Biodiversity,Importance of Biodiversity,Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions,

Biodiversity :is the variety of different types of life found on earth. It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems. This can refer to genetic variation, ecosystem variation, or species variation (number of species) within an area, biome, or planet.

Importance of Biodiversity:

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters. And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife.

Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions

It has long been feared that human activity is causing massive extinctions. Despite increased efforts at conservation, it has not been enough and biodiversity losses continue. The costs associated with deteriorating or vanishing ecosystems will be high. However, sustainable development and consumption would help avert ecological problems.

Nature and Animal Conservation

Preserving species and their habitats is important for ecosystems to self-sustain themselves.Yet, the pressures to destroy habitat for logging, illegal hunting, and other challenges are making conservation a struggle.

Climate Change Affects Biodiversity

As climate change alters temperature and weather patterns, it will also have an impact on plant and animal life. Both the number and range of species, which define biodiversity, are expected to decline greatly as temperatures continue to rise. The loss of biodiversity could have many negative impacts on the future of ecosystems and humanity worldwide.

Vulnerability of biodiversity to the impacts of climate change:

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, absorb heat from sunlight, preventing it from escaping back into space. As the level of greenhouse gases rises, so will temperatures. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that by 2100, temperatures may rise as much as 6 degrees Celsius (11 degrees Fahrenheit). Though changes in climate have happened in the past, the rapid severity of this change will directly affect ecosystems and biodiversity.

Effects on Land Biodiversity

The Polar Regions are already affected by rising temperatures. Diminishing ice packs have reduced the habitats of polar bears, penguins, puffins and other Arctic creatures. As the ice melts, it will cause a rise in sea level, which will affect and perhaps destroy ecosystems on coast lines. Changes in temperatures will also cause shifts in mating cycles, especially for migratory animals that rely on changing seasons to indicate their migration and reproductive timing.

Effects on Ocean Biodiversity

Rising sea levels will also cause changes to sea temperature and perhaps even currents. Such changes would have a strong impact on zooplankton, an essential part of the food chain in the ocean. Shifts in where plankton is found and how big their populations are could upset the biodiversity in the ocean. Whales especially could be affected as many species require mass amounts of plankton to survive. In addition, increased carbon dioxide causes acidification of the ocean, affecting creatures and plants that are sensitive to pH imbalances.

Lack of Biodiversity

As biodiversity decreases, there will be far-reaching effects. Disruptions in the food chain may greatly affect not only ecosystems but also humanity's ability to feed an ever-growing population. For example, losing diverse insect species will decrease plant pollination. There is also a risk of decreased ability to produce medicine as key plants are lost to extinction. Biodiversity also protects against natural disasters, such as grasses that have evolved specifically to resist the spread of wildfires.

Ecosystem-based Adaptation

Ecosystem-based adaptation, which integrates the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services into an overall adaptation strategy, can be cost-effective and generate social, economic and cultural co-benefits and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.

Conservation and management strategies that maintain and restore biodiversity can be expected to reduce some of the negative impacts from climate change; however, there are rates and magnitude of climate change for which natural adaptation will become increasingly difficult. Options to increase the adaptive capacity of species and ecosystems in the face of accelerating climate change include:

Reducing non-climatic stresses, such as pollution, over-exploitation, habitat loss and fragmentation and invasive alien species.

Wider adoption of conservation and sustainable use practices including through the strengthening of protected area networks.

Facilitating adaptive management through strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems.

photo taken By Sir Shahid Awan

Ecosystem-based adaptation uses biodiversity and ecosystem services in an overall adaptation strategy. It includes the sustainable management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems to provide services that help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. Examples of ecosystem-based adaptation activities include:

1.      Coastal defence through the maintenance and/or restoration of mangroves and other coastal wetlands to reduce coastal flooding and coastal erosion.

2.      Sustainable management of upland wetlands and floodplains for maintenance of water flow and quality.

3.      Conservation and restoration of forests to stabilize land slopes and regulate water flows.

4.      Establishment of diverse agro-forestry systems to cope with increased risk from changed climatic conditions.

5.      Conservation of agro-biodiversity to provide specific gene pools for crop and livestock adaptation to climate change.