Biodiversity is a fairly new word to our language, but it is becoming more and more commonly used and understood. It simply signifies the variety of life on earth in all its shapes and sizes- from smallest insect and fungus to the largest mammal or tree. This massive variety of life is everywhere, not just in our countryside and gardens, but also in our towns and cities. It is all encompassing-biodiversity enriches all our lives, whether it's a butterfly visiting our garden or a blackbird heard from an office window. Biodiversity contributes to our overall economy by supplying the raw materials for our clothing, food, drink, fuel, buildings and roads. Tourism based on wildlife is one of major income-earners. Environment-based jobs include farming, fishing and services providing water, energy and building materials. More than just the trees, forest biodiversity encompasses the multitude of plants, animals and micro-organisms that inhabit forest areas and their associated genetic diversity. Forest biodiversity can be considered at many different levels, including ecosystems, landscapes, species, populations and genetics.