Biodiversity and habitat destructionSpec B16.1.2, B16.1.3
In short
Biodiversity is the number of different species in an area; habitats are destroyed by housing, farming, resource extraction and pollution.
- Biodiversity
- The number of different species that live in an area.
A habitat is destroyed when it is changed so much that the organisms living there can no longer survive. This reduces biodiversity.
Reasons for habitat destruction
- Increased area for housing, crop plant production and livestock production: forests, grassland and wetlands are cleared to build homes and to grow food for a growing population.
- Extraction of natural resources: mining, quarrying and drilling remove soil and rock and destroy the habitat above.
- Freshwater and marine pollution: pollutants such as sewage, fertiliser and plastics make water unsuitable for the organisms that live in it.
Exam tip:
Biodiversity is about the number of different species, not the number of individual organisms.
Written and checked against the Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653) specification · Updated October 2026