The importance of agricultural biodiversity encompasses sociocultural, economic and environmental elements. Importance of biodiversity for human life if you think that only environmental values are being preserved by biodiversity then you are wrong as human values are also highly protected by the same. The term biodiversity is also referred to as the biological diversity which mainly denotes to the total number of different living. If an ecosystem has poor species diversity, it may not function properly or efficiently.
While scientists are striving to describe and measure the full variety of life on earth an estimated nine million species biodiversity is at risk due to the pressures of human. When a species exhibits great genetic diversity, it has a larger pool of genes available to it. Ecological and economical importance of biodiversity biodiversity is considered a cornerstone to the health of the environment. Implications for biodiversity management and conservation. Biodiversity forms the web of life something we are all involved in. Biodiversity is important, more than just the i want my children to enjoy it reason. Our biodiversity is very important to the wellbeing of our planet. Haldane apocryphally quipped when asked his opinion of god. As a way of illustrating this point, the role of biodiversity predators, parasitoids, antagonists and soil micro. If we needed to sum up the interests of this journal and its readership in a single word, it would be biodiversity. These plants include bushes, grasses, herbs, shrubs, trees, vines, ferns, and.
The importance of species diversity to the ecosystem. Ecological and economical importance of biodiversity 1. Thus biodiversity is the total variety of life on our planet, the total number of races, varieties and species. Policy considerations a key lesson from the failure of the 2010 biodiversity target is the importance of tackling the multiple drivers of biodiversity loss. The natural disaster prevention mechanisms in most ecosystems and other free services we all get from the surrounding environment are not easily replaceable or replicable, so maintaining biodiversity is important.
The first approach risks losing many species of plants andanimals to exploitation or development, whereas the secondleads people to question the impartiality of scientificconclusions. Although it has been shown that the significant global biodiversity loss that has occurred over the timeframe of. Resistance to disease is a chief benefit to maintaining crop biodiversity. The importance of biological interactions in the study of. A framework for corporate action on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The diversity of plants on the planet earth is an important resource for food, shelter, and agriculture. In fact, the variety of living things found across the planet also known as species diversity or species richness is just one part of. The loss of biodiversity is dangerous and its consequences are immediate. Biodiversity or biological diversity is a term that describes the variety of living beings on earth. Most cultures, at least at some time, have recognized the importance of conserving natural resources. Biodiversity biodiversity is the abbreviated word for. At ifad, we know that poor rural people, including indigenous peoples, are not only dependent on biodiversity, but also they are important custodians of it. The sum of total of various types of microbes, plants and animals. Pdf the united nations general assembly has declared 2010 as the international year of biodiversity iyb 2010.
Biodiversity generally refers to a diversity or variability of living organisms present on this planet earth and other species which have driven to extinction million years ago. Apr 25, 2008 the importance of agricultural biodiversity encompasses sociocultural, economic and environmental elements. For example, the richness of diversity allows medicines and foods to be naturally available. Alho introduction t he term biodiversity, now enshrined in the literature, refers to the biological diversity to describe the variety of life forms at all levels, from microorganisms to wild flora and fauna, besides the human species. The diversity of societies, cultures and languages that has developed throughout human history is intimately related to biodiversity and its use. The question why is biodiversity important is undoubtedly one of the most intricate, but important questions to be asked as far as the existence of life on our planet is concerned. Low biodiversity the difference between high and low biodiversity biodiversity is the diversity, or variety, of plants and animals and other. Biodiversity is important in ecosystems because it prevents extinction of species, allows organisms to adapt to changes in the environment and provides a wide range of materials and foods for survival.
Biologists estimate that species extinctions are currently 500 times the normal, or background, rate seen previously in earths history. Importance of biodiversity there are numerous reasons deeming biodiversity significant. Biodiversity is categorized into species diversity, genetic diversity and ecosystem diversity. The importance of biodiversity manx wildlife trust. The ecological role of biodiversity in agroecosystems. We in turn depend on the environment for our own health and existence. The current high rates will cause a precipitous decline in the biodiversity of the planet in the next century or two. The range of variation found among microorganisms, plants, fungi, and animals. Nearly 45,000 species of plants and twice as many of animals have been recorded from india. Being well, and having the capacity to look after our health and that of our family or community, depends. Our metaanalysis takes advantage of two complementary methods by which ecologists have quantified the importance of species and genotype. Maintaining biodiversity comes with a few practical benefits. The importance of biodiversity reflects the many different values that we bestow up it, including economic, ecological, cultural, scientific and recreational. Until the emergence of humans, the earth supported more biodiversity than any other period in geological history.
