Diversity of species

Obviously, living in a farely urban environment reduces significantly the degree of diversity seen in my immediate surroundings. Firstly, the vegetation is controlled and manipulated by "gardeners" and the insect kingdom is kept at bay with various insecticidal methods. This reminds me of the book "the world without us", it shows how the earth, our yard, our house, our cities would revert back to diversity if we were gone.