Question

Discuss some of the threats to the loss of biodiversity; explain why this is a serious environmental concern and discuss efforts that are being made to preserve biodiversity.

Thank you (:

Answer 1

Some threats to biodiversity include-

>Climate change - climate change is one of the main reasons for biodiversity loss. Many of the species could not cope up with increasing temperature and other effects of change in climate which resulted in their extinction. Climate change has triggered environmental extremes like prolonged drought, forest fire, flood, etc. In recent times the devastating effect of forest fire on the ecosystem and environment has been observed in the Amazon and the Australian forest fire.

> Loss of habitat- Climate change and economic development have resulted in the loss of habitat. A large number of forest cover has been turned into a cemented land causing a lot of species to lose their natural habitat. As a result of global warming, many arctic species like Polar bears, Arctic foxes, etc are losing their habitat because of the melting of the large ice sheets of the poles. According to the IUCN, the polar species are on the verge of extinction.

> Pollution- Pollution is one of the reasons for biodiversity loss. Pollution can change the physical and chemical characteristics of the environment which can be deadly for the living species. Each year millions of oceanic organisms lose their life due to the oil spills.

> Poaching- Poaching is one of the threats for wild animals