Biodiversity Loss is a serious threat

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life, with a range of variations in genes, species, and traits in all forms of life. The ecosystem comprises of these varied life forms which control nutrient movement like carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, etc., recycling organic matter through decomposition and energy fluxes in nature.

Why is Biodiversity important?

Biodiversity is important in maintaining the nutrient cycle, food web and most importantly for providing ecosystem services which include renewable sources like food, wood, freshwater, clean air and regulating services which include climate regulation, pest/disease control, etc.

Over the years studies, experiments and models have shown that biodiversity loss has the same impact on the environment as climate change, pollution, and ocean acidification.

What is causing this threat to biodiversity?

Hunting different species for rare meat and regular meat, for recreation, for medicinal purposes, cutting down forests, pollution, climate change, and land degradation, all these

factors are responsible for biodiversity loss. Overpopulation amongst our species is a very big threat to biodiversity. We have been encroaching on precious forest lands of other species, polluting water bodies and even the air resulting in species becoming extinct.

You can check out the updated list of all animal and plant species being monitored, their status as extinct, critically endangered or endangered, in the IUCN Red List. IUCN makes tremendous efforts to monitor species periodically. As of 2020, there are close to 37,480 total species among animals, plants, fungi, and invertebrates that are in the threatened category. This means they are endangered or critically endangered and if no actions are taken, they will soon become extinct.

What happens if different species become extinct?

As we encroach onto the habitat of different wild animals, we expose ourselves to more microorganisms which will result in more frequent endemic and pandemics. As trees and plants get affected, this will result in increased floods, nutrient replenishment in the soil won’t happen and groundwater tables will be negatively affected resulting in reduced agricultural yields (vegetables, fruits, cattle food). We will lose carbon sinks that capture and store GHG from the atmosphere. But most important of all is to remember that all species equally deserve to live and thrive on earth, and it doesn’t just belong to human beings, and we have no right to take away their habitat or kill their species.

So, what can be done?

There are NGOs such as WWF, IUCN, and many more that are helping by doing research, keeping track of different species, raising awareness, and working with the government to give endangered species protected status. There are volunteer groups that monitor hunting activities and stop illegal poaching, fishing activities. The government also monitors and protects land and species. There are animal and plant conservatories, national parks where they take care of endangered species, help with breeding practices, and prepare them to go back to the wild once they are healthy or their numbers increase. Some organizations do the same by planting native plant species and support afforestation.

What can individuals do?

There are some things we call do to contribute to biodiversity conservation:

• First step is always awareness, in your free time learn more about the issue and spread the knowledge among family and friends

• Plant pollen and nectar plants like flowering garden plants to promote bee population

• Use products at home that are plant-based, conserve water, and reduce, reuse as much as you can to reduce your waste generation every day

• Walk wherever possible, rely on public transport or carpool to reduce air pollution

• Participate in your community, state or province or country’s discussions on climate change, policy decisions, supporting petitions to stop deforestation. And wherever possible join the planting trees initiative

• Ensure that in your community native plant and animal species and trees are left undisturbed

• Encourage your government to do more to protect wildlife

What can groups or businesses do?

• Consider organic farming practices which promotes the growth of multiple species that have a symbiotic relationship with crops while managing pests or weeds, therefore, avoiding the use of pesticides or herbicides

• Changing urban infrastructure to include vertical farms, gardens in-home and having decarbonized residential and business infrastructure. Wherever possible companies should adopt work from home to reduce the need for commercial spaces. As the population grows, we tend to cut down more forests for agriculture, housing, and commercial land, therefore wherever possible reduce the need for spaces

• Accountability for businesses that are responsible for resources depletion and ensuring more ethical and sustainable resource attainment

• Learning about nature-based solutions from Indigenous people and applying that to everyday practices

• Managing livestock grazing and adopting practices of rejuvenating the grazed land

These are just some of the measures that individuals and businesses can adopt to conserve biodiversity. Of course, with each location and different species, the measures can differ, but it is never too late to take the first step of making yourself aware and finding out what you can do, starting from some measures listed here!