Biodiversity

Biodiversity is described as the variety of plants and other living organisms that interact with the non-living environment of a particular habitat or ecosystem. Regardless of the size or type, each organism is dependent on every other, either directly or indirectly through food webs and the natural processes of nutrient cycling and energy flow that sustain ecosystems. Plant biodiversity has an invaluable role in the function of ecosystems and the services that people obtain from them including:

• provision of clean air, water, food, materials, and medicines,
• regulation of climate, carbon storage, water and waste treatment, and erosion and disease control,
• support for pollination, biodiversity and habitat, and
• cultural benefits for health, education, recreation, relaxation, and spiritual well being.

From https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Agriculture_and_Horticulture/Red_Seal_Landscape_Horticulturist_Identify_Plants_and_Plant_Requirements_II_(Nakano)/Part_04_Plants_for_Horticultural_Applications/02.1%3A_Native_Plants>