Total biodiversity is immense on the earth. Biodiversity means the different biological varieties and the variability of life on Earth. This means the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and other microorganisms that make up our natural world.
Different life forms of biodiversity collectively form ecosystems including plants, animals, insects, fungi, and others, and the interactions among each type. When protecting biodiversity, ensures the sustainable occurrence of the current generation and future generations on the earth.
Here it will discuss
- Biodiversity and its components
- Genetic diversity
- Species diversity
- Ecosystem diversity
- The importance of biodiversity
- The threats to biodiversity
- How to conserve biodiversity
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, biodiversity is “The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part.”
Biodiversity includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. So biodiversity can be defined in terms of,
- Genetic diversity
- Species diversity
- Ecosystem diversity
The Importance of Biodiversity
There are a lot of species in the world and each species has a specific role and function in an ecosystem. These specific roles can be
- Capturing energy
- Providing food
- Decomposing organic matter
- Predation
- Cycling water and nutrients
- Controlling erosion
- Climate regulation
- Controlling pests.
These ecosystems are more diverse. Therefore it is very stable and it secures all life on Earth. The goods and services which are provided by biodiversity are known as ecosystem services. There is an economic value to each ecosystem service which are provided by healthy biodiversity.
Threats to the biodiversity
The total biodiversity is immense in the world but now the biodiversity is dropping. For example, the number of lions in Africa is reduced by 65%, the number of flying insects has dropped by 75% in Europe, and also now the world is facing a pollination crisis due to the severe decline in the bee population.
The threats to biodiversity include
- Habitat loss with reforestation and fragmentation of lands
- Invasive species
- Introduction of invasive species
- Environmental pollution
- Climate change impacts
- Overexploitation of natural resources
- Human activities and the increasing population
Due to these activities, the biodiversity in the world is under threat and is declining. Therefore the benefits which are provided by biodiversity are also reducing. That is a huge disadvantage to the whole world because people largely depend on these benefits of biodiversity.
There are ways we can help to conserve biodiversity.
- Plant native species in our gardens instead of exotics. When we plant more trees, it increases diversity. They are capable of over-competing possible invasive species too.
- Purchase sustainable items as much as possible
- Reject the overexploitation
- Make your friends, neighbors aware of the importance of biodiversity
- Reduce, reuse and recycle resources with the maximum potential
- Avoid the environmental pollution
- Join with conservation projects ongoing in your region
With our contribution, the biodiversity of entire ecosystems of the world will work and survive for many years, while providing us with many benefits for our own well-being.