This map shows species biodiversity by showing how different species are spread across the world. Terrestrial biodiversity means “all the different living things that live on land.” This includes plants, animals, insects, fungi (like mushrooms) and even tiny organisms you can’t see without a microscope. Forests, deserts, grasslands and mountains are all examples of land habitats, and each one is home to its own special mix of living things.

This map uses two measures to describe biodiversity in a region; species richness and species rarity. Selecting an area on the map shows its richness/rarity rating and the richness/rarity rating of different types of life in that region.

If a region has high species richness, it means that many different species live in that region. On this map, species richness in a region is shown using blue tints. The bluer a square, the higher the number of different species that live there.

High species rarity means that the species that live in a certain area do not live in many other places on Earth. On this map, species rarity is shown using yellow and orange tints. If a place has many species that do not live anywhere else on Earth, the square will be a strong orange color.

This map mixes these two sets of colors, just like a painter mixes paint, to show both measures of biodiversity at the same time. Blue and orange combine to make dark green. A dark green area has high species richness and high species rarity - that means there are a lot of different species that live in that area and many of those species do not live anywhere else.

Forests in moist areas can support many different kinds of life and often have high species richness. However, some of these forests, like those in temperate and cool regions of North America, have low rarity. Common species like black bears, white-tailed deer, oak trees, and pines can be found across the continent. Many regions in this area have blue or blue-green squares showing high richness, but low rarity.

Deserts have much less water and support fewer species. However, many of the species that thrive in deserts cannot live anywhere else. Areas like the Sahara Desert are very orange because they have low richness, but high rarity.

In any of these regions, the species living together depend on each other in different ways. This creates a system where everything is connected, called an ecosystem. When biodiversity is high, it means there are many different kinds of species, and the ecosystem is usually healthier and stronger.

Terrestrial biodiversity is very important for people too. It helps provide us with food, clean air, medicine and materials like wood. It also helps control the climate and keeps the soil healthy for growing crops. When we take care of land habitats and protect different species, we are helping the Earth stay balanced.

This richness/rarity relationship is important because rare species are often more at risk of disappearing. If a habitat is damaged, species that live in only that region have few other places to go. That means areas with both high richness and high rarity are especially important to protect, because losing them could mean losing species that don’t exist anywhere else. On the map, many of those areas are dark green.

To protect biodiversity, scientists study the environment and look for problems, then make plans to help plants and animals survive. Today, many species are disappearing much faster than normal because of human activities like pollution, cutting down forests and climate change. If we don’t make changes, more and more fungi, plants and animals could be lost.

This map was created using data from the Half‑Earth Project. It displays species richness and rarity as a percent from 1 (lowest) to 100 (highest). Each square on the map represents one grid cell (raster data set), covering about 777 square kilometers or 300 square miles. That’s a square with sides that are 17 miles long. Each grid cell includes information: an overall richness/rarity percent and group richness/rarity percentages about amphibians, birds, mammals, reptiles, cacti, and conifers (trees) found in that area. You can click on a location on the map to learn more about the biodiversity in any part of the globe.

Explorer Carlos Velazco: Protecting Nature Through Knowledge and Respect

Carlos Velazco is a biologist and National Geographic Explorer who works to protect biodiversity around the world. He was born in Mexico and holds a Ph.D. in biology. He has written 30 research papers and three books, and has recorded over 10,000 species, including some not yet officially described. Dr. Velazco is a scientist, but he utilizes research methods that anyone can use. He visits places and carefully observes all of the life around him. He uses the iNaturalist app, a simple app available on any device, to record the living things he sees. Using iNaturalist, he has uploaded more than 48,000 observations and helped other users by making over 176,000 species identifications under the username “aztekium,” a small cactus that grows only in his home state of Nuevo Leon.

Velazco also works with other Explorers and local leaders to teach people about nature. He has organized more than 100 training sessions and workshops for iNaturalist users. iNauralist users, from scientists to young people, form a global online community where people can observe, identify and learn about plants and animals. This kind of collaboration between professionals and society is often referred to as “citizen science” or “community science.” According to the platform, every observation—whether it is rare or common—can help scientists better understand biodiversity. Any user can upload observations.These observations are shared with scientific databases such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Using iNaturalist, people can explore the outdoors while helping build a worldwide record of life on Earth. Carlos says, “No matter where in the world you are, whether you have a PhD or just love the outdoors, iNaturalist will bring you closer to nature and many fellow naturalists.” His life goal is to continually promote biodiversity protection and documentation worldwide, aiming to empower local communities and individuals to protect nature through knowledge and respect.

Thinking Geographically

Biodiversity is the abundance of life within a given area. Use this map to explore the species diversity around the world and in your community.

Click the 3D tool to see the world in a more accurate view.

Find a region with high richness, but low rarity. Where is it? What do you think it might be like for life there? Why?

Find a region with high rarity, but low richness. Where is it? What do you think it might be like for life there? Why?

Add the Meridians and Parallels layer to the map. What patterns do you notice at the parallels: Tropic of Cancer, the Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle?

Zoom on the map to your home. What is the species diversity in your region? Why do you think this might be true?

For additional exploration, use the add layer button to add the Biome layer. Use the swipe tool to see if you can identify relationships between biomes and biodiversity. Do some biomes or ecoregions seem to have high richness and rarity?

It’s important for people to protect nature—by planting trees, reducing waste and caring for the environment—so that all living things on land can continue to thrive. How are you going to identify species and protect nature near your home?