Essay: Biological Diversity
Introduction: Biodiversity is a broad concept. Life on earth depends on the interaction of many different plants and animals. Each has unique abilities, some of which include absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, filtering water and producing food and medicines. This variety also enriches our own lives with natural beauty and mystery. When bio-diversity takes place, we face climate change.
Definition: In biodiversity, 'Bio' means life and 'diversity' means variety. In essence, biodiversity means ''variety of life''. The most straightforward definition of biodiversity is variation of life at all levels of biological organization.
Meaning of the term: Biodiversity is a neologism and a portmanteau word, from biology and diversity. The science Division of the natural conservancy used the term 'Natural diversity' in a 1974 study, 'The preservation of Natural Diversity.' The term biological diversity was used even before that by conservation scientists like Robert E. Jenkens and Thomas Lovejoy. The word 'biodiversity' itself may have been coined by W.G.Rosen in 1985.
Background: Biodiversity found on Earth is the result of 4 billion years of evolution. The origin of life is not well-known to science, though limited evidence suggests that life may already have been well-established only a few 100 million years after the formation of the Earth. Until approximately 600 million years ago, all life consisted of bacteria and similar single-celled organisms.
Over the next 400 million years or so, global diversity showed little overall trend, but was marked by periodic, massive losses of diversity classified as mass extinction events. Modern biodiversity is not much different from biodiversity 300 million years ago while planning the National Forum on Biological Diversity organized by the National Research Council [NRC] which was to be held in 1986. The word 'biodiversity' was deemed more effective in terms of communication than biological diversity.
Distribution of biodiversity: Biodiversity is not distributed evenly on Earth. It consistently richer in the tropics and in other localized regions such as the CaIifornia Floristic province. Flora and Fauna diversity depends on climate, attitude, soils and the presence of other species. In the year 2006, large numbers of the Earth's species are formally classified as rare or endangered or threatened species; moreover, most scientists estimate the there are millions of more species actually endangered which have not yet been formally recognized. Brazil's Atlantic forest contains roughly 20,000 plant species, 1350 vertibrates and millions of insects about half of which occur nowhere else in the world.
Threats to biodiversity: During the last century, erosion of biodiversity has been increasingly observed. Some studies show that about one of eight known plant species is threatened with extinction. Some estimates put the loss at up to 1,40,000 species per year. This figure indicates unsustainable ecological practices. Almost all scientists acknowledge that the rate of species loss is greater now than at any time in human history.
Destruction of habits: Most of the species' extinction from 1000 AD to 2000 AD are due to human activities, in particular destruction of plant and animal habitats. It is estimated that more than 40 of the Earth' biomass is tied up in only the few species that represent humans, livestock and crops. Global warming or climate change is driven by human activity. These factors, while all stemming from overpopulation, produce a cumulative impact upon biodiversity.
Biodiversity and climate change: Since the mid-1800s global temperatures have increased by about 0.60C impacting the entire world f from low lying islands in the tropics the vast polar regions. During the last century:
The largest glacier on Mount Kenya has lost 92 of its mass.
Sea levels have risen by 10-25 cm.
The thickness of sea ice the arctic has decreased by 40.
Current climate change predictions are not encouraging; they estimate further increases in temperatures of 1.40c to 5.80c by 2100. Predicted impacts from a temperature increase of only 250c include:
210 million more people at risk from malaria.
Up to 3.1 billion more people suffer from water scarcity.
50 million more people facing hunger. Even if all human sources of green house gas emissions are stopped immediately, the impacts of climate change would continue for 50 years.
Benefits of biodiversity: There are a multitude of benefits of biodiversity such as:
i) Food and drink: Biodiversity provides food for humans. About 80 percent of animals are utilized as food, again most consumption is focused on a few species.
ii) Medicines: A significant proportion of drugs are derived directly or indirectly from biological sources.
iii) Industrial materials: A wide range of industrial materials are derived directly from biological resources. These include building materials, fibres, dyes, gums, rubber and oil.
Awareness of biodiversity issues: The united nations proclaimed May 22 'The International Day' for Biological Diversity [BD] to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. ln December 2ooo, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as lBD. The secretariat of the convention on Biological Diversity is pleased to announce the focus of International Day for Biological Diversity [lBD], 22 May-Biodiversity and climate change.
Preservation and protection: Actions can be taken to reduce human impacts and therefore reduce the rate of biodiversity loss in dry and sub humid lands. Among others, these include:
Reducing overgrazing in delicate ecosystems.
Reducing pollutants produced by intensive agriculture.
Slowing the conversion of grassland and Savannah system to agriculture or urban settlement.
Taking steps to control invasive alien species into these ecosystems.
Helping to build institutions that will alleviate poverty and allow the poor to realize sustainable livelihoods.
Mobilizing sufficient financial and technical resource particularly for developing countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Conclusion: I taking these actions, we will achieve concrete results. lf we act now, it is within our power to achieve the biodiversity target. Aheading this plan, we all have to take care of our beautiful world ensuring other animals and plants co-existence in the same time.
[Contributor: Abu Hanifa Noman]
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