Biodiversity plays a vital role in shaping nature at multiple levels. It has contributed in many ways to the development of human culture, and in turn, human communities have played a major role in shaping the diversity of nature at the genetic, species and ecological levels.

Biodiversity plays three major roles: ecological, economic and scientific.

Ecological Role: Biodiversity plays a major role in many ecosystem services that nature provides. The weathering mantle, which forms the basis for diversity of vegetation and hence biodiversity, is influenced by the input of solar energy and water. Areas rich in these inputs show a wide spectrum of biodiversity.

Economic Role: For all humans, biodiversity is an important resource in their day-to-day life. Crop diversity (agro-biodiversity) is one important part. Biodiversity serves as a reservoir of resources for the manufacture of food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. Important economic commodities include food crops, livestock, forests, fish, and medicinal resources.

Scientific Role: Each species can give us some clue as to how life evolved and will continue to evolve. Biodiversity also helps in understanding how life functions and the role of each species in sustaining ecosystems.