What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is wildlife - the variety of life and its processes; including animals, plants, humans and all living things, the differences among them, the communities and ecosystems in which they occur, and the ecological and evolutionary processes that keep them functioning, yet ever changing and adapting.

Why is wildlife important?

Understanding biodiversity is in our self-interest as it affects us and is vital to our well-being and quality of life. A healthy and stable environment is not only central to economic prosperity but also to sustain the Island as a wonderful place to live, work and visit.

Biodiversity also provides us with vital life-supporting systems such as clean air, productive oceans, fresh water and fertile soil, without which we would not be able to support ourselves.

Why is the wildlife of the Isle of Wight special?

The Isle of Wight is a miniature version of south-east England and has, size for size, its fair share of the habitats characteristic of the region. In fact, it is unusually rich in species and habitats compared to similar areas on the mainland. Our chalk grasslands, the maritime cliffs and slopes, and the estuaries are important on both a national and international scale.

The mere fact that it is an island located off the south coast has consequences for the wildlife as well as for the human population. There are fewer introduced species such as grey squirrels, deer or mink; and there are stable populations of native animals which have become rare on the mainland, such as red squirrels, dormice, bats and water voles. The mild climate and maritime situation provide a foothold for species such as the Glanville fritillary butterfly, on the northern edge of their European range.

What's new?

The Isle of Wight Local Records Centre has recently been launched. IWLRC is a partnership-led biological records centre and has been established with the principal aim of bringing together information on the Island’s wildlife, to make it available to all those who need it. Find out more>>

International Year of Biodiversity 2010

This year has been named International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by the United Nations and will celebrate all life on Earth. IYB 2010 UK is being supported by many partners including our very own Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership. There are special events happening all across the UK and also here on the Island.

Our flagship event 'Go Wild in the Woods' was held in Firestone Copse on Wednesday 2nd June 2010 where we hosted a special day of wildlife activieis and ran the Island's very first Bioblitz. We continue the IYB 2010 celebrations at the annual Fort Victoria Foray on Thursday 19th August and at many other coast and countryside walks and events throughout the year.

Local surveys...we need your help!

IW Newts: The Wildlife Trust is currently running a newt survey and they want you to tell them about your sightings of newts in your back garden and help them create an Island Newt Map.

Glow worms: Have you ever seen a glow worm? If the answer is yes, the IW Local Records Centre would love to hear from you.

iSpot: is a new, online way of recording species, learning about your finds and sharing your knowlege of your local wildlife. People can upload their observations, help each other identify it and discuss what they've seen.

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