Let's protect biodiversity together!

Biodiversity loss affects far more than wildlife. It directly impacts ecosystems, climate stability, and our daily lives in Europe. More 55% of the global GDP is dependent on biodiversity and natural resources, and according to the European Environment Agency (EEA), over 80% of protected habitats and 63% of protected species in the EU are in poor or bad conservation status. The loss of biodiversity has a number of consequences. Here are four consequences we'd like to highlight:
- Pollinators are declining: Bees, butterflies and other pollinators that are essential for food production are declining because their food resources and habitats are disappearing. In Europe, one in three bee and butterfly species is declining, threatening crops and wild plants alike.
- Water cycles are disrupted: Healthy ecosystems help filter water, retain moisture and reduce flood and drought risks. Biodiversity loss weakens these natural protections.
- Climate resilience is reduced: Diverse forests and landscapes store carbon more effectively and are more resistant to heatwaves, storms and disease. When biodiversity declines, ecosystems become more fragile.
- Human well-being is affected: From clean air and water to food security and mental health, biodiversity underpins many aspects of quality of life.
Protecting biodiversity means protecting the natural systems that support life, including our own. You can read about the 1 billion reasons why it's important to preserve biodiversity here.

Biodiversity conservation means protecting, restoring and sustainably managing nature so ecosystems can continue to function and support life. - Biodiversity includes all living systems: plants, animals, insects, microorganisms and the ecosystems they form together.
- Conservation goes beyond protection, also involving restoring degraded habitats and improving how land and forests are managed.
- Healthy ecosystems provide essential services such as clean water, fertile soils, pollination, climate regulation and natural flood protection.
- Long-term management and follow-up are key. This is done by focusing on resilience, ensuring ecosystems can adapt to climate change and continue to thrive over time.

In Europe, biodiversity conservation is a priority, as the EU has recognised biodiversity loss as a major environmental risk and is investing in ecosystem restoration and nature protection.

At EcoTree, biodiversity conservation means supporting practical, on-the-ground actions such as restoring forests and wetlands, encouraging mixed-species forest ecosystems with continuous forest cover, and creating habitats that allow nature to recover naturally.

Meet our team of experts, who work in the field to manage, measure, and ensure that the biodiversity actions we implement are having a positive impact.

Forests are essential for biodiversity. They're home to most of Europe's wildlife and provide vital ecosystem services:
- A haven for species: Forests support over 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, providing habitats and food for plants, animals, and insects.
- Climate regulation: Trees absorb CO₂, acting as important carbon sinks and helping mitigate climate change. Learn how much CO₂ a tree absorbs.
- Resilience through diversity: Mixed-species forests are key to more resilient ecosystems, as they are better able to withstand disease, pests, and climate change.
- Critical services for life: From water regulation to pollination and soil protection, forests are foundational to healthy ecosystems.

At EcoTree, we focus on planting diverse, sustainable forests that promote biodiversity and fight climate change. Learn more about our reforestation projects and how you can get involved in protecting Europe's forests.

Contributing to one or multiple of our biodiversity projects is a meaningful way to support nature and help restore vital ecosystems. Your contribution directly helps to:
- Support the restoration of vital habitats such as wetlands, forests, and meadows, which are home to countless species.
- Protect endangered species including pollinators like bees and butterflies.
- Restore ecosystems that have been impacted by human activity.
- Develop projects that manage ecosystems in a way that balances human needs with the health of ecosystems, ensuring long-term sustainability.

EcoTree has a European scope, and is currently actively working on biodiversity projects in France and Denmark, focusing on enhancing and restoring local ecosystems. You can see the location, details, actions and impact of each project under the 'project details' of the project card.

Our projects in France encompass diverse ecosystems. For example, we are working on a wetland restoration project in our Langoëlan forest and an ecosystem restoration project in our Nouic forest.

In Denmark, we are restoring a wetland next to our Thisted forest, and we will be improving the natural habitats for birds and bats in our Nysum forest.