Biodiversity is a combination of two words: Bio (life) and diversity (variety). In simple terms, it refers to the number and variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region. It encompasses the varieties of plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems they form.

Biodiversity relates to the variability among living organisms on the earth, including the variability within and between the species and that within and between the ecosystems. It represents the sum total of diversity that exists at all levels of biological organisation. Biodiversity is our living wealth and is a result of hundreds of millions of years of evolutionary history. It can be discussed at three levels: Genetic diversity, Species diversity, and Ecosystem diversity.