Palau is a small island nation in Micronesia. (Photo: LuxTonnerre/Flickr) Islands boast some of the most diverse collections of plants and animals on Earth. With a unique set of influences and conditions, island life has evolved in a very different way from life on larger landmasses. The Convention on Biological Diversity aims to bring these island ecosystems to the public’s attention. The annual International Day of Biological Diversity (which falls on May 22), raises worldwide awareness about biodiversity , from its many benefits for people to the variety of places — like islands — where it tends to thrive. These 11 islands provide a living definition of biological diversity. Few other landmasses can match the uniqueness of their plant and animal species. Borneo The Pinnacles are limestone spikes in Mulu National Park, Borneo. (Photo: Paul White/Flickr) The world’s third largest island, Borneo has about the same land area as the state of Texas. Divided among Malaysia, Indonesia and the tiny sultanate of Brunei, the isle has more than 200 species of mammal, 44 of which are endemic (meaning they are found nowhere else in the world). About 6,000 of Borneo’s plant species are also endemic. The most striking biodiversity […]
Click here to view original web page at 11 islands with amazing biodiversity
