Introduction
There are numerous global problems that pose dangers to humanity and the Earth. Some people claim that it has always been like this, and the planet has been facing some threats to its environment throughout its existence. However, people still have the responsibility to do their utmost to preserve this home to millions of species, because it is human activity that causes the most harm to biodiversity.
Definition and importance of biodiversity
Definitions of biodiversity can differ insignificantly depending on the context. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as “biological diversity in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals” (“Definition of biodiversity,” n.d.). Biodiversity is crucial for the environment due to a number of reasons. Firstly, diverse wildlife is what supports healthy ecosystems of the planet. Every animal or plant species plays an important role, and because these roles are interconnected, every time a species is lost, it adds to the possibility of serious danger for an ecosystem. Secondly, biodiversity is extremely important for human health: for example, one of the main services that biodiversity provides people with are medicines, extracted from plants. There are more than 60000 plant species that are reported to have medical use (Soomro, 2020). Crop diversity is another element of biodiversity that is crucial for humans, because it allows farmers to develop better yielding varieties and improve quality characteristics of their crops (Crop Trust, 2014). Third, there are social and cultural elements of biodiversity: each loss irrevocably damages cultural landscapes of the planet.
Threats to biodiversity
The threats to biodiversity and the reasons that cause it can be divided into two groups: natural factors and factors connected to human interference. The main reasons why species can become endangered are loss of natural habitat and genetic variation. For example, dinosaurs became extinct because they lost their habitat due to the change in climate that happened naturally after an asteroid struck the Earth (National Geographic Society, 2019). Nevertheless, human activity is now the main reason why more and more animals lose their habitats. The development of industry and agriculture may help people improve some of their life conditions, but its outcomes, such as pollution or deforestation, threaten the habitats and lives of many species. Such human activities as hunting and fishing have also led to less genetic variation, causing animals to inbreed.
Ways to preserve biodiversity
Many scientists and concerned people understand the scale of the problem, and try to take action to improve the situation, as well as raise awareness about it. New technologies, such as biobanking and genomics, are introduced and developed to save endangered species (Funk, Forester, Converse, Darst, & Morey, 2018). Used as a backup resource, biobanks store samples that provide genetic information for scientists to work on preserving biodiversity, while genome sequencing allows them to monitor and manage endangered animals, birds and plants. Reproductive technologies, such as genome editing, are used to create new generations of endangered species as well (Funk et al., 2018). There are also numerous volunteering programs that aim at helping endangered species. People work at animal rescue centers, sanctuaries, and rehabilitation facilities for injured animals. Many volunteers also help by educating tourists and local residents on the importance of preserving wildlife.
Conclusion
To conclude, it has to be stated again that people are responsible for saving as many species as they can, since people are the ones who caused many of those species to go extinct. The problems that cause loss of natural habitat and genetic variation have to be tackled at their roots. Unfortunately, the list of endangered animals and plants is expected to increase, but extinction of those species is not inevitable, and awareness should be raised to involve more people to help preserve endangered wildlife.
References
Crop Trust. (2014). Crop diversity: Why it matters. Web.
Definition of biodiversity. (n.d.). In Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America’s most-trusted online dictionary. Web.
Funk, W. C., Forester, B. R., Converse, S. J., Darst, C., & Morey, S. (2018). Improving conservation policy with genomics: A guide to integrating adaptive potential into U.S. Endangered Species Act decisions for conservation practitioners and geneticists. Conservation Genetics, 20(1), 115-134.
National Geographic Society. (2019). Endangered species. Web.
Soomro, A. (2020). Why is biodiversity important to ecosystems? Web.