Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, ranging from the smallest microorganisms to the largest mammals. This includes the diversity of ecosystems, such as rainforests, coral reefs, and grasslands, and the millions of species that inhabit them. Different species interact with each other and their environment in complex ways, creating intricate webs of life. Conservation is the effort to protect this diversity of life and the ecological processes that support it. Humans rely on biodiversity for food, medicines, and ecosystem services like clean water and air.