"Biodiversity" refers to the variety of life forms on earth. Today, it is under threat from all sides. What are the challenges of protecting species and natural environments for the future of the biosphere and humans? This book by the great Patrick BLANDIN, professor emeritus at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle de Paris, where he was the first director of the Grande Galerie de l'évolution, answers this question. This book was published in February 2010 and has toured the world. Several environmental lovers have already read it and I am one of them. The author's approach consists in following the paths of the history of science in abundance: ecology, of course, but also molecular biology, geophysics or systematics (the science of species classification). The key concepts that are presented and put into perspective are those of "species" - understanding what a species is, and how ecologists and biogeographers actually identify them - and "ecosystems", because it is the variety of ecosystems that allows ecological diversity. From this point of view, the role of human intervention is decisive, with the multiplication of islands of different landscapes shaped by man being a factor of biodiversity: "Isn't it disturbing to discover that what we urbanized Westerners see as the very symbol of nature, the forest, is in its current state the result of many phenomena in which men have often had a considerable, even decisive influence? »

Throughout the pages, we can feel the roles of the ancient naturalists, a moment of glory in molecular biology.

I therefore invite young environmentalists, naturalists and ecologists to taste this jewel. It will not be a waste of time but rather more to enrich your knowledge.