Biodiversity and its Importance
The term biodiversity, sometimes referred to as biological diveristy is used to express the variety of species along with their variability. More simply, biodiversity is used in reference to show all forms of life where various species are included along with their different variants. Not only this, our ecosystem that is responsible for sustaining these various forms of life is also a part of biodiversity.
Biodiversity is so much important as it is essential for sustaining environmental conditions so as to ensure continuation of life on earth.
Introduction to Biodiversity
Like we have discussed in the first paragraph itself that biodiversity includes various species such as animals, plants, and microorganisms such as virus or bacteria that function as a unit in our ecosystem. This functioning of various organisms as a unit maintains balance of the ecosystem so as to support life.
One must note here that even though our biodiversity is so vast, there are some species that are on the verge of extinction and some are already extincted, not only this, there are some species that are still not discovered.
Humans are considered to be at the centre of the cultural diversity which is part of biodiversity and conservation. Generally, the term ‘biocultural’ is used to show the continuously changing but interconnected behaviour that is exhibited by people or organisms with place.
The various needs of man are getting fulfilled because the earth supports the great variety of life since years. Basically, the diversity of living creatures is the building block which is supporting growth and development. But one should keep in mind that the earth is happy with the concept of using its resources carefully and sustainably rather than overusing or misusing.
The concept of biodiversity is associated with the level of nature’s variety in the biosphere of the earth’s environment.
Mainly the variety in biodiversity can be seen at three different levels which are:
Variation within the same species,
Variation of species within a community,
Organization of species within an area into different plant and animal community.
Importance of Biodiversity
It is known to everyone of us that the various environmental services that the species and the ecosystem offer are needed at global, regional as well as local domains. Some of the important services include producing oxygen, reducing carbon dioxide, maintaining the water cycle, etc. Any loss in the biodiversity will contribute to variation in the climate at global level. The presence of trees or forests is very much important for converting carbon dioxide into carbon and oxygen. With the declining forest region, the release of carbon dioxide increases and industrialization contributes to greenhouse effect.
Global warming is also one of the main reasons that is the result of loss of biodiversity. Basically, the meting of ice caps is nothing but global warming due to which the sea level rises thereby resulting in submerging of low lying areas. This leads to cause huge variations in the atmospheric conditions due to which the temperature rises above the bearable range that results in serious droughts in some regions while unexpected floods in other regions.
Biodiversity is so very important in order to preserve the ecological processes like formation of soil, circulation and cleansing of air and water, nutrient recycling, maintaining the level of water, erosion controlling, etc.
Suppose if we consider agricultural communities then through biodiversity crops are grown so that it can suit the environment. One should note here that preserving the biological resources is very important for easy going and long-term survival of mankind. The diversity exhibited by living organisms and crops, etc. is very much important for human development.
Hence, it is not wrong to say that biodiversity must be preserved in order to enhance the quality of living on earth.