Importance of conservation of biodiversity

We have modified our environment so radically that we must now modify ourselves to exist in this new environment. -Norbert Wiener Biodiversity, a simple word, but ironically with a drastically significant meaning. On first hearing one fails to underline it full meaning. One must understand that conservation cant happen until we do not undermine the complete importance of the subject of conservation. Biodiversity, where does the word come from, what does it mean. The word was first used by conservationist Raymond F. Dalesman in 1968 in the book A Different Kind of Country. But the word came into popular use in the 1980s, ever since then it has been widely used. Biodiversity can have many interpretations but it is more commonly used to replace the more clearly defined and long established terms, species diversity and species richness. Biodiversity is not consistent across the Earth. It is consistently rich in the tropics and in specific regions; it is less in Polar Regions where conditions support much less biomass. Human has induced the Earth with significant environmental changes that have caused fatal damage to our environment and such rapid environmental changes have lead to the extinctions of many species in the past century. 99.9% of species that have existed on Earth are now extinct. Since life began on Earth, five major mass extinctions have led to large and sudden drops in Earthly biodiversity. The Cretaceous Tertiary extinction event that occurred 65 million years ago is the most popular event of mass extinction and has attracted more attention than all others because it brought an end to the dinosaurs. The period since the emergence of humans has displayed an ongoing reduction in biodiversity. Human activities have caused the destruction of plant and animal habitat. In addition, human practices have caused a loss of genetic diversity. The impact of human action on Biodiversity is a major issue which must be dealt with seriousness. Biodiversity is described in various forms and one such form is genetic diversity. Genetic diversity has helped science extensively in the past century. We must understand that genetic diversity is different from biodiversity and also that both cant exist if one perishes. Diversity within species is necessary to maintain diversity among species and vice versa. Genetic diversity is important in concern with evolution as any change that

befalls an ecosystem forces the organisms to adapt with the changes and hence slight gene variations are necessary in order to produce significant changes in the organisms anatomy and this whole process is termed as evolution. Evolution is important for sustenance of life because Nothing is constant except change. And for a specie to evolve genetic diversity is very important as it is the building block of evolution. Genetic diversity has benefitted mankind significantly; it has helped us survive prospective famines which would have befallen upon our race if not for the Green revolution. But the Green revolution would have never happen if not for the presence of the genetic diversity within the wild variants of the crops. This agricultural diversity helped scientist in developing varieties which produced a high yield. Sustenance is important if we wish to conserve our environment. We must remember nature can full fill all our needs but not our greed. And hence we must seek out methods that shall not hamper our lifestyle but will also prevent our environment. Such a development is called sustainable development and this concept is being used in various human activities like agriculture, industries, fuel consumption etc. Biodiversity supports human existence in many ways and hence is important for our existence and thus must be conserved. Biodiversity supports various ecosystem processes which help in sustaining life on earth like controlling air quality, climatic changes, water purification, and pollination; preventing soil erosion, control global temperature etc. Various species have perished because of human ignorance and more are destined to be lost if not conserved. Land is being transformed from wilderness into agricultural, mining, lumbering and urban areas for humans. Biodiversity must be conserved because as Charles Darwin said, In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed. and to prevail we need to evolve and evolution is a process of Natural Selection and hence nature must be presented with options to select if so not happens then all shall die with no one to prevail. We must understand that our race is the most intelligent specie to reside on Earth and hence we are responsible for the protection or destruction of our planet. Conservation is the only solution if we wish to protect our human race and our earth from destruction. We must understand that Biodiversity is very important and it must be conserved. Our environment has been degraded in various ways prominent in them are deforestation, over hunting, illegal trafficking of endangered species, habitat destruction etc. Green revolution

may have been beneficial for agriculture but it has endangered many other species. Introduction of High Yielding Species has endangered many traditional crops. Development and urbanization are major causes of habitat destruction. Deforestation has led to widespread disturbance to the nature examples of which include global warming, climatic imbalance etc. One must understand that every aspect of nature is intertwined, if anyone is disturbed the whole system malfunctions. And biodiversity is one such part of this mechanism called nature. Biodiversity is so significant that it is difficult to describe it in words. It is important far more than words can explain. According to Wikipedia Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. But what does this mean frankly speaking I do not know all I know is that our earth is dying because of the mistakes that our race has made in the past and all I know is that only we can save our planet and we have only one chance and the only solution that prevails in front of me is conservation of what little is left and boycott of that which hampers our existence. Our environment is dying and the nature is falling apart but the elixir to our dying planet is with us in form of the diversity of species present on our Earth and from them we should seek help. Written by Kadambari Kardam XIIth Sci. Sec. - A Scholars Home.