Biodiversity: a UCL priority

Researchers across UCL are at the international forefront of measuring patterns and rates of biodiversity loss, the biological processes that drive biodiversity creation and loss, and the importance of biodiversity for the resilience and productivity of ecosystems on which we depend. This work involves extensive connections across disciplines, institutions, and across biodiversity at the level of cells, genes, individuals, populations and ecological communities, as we map out a safer, healthier future for us and the rest of nature.

How AI is helping transform coral reef conservation

Watch the TEDx talk by Ben Williams (UCL Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research and ZSL’s Institute of Zoology) and find out how underwater audio recorders are helping scientists listen to the soundscape of coral reefs to measure their health.

Read about SurfPerch, an AI-led system which makes it faster and easier for marine scientists to answer ecological questions.

AI offers huge opportunities for tracking our impact on the natural world, but how sustainable is it? Find out if AI is a climate change friend or foe.

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What is biodiversity and why does it matter?

Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. UCL's research highlights the services provided by biodiversity which are essential for us and our economies. These include: food security; climate regulation; air pollution regulation; species regulation; medicines including antibiotics; mental health benefits; and increased resilience against threats from climate change and pandemics.

Tracking biodiversity gain and loss and their consequences

How do we know what biodiversity exists in any given area and what we’re gaining and losing? How do we measure the impacts of ecological hazards like climate change on biodiversity? And how do we track the impacts of biodiversity gain and loss on human societies and the living system? UCL is using new genomic and monitoring/artificial intelligence approaches which make recording previously cryptic taxa and biomes much easier.

Moving towards a healthier future

Habitat loss, overconsumption, social inequality and climate change are some of the main drivers of biodiversity loss. UCL has been researching ways to improve the wellbeing of our societies and the resilience of the ecosystems and their biodiversity on which we depend.

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Biodiversity on campus

UCL has been driving forward sustainability practices for over a decade. We are ranked 1st in the UK and 5th globally in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025. Our campus offers a space to challenge the current thinking about our urban environment, demonstrating how nature-based interventions can improve wellbeing, increase climate-resilience and reduce pollution, leading to a healthy, liveable city.