Understanding Biodiversity and Its Importance
Biodiversity is one of the most overused words in environmental circles and yet very few people understand what it means or its importance to the planet and indeed to our very existence․ So what is biodiversity? Biodiversity is the full variety and variability of life on Earth‚ the ecosystem and habitat in which all living things coexist and the genetic variability among individuals of all species within these ecosystems․ From tiny soil-dwelling microorganisms‚ to the largest marine mammals‚ each species is part of a web of life․ Biodiversity is the foundation of the services the Earth provides․ This module will explain biodiversity‚ what it is‚ why it matters‚ what threatens it‚ how it is linked to ecosystem health‚ what the consequences are of its loss‚ and in what ways biodiversity is valuable for humans․
There are three commonly used levels of biodiversity: genetics‚ species‚ and ecosystems․ Genetic diversity is the range of genes in the gene pool necessary for populations to adapt to changing environmental circumstances․ Species diversity‚ which refers to the number and variety of species present in a given habitat or ecosystem‚ and ecosystem diversity‚ which refers to the variety of habitats and ecological processes in a given area‚ are interrelated components of biodiversity․ They also offer organisms resilience against diseases‚ climate change‚ and other environmental changes․ Every species plays a specific functional role in its ecosystem‚ regardless of the size of its population or its economic value to humans․
Why Biodiversity is Important
The conservation of biodiversity is important to all people․ Biodiversity is the basis for the services that sustain human livelihoods and human life‚ including food and clean water‚ medicines‚ clothing and shelter․ Most of these are derived from natural ecosystems‚ and the majority of people (over 70% of the world's population) depend directly or indirectly on medicines derived from plants and other organisms‚ which have been common sources of compounds used for human health․ In addition to its intrinsic value‚ biodiversity‚ through ecosystem services‚ regulates the climate‚ water and air quality‚ maintains soil fertility‚ and supports the livelihoods (including of the poorest)‚ cultural identity‚ recreation‚ and mental well-being of different communities․ Therefore‚ biodiversity is essential for both ecosystems and people․
Biodiversity is continually threatened by human activities including things such as deforestation‚ pollution‚ climate change and habitat destruction‚ which contributes to the rate of species extinction seen in the world today․ Habitat loss occurs through the conversion of natural habitats into monoculture systems‚ agricultural fields or urban environments‚ leading to fragmented landscapes․ Climate change alters habitats and habitat-forming conditions‚ which many organisms depend on․ Climate change can outpace natural adaptation rates for many organisms and force them to cope․ Invasive species dispersed by humans also pose a threat as they can outcompete native species for key resources‚ causing imbalance in ecosystem structure and function‚ and thus a decline in the provision of ecosystem services․
Ecosystems Can Collapse Without Biodiversity
The biodiversity of ecosystems contributes to the richness of the ecosystem․ Ecosystems with diversity of species respond better to climate change and recover from disturbances such as disease․ Such resilience is found in variability of ecosystems․ In the plant example‚ a variety of different plants leads to a variety of animals that provide pollination and seed dispersal․ As a result‚ systems can continue to produce even when environmental conditions are shifting․ If there is less biodiversity‚ then the ecosystem cannot be balanced and could collapse․ It is important to have knowledge of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem health for long-term balance․
The loss of biodiversity has more than just natural consequences․ The extinction of plant and animal species‚ and the devastation of ecosystems can threaten such human-nature resources as timber and clean water‚ which are essential for human livelihoods and economies․ This is potentially a problem for food systems‚ as agriculture is reliant on a wide variety of plants and animals and crops around the world depend on pollinators․ In addition‚ ecosystems are also more resilient to natural hazards such as floods and drought where there is greater biodiversity․ Given the impact of the loss of biodiversity on our ability to live well on Earth‚ action to conserve biodiversity needs to be taken immediately․
Where there is life‚ there is biodiversity․ In the relationships that exist between all life to the ecology‚ from the local to the global‚ and from the most distant past to the present (and future)‚ biodiversity is ever present․ It is the foundation of all life․ These human-wrought threats make it clear that we must take an active role in protecting this biosphere and in celebrating‚ maintaining‚ and restoring the diversity of life that has evolved on this planet to make sure that it is present for generations to come․ The time to act is now․ Now is the time to unite to protect the mosaic of life that surrounds us and that is within us‚ and to give thanks for the beauty of the mosaic which is life on Earth․
