Biodiversity
In its broadest sense, biodiversity is the variation of taxonomic life forms within a given ecosystem. It is often used as a measure of the health of biological systems in the ecosystem.

Although the range of species in the Yorkshire Dales is already very broad, a great deal of work is done to ensure that the biodiversity remains at its current level or even improves. This might be in surveying particular species to gain an accurate idea of its population. Recent work of this type has included the monitoring of the red squirrel and common blue butterfly populations.

Another area of work is the conservation and protection of particular species, as done by organisations such as Craven Badger Group. Work of this nature may also include an element of education, as in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' project, 'Aren't Birds Brilliant', through which the peregrine falcons nesting at Malham Cove are protected and the visiting public have the opportunity to see the falcons at a viewing point beneath the cliff.

The image shows a Hereford bullock, one of the native cattle breeds re-introduced to the area through the Limestone Country Beef Project.