What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity, often known as biological diversity, refers to the range of life that can be found on Earth, or frequently, the whole range of life. The number of species present in a region is a frequent indicator of this variability, known as species richness. For instance, there are more than 1,000 breeding bird species in Colombia and Kenya, compared to fewer than 200 species in the woodlands of Great Britain and eastern North America. There could be 500 different species of fish on a coral reef off the coast of northern Australia, compared to only 100 on Japan’s rocky coast. The tropics, for example, have more biodiversity than temperate regions, thus these figures help to illustrate some of the regional distinctions, but the number of species is not the only indicator of diversity. Biodiversity is important in creating a sustainable life on earth.
Why biodiversity is important?
Ecological stability: Every organism in this planet has a role to play in the environment. Every organism captures energy and stores it it produces and decomposed organic matter. The ecosystem always supports these services without any intervention from humans and the more diverse the ecosystem the more is the product in natural sources and the environment can withstand the stress,
Economic Importance:
Resources for the production of food, cosmetics, and medicines can be found in biodiversity. Food can be found in plenty in crops, cattle, fisheries, and forests. Uses for wild plants include medicine including cinchona and foxglove. Diverse plant species are the source of wood, fibers, fragrances, lubricants, rubber, resins, poison, and cork. Tourists visit national parks and wildlife refuges. For many individuals, they are a source of beauty and delight.
After knowing why it is important let us know the adverse effects humans are causing on human activity.
i)Degradation of the ecosystem: Human activities such as forest fires, forest degradation from insecticide use, construction projects, and the use of explosive materials, among others, have a negative impact on these ecosystems. Because of the enormous natural area’s disruption, there won’t be enough suitable habitat for living things. Their actions will cause the environment to be disturbed.
ii)Loss of habitat: The preservation of biodiversity is aided by habitat. Natural habitat is being lost as a result of numerous human activities, including construction projects, the use of insecticides, the clearing of forests, and shooting. It has a negative impact on living things’ habitats, which leads to a decrease in biodiversity. It has an impact on people. Natural ecosystems shouldn’t be destroyed as a result of human activity. Activities for conservation should be carried out. These initiatives protect the environment, which protects biodiversity.
iii)Loss of mobility of animals and humans: The natural environment is deteriorating, which limits living things’ mobility. Some of the reasons that contribute to the destruction of the natural environment include deforestation, the expansion of agricultural land, urbanization, etc. Living things are only able to exist in a small region because of this scenario. Therefore, it is important to protect the ecosystem. Additionally, it is important to make dry, open spaces usable by animals and other living things.
iv)Reduction in the expansion of vegetation: People consume agricultural land, devastate the forest, and use other natural resources due to pollution rise. Natural resources are depleted in order to meet human demands. Urbanization and settlement area growth are fairly frequent. Forests and areas that supported wildlife, plants and birds have been destroyed as a result of these actions. As a result, biodiversity declines. Therefore, land should be wooded and the grazing pasture should be preserved rather than growing settlement areas.
What actually is the meaning of conservation
To conserve is to safeguard, manage, and improve the natural resources of the planet for the benefit of present and future generations. The prudent or wise use of resources that humans can access in nature is included in conservation. Natural resources should be preserved for future generations. Air, water, soil, vegetation, fauna, coal, metals, oils, minerals, and energy are examples of natural resources.
Classification of natural resources
Renewable and non-renewable resources are the two categories into which natural resources can be divided.
Renewable Resources: After humans exhaust themselves, renewable resources can be recovered via their efforts. Animals, plants, water, land, and air are some examples.
Non-Renewable Resources: Non-Renewable resources are scarce and can never be replenished, either by the planet or by humans, after they have been used up. Coal, oil, minerals, and metals are a few examples.
Different types of conservation of natural sources
Conservation of water
Water is a resource that all living things require. We are unable to envision life on Earth without water. In order to manage water preservation and develop new measures to prevent wastage and unrestricted water use, water conservation involves strategies, policies, and activities. One of the most significant natural resources is water. Given that all life on earth depends on it for survival, water is unavoidable. Water is used by humans for drinking, cleansing, farming, and industrial uses. Therefore, it is crucial for people to protect and save water.
Conservation of Biodiversity
Genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecological diversity are all impacted by biodiversity at different levels of the hierarchical structure. The protection, enhancement, and scientific management of biodiversity are the three main components of biodiversity conservation. In-situ conservation and ex-situ conservation are the two basic types of conservation.
In-situ translates as “in its native location.” This refers to protected areas like national parks, wildlife refuges, biosphere reserves, national parks, and so on.
“Outside or away from the original place” is what ex-situ means. This is in reference to animal-moving conservation projects. A laboratory, zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, etc. are a few examples.
Conservation of energy
Energy is a resource that is vital for human life. Energy conservation focuses on limiting energy consumption by utilizing fewer energy services. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, according to the rule of conservation of energy, which states that it can only be changed from one form to another. By using it wisely and turning to alternative energy sources, we can conserve energy.
Finally, it is important to know why biodiversity must be protected and must implement and work towards conserving the natural resources so that the next generations can experience the same amount of balance resources and the environment we do. Working towards avoiding the exploitation of natural resources is important and planting trees can be the solution to many problems. You start the initiative and thousands of people are going to stand by you for the betterment of our earth.
