Zealand.

© Dave Hansford / Greenpeace 2013

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Small farmer Vili Hoffmann inspects the growth of organic soya plants in a Brazilian field.

© Werner Rudhart / Greenpeace 2013

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Arctic ground squirrel in Alaska.

© Bernd Roemmelt / Greenpeace 2007

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A christmas tree worm on brain coral (Diploria clivosa) near Looe Key, USA.

© Todd Warshaw / Greenpeace 2010

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Walrus in the Polar Sea, Arctic, Spitzbergen, Norway.

© Markus Mauthe / Greenpeace 2012

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King penguins in Fortuna Bay on South Georgia in the Atlantic Ocean.

© Markus Mauthe / Greenpeace 2008

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Photo taken on the site of Shell's proposed Pierre River tar sands mine which is located in northern Alberta, on the Athabasca River between Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan. The proposed 200,000 barrel per-day mine is opposed by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (who live downstream and whose traditional territories would be affected) and Greenpeace.

© Ian Willms / Greenpeace 2012

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A critically endangered hawksbill turtle swims over the coral gardens at Kanawa Island near Flores, Indonesia. The island is located in the Komodo National Park.

© Paul Hilton / Greenpeace 2014

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Children make organic fertiliser in a camp called Eco-farm for kids, organised by Greenpeace in an organic rice farm in Ratchaburi. The camp is part of a project to demonstrate sustainable agriculture solutions and to educate and inspire the youth to value healthy food, land and community through experiences in ecological farming.

© Phawat Wichainarong / Greenpeace 2010

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A leaf that's been naturally turned into a peace symbol, Canada. 

© Doris Potter / Greenpeace 2013

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