biodiversity n. the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a habitat.
– Oxford English Dictionary

We know biodiversity is important to the health of our world, but this month's Roots & Shoots Book Club selection gives us scientific proof. Sustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity, edited and written by Eric Chivian and Aaron Bernstein, provides a comprehensive view of how humans and all other living things depend on one another for survival.

"Sustaining Life is the most complete and powerful argument I have seen for the importance of protecting biodiversity," said former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who created the documentary, An Inconvenient Truth.

The authors, physicians at Harvard Medical School's Center for Health and the Global Environment, illustrate how biodiversity impacts human medicines, biomedical research and food production. With input from more than 100 leading scientists, Sustaining Life draws on the latest research while using non-technical language geared toward general readers.

The book is co-sponsored by the United Nations' Environment and Development Programmes, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. It contains a prologue by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan–who appointed Dr. Jane a U.N. Messenger of Peace—and a foreword by renowned biologist and naturalist Edward O. Wilson.

With chapters covering everything from the basics of biodiversity to in-depth information on threatened species to suggestions for conservation efforts, Sustaining Life is a huge resource for biologists, for environmentalists AND for Roots & Shoots members.

In fact, you might find the 568-page book to be more than your Roots & Shoots group can chew all at once. Here are some ideas for breaking the book into bite-sized pieces:

Hone in on Habitat
After you've read the "Habitat Loss: On Land" section on pages 30-34, learn what the Jane Goodall Institute is doing to preserve chimpanzee habitat in Africa, and how you can help.

Pick a Picture
Sustaining Life contains more than 200 color illustrations and photographs. Have each group member pick one image and present it to the rest of the group. You might need to use additional resources, like encyclopedias or the Internet. When you're done, be sure to submit a Project Report about your activities.

Focus on Food
Think about your own personal views on organic versus non-organic food production. Jot down a list of your thoughts and opinions. Now, read the chapter "Genetically Modified Foods and Organic Farming" on pages 325-382. When you’re finished, write down any new thoughts or opinions you have on the issue. Share your views and ask others how they feel about the issue by starting a thread on the Roots & Shoots Discussion Boards.

Conserve Where You Can
Read the section "Ten Things We All Can Do That Can Help Conserve Biodiversity" on page 428 aloud with your group members. Get more conservation ideas from the Roots & Shoots "10 Simple Actions" and pledge to make a difference.

Want to find out what Roots & Shoots members are doing to protect our earth's biodiversity? Do a keyword search for "biodiversity" in the Project Database.