Introduction
Biodiversity
refers to the diversity of organisms that make up our natural world, including
a wide range of animals, plants, fungi, and even bacteria. To maintain balance
and support life, these various species and organisms work together in
intricate ecosystems that resemble webs. Biodiversity supports everything in
nature that we need to survive, including food, clean water, medicines, and
shelter.
As
humans put more and more strain on the planet by using and consuming more resources
than ever before, we run the risk of upsetting the balance of ecosystems and
losing biodiversity.
In
general, the number of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians has
decreased worldwide since 1970, according to the WWF's 2022 Living Planet Report.
The 2019 landmark Global Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Platform on
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services revealed that 1 million animal and plant
species are currently in danger of going extinct, which is the highest number
in recorded human history.
Why
Is It Important?
The
majority of our daily activities rely on biodiversity. We value biodiversity
for a variety of reasons, some purely philosophical and others purely
practical. This demonstrates that biodiversity is valued for both its own sake
and for the benefits it provides to humans. Utilitarian values include the many
basic requirements that humans derive from biodiversities, such as food, fuel,
shelter, and healthcare. Ecosystems also carry out crucial tasks like
pollination, seed dispersal, climate regulation, water purification, nutrient
cycling, and pest control in agriculture. The value of biodiversity also
includes untapped services and unrealized potential benefits like the creation
of novel treatments. Humans value biodiversity for a variety of cultural
reasons, including religious and spiritual ones. Biodiversity has an inherent
value that is independent of how much it is valued by other people or things.
It's possible to compare this concept, which is more philosophical, to the
inalienable right to exist. Finally, we can use our relationships and
aspirations for those relationships to understand the value of biodiversity. We
may value biodiversity because it has an impact on how we interact with one
another, perceive the world, and act in social situations. Whether they are
individual or collective, these relational values are a part of peoples'
feelings of connection, well-being, and environmental stewardship. The various
biodiversity values are significant because they have an impact on people's
daily conservation decisions.
Biodiversity
Loss
The
decline in biodiversity brought on by a species' extinction or relocation is
referred to as "biodiversity loss." Particularly if it's not a
charismatic species like the Bengal tiger or bottlenose dolphin, some people
might not think the extinction of a particular species is significant.
Biologists' estimates, however, indicate that the current rate of extinction is
significantly higher than the background, or average, rate seen throughout
Earth's history. This results in the extinction of tens of thousands of species
within our lifetimes. Ecosystem collapse is likely to have a significant impact
on human welfare. Because of the complex relationships among species,
ecosystems may be negatively impacted by a loss of biodiversity. For instance,
the extinction of one species may cause the extinction of another. To measure
the loss of biodiversity, scientists examine both the status of the ecosystems
and the species that are in danger of extinction.
The
greatest threat to the planet's biodiversity is the result of resource use and
population growth together. The human population requires resources to exist
and grow, and many of these resources are being taken from the environment in
an unsustainable manner. The five main threats to biodiversity are habitat
loss, pollution, over-exploitation, invasive species, and climate change. While
other threats are a direct result of resource use and population growth,
invasive species have been introduced as a result of increased trade and
mobility.
Biodiversity
in India
India
is one of the most diverse nations in the world. It ranks ninth in terms of the
variety of plant species. Two of the top 25 biodiversity hotspots on earth are
located in India. It is the ancestor of significant crop species like the
pigeon pea, eggplant, cucumber, cotton, and sesame. In India, many domesticated
species are grown, including millets, cereals, legumes, vegetables, medicinal
and aromatic plants, etc.
The
diversity of India's fauna is another great asset. Here, there are about 91000
different animal species. Numerous programs on biodiversity conservation are
being started to protect the environment, but diversity is vanishing quickly.
Conclusion
Every
species has the right to exist. They shouldn't be purposefully eradicated by
people. Biodiversity protects various cultures and spiritual heritage.
Therefore, protecting biodiversity is essential.
Written by Jay Kumar Gupta
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