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Your planet: Your voice

What does the natural world mean to you? What is biodiversity and why does it matter? How concerned are you about threats to biodiversity?

News & Views presents a series of short topical articles on nature and biodiversity. Each topic contains links to further reading. Linked to each topic, are multiple choice questions. You can express your views by answering these questions or by writing a free text comment. You can also see how other people have answered the questions and read other people’s views.

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Fraxinus excelsior. Photo © Jan van der Straaten

Ash trees: Do they have a future?
Photo © Jan van der Straaten. From Free Nature Images

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Ash trees: Do they have a future?

In early November, Chalara dieback disease was confirmed to be affecting ash trees at 115 sites across the UK, including 61 sites in the wider environment. So, what does this mean for the future of UK ash trees?

Added 14 November 2012

Why living close to nature may be good for you

"Rapidly declining biodiversity may be a contributing factor to another global megatrend — the rapidly increasing prevalence of allergies and other chronic inflammatory diseases among urban populations worldwide." So write the authors of a recent research paper looking at whether contact with biodiversity boosts peoples' immunes systems.

Added 16 July 2012

What future for the Arctic?

The Arctic: Cold, remote, desolate? Home to polar bears, whales, and hardy people? A frontier land rich in oil and minerals? A fragile region threatened by climate change and human over-exploitation? However you view it, the Arctic deserves attention.