What the heck is biodiversity? Simply put, it means a variety of living things. If the Earth's ecosystems are to remain healthy, they require many different kinds (species) of plants and animals. Every living organism has a role to play in our environment. Many Yukoners recognize the importance of maintaining biodiversity both here and throughout the globe. They are working hard to ensure habitats are suitable for the widest variety of species. In 1999, these folks saw the need to make all Yukoners aware of biodiversity issue and declared April as Yukon Biodiversity Awareness Month (YBAM). This became an overall banner for the other nature celebrations in April like National Wildlife Week, Earth Day, and Celebration of Swans. Please get out and celebrate spring and the Yukon's biodiversity by attending some of the events listed under the main schedule of events (2008).   Listen to an info clip on Yukon biodiversity here (MP3, 363K). For a PDF version of this year's brochure, click here ( PDF, 1.4MB) For further information on biodiversity follow some of the links listed below:     Related links (Yukon): "The Importance of Biodiversity" Your Yukon article EENorth: Online Guide to Environmental Education Resources for Canada's North Frog Watch Yukon Yukon Department of Environment Teaching About Biodiversity Biodiversity...Bio-What? Download overheads and a lesson plan that illustrate six reasons to protect biodiversity. Why preserve biodiversity? lesson plan (Grades 6-9??) Backyard Biodiversity and Beyond Yukon learning resource Ology: Biodiversity, Everything Counts Kid's page from American Museum of Natural History Related links (Other): Convention on Biological Diversity International Biodiversity Day May 22 The Biodiversity Project Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Canadian Biodiversity Information Network (CBIN) Canadian Centre for Biodiversity (Museum of Nature) Canadian Endangered Species Coalition homepage Canadian Forestry Service Canadian Nature Federation Homepage: Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) Environment Canada Natural Resources Canada Sierra Club of Canada World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada   International Sites: Defenders of Wildlife Conservation International website UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre Convention on Biological Diversity Website The Natural History Museum, London World Conservation Monitoring Centre Home |  Schedule of Events | National Wildlife Week  |  Biodiversity Awareness |  Earth Day Yukon |  Celebration of Swans