Gillian day, karen lloyd, caroline perry and phil roriston, malcolm storey, gillian day. Buddhism, hinduism and many other religions also give specific, divine instruction on the importance of preserving diverse species. About thousands of plant crop species have been identified, developed, used and relied on for the purpose of food and agricultural production in human history. That is why the significance and value of biodi versity have been recognised by meanwhile over 180 signatory countries to the convention on biological. Biodiversity, divided into genetic biodiversity and ecological biodiversity, fully encompasses the diversity of the habitats and ecosystems that people the world over call home. Biodiversity is the most precious gift of nature mankind is blessed with. The cost of inaction makes biodiversity loss an issue of importance to all. That is what makes our country one of the 12 mega diversity countries of the world. The immense variety of life on earth, commonly referred to as biodiversity, forms the backbone of societies all over the globe. These are the stumps of pine trees found deep within peat and would once have lived on the. Biodiversity within agricultural plants is important for pest management in agroecosystems and sustainable agriculture.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of biodiversity isnt what compounds an individual species carries in its cells, but how that species fits together and interacts with other species in its ecosystem and how that ecosystem works with others across the world take pollination as an example. A diverse species assemblage also contributes to ecosystem diversity. Some of the major values of biodiversity are as follows. Unlike nonscientists, biologists dont think of biodiversity strictly in terms of the number of species found on earth. Making biodiversity matter convention biological diversity. Policies that break the link between direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss, such as mitigating population pressures by providing needed health. Realizing the vital importance of biological resources to economic and social devel. It explicitly recognizes that every biota can be characterized by its taxonomic, ecological, and genetic diversity and that the way these dimensions of diversity vary over space and time is a key feature of biodiversity. That matters for more reasons than many people realize. Jun 02, 20 the immense variety of life on earth, commonly referred to as biodiversity, forms the backbone of societies all over the globe. Taking this into consideration, we have compiled some of the most important questions about the importance of biodiversity. Isbn 9789533077512, pdf isbn 9789535144298, published 20110922.
The importance of biological interactions in the study of biodiversity. It represents the wealth of biological resources availabl. May 06, 2019 5 reasons why biodiversity is a big deal earths species are now vanishing at rates unprecedented in human history. Biodiversity is also important for enhancing the resilience of poor farmers and indigenous peoples to.
Biodiversity is also considered by many to have intrinsic valuethat is, each species has a value and a right to exist, whether or not it is known to have value to humans. Biodiversity is important to humans for many reasons. The ability to create new crop varieties relies on the diversity of varieties available and the accessibility of wild forms related to the crop plant that can. An inordinate fondness for beetles is what the celebrated biologist j.
The importance of biodiversity to human life boundless biology. One can only hope that after going through all the genuine reasons to preserve biodiversity, people will understand the seriousness of this environmental issue. Jul 09, 2010 that answered all the questions about importance of biodiversity, including the most important question why is biodiversity important to people. From its origins in deep time, through its development, patterns and maintenance. Biodiversity and conservation although india h as only 2. The importance of this definition is that it draws attention to the many dimensions of biodiversity. The importance of biodiversity rainforest partnership. This pictorial representation begins on the left with the evolutionary processes giving rise to the genetic diversity of living organisms, showing the organisation of the species carrying genetic diversity into food chains of producers driven by energy from the sun. Associate professor, kamala nehru college, university of delhi. Others believethat scientists should comment on the moral, philosophical andpolitical aspects of biodiversity. A complete global balance is being maintained by biodiversity.
Enhancing functional biodiversity in agroecosystems is a key ecological strategy to bring sustainability to production. For most people, it does not just mean freedom from illness, but a state of overall social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural welfare. Importance the increasing use of the term biodiversity is being driven by the fact that, in an ecological context, global biodiversity itself is being lost at an alarming rate. Ecological and economical importance of biodiversity. All domesticated crops and animals result from human management of biodiversity, which is constantly responding to new challenges to maintain and increase productivity under constantly varying conditions. According to the encyclopedia of earth, species diversity is a measurement of an ecosystems species richness and species evenness. As we look at the key goals of sustainability, one that stands out is the protection of biodiversity, a vital element to the wellbeing of our planet and to the quality of human life. One overriding importance is that biodiversity is responsible for the continuity of the planet because it supports majority of the vital environmental life cycles such as the oxygen cycle, the water cycle, and the nitrogen cycle just to mention a few. Biodiversity also refers to number of different species living in a particular region. Having more genes makes the species better equipped to respond to changing conditions.
Plants rely on pollinators birds, mammals and insects to help transfer pollen and, ultimately, to. Productive and sustainable agricultural systems need clean water, healthy soil, and a variety of genetic resources and ecological processes. Jun 26, 2015 ecological and economical importance of biodiversity 1. The methods on offer range from the familiar, such as the calculation of various diversity indices and the fitting of common distributions, to more recentlydeveloped techniques such as total species complement estimators. Our actions will shape biodiversity just as much as it moulds our lives. Biodiversity is the part of nature which includes the difference in genes among the individuals of a species, the variety and richness of all the plant and animal species at different scales in space, locally in a region, in the country and the world and various types of ecosystems, both terrestrial and aquatic within a defined area. The importance of being biodiverse science in the news. The biodiversity advantage international fund for agricultural.
Walkers, climbers and the locals all get huge pleasure from the area but without measures to help halt the decline of biodiversity, beauty spots like this one are in grave danger. The county clare landscape is home to buckets of biodiversity and is one of the largest karst landscapes in europe. The importance of species diversity to the ecosystem sciencing. Species diversity and richness 4 is designed for professional ecologists and their students. Volume26number22009 31 whyisbiodiversityconservationimportant inprotectedlandscapes. Biodiversity is considered a cornerstone to the health of the environment. As all the organisms in an ecosystem are interlinked and interdependent, the value of. Environmentalists might define biodiversity as the total of all plant and animal life of the planet, and the planet itself the air, water and land that supports animal and plant life. Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity revised2. Pdf the ecological importance of diversity within species. To understand why biodiversity is important, we have to think like biologists. From the hot arid deserts of the sahara, through the lush green rainforests of the amazon, to the ocean depths and bright corals, our natural world is a marvel of different landscapes, materials, colours and textures. The biodiversity found on earth today is the result of approximately 3. The current high rates will cause a precipitous decline in the biodiversity of the planet in.
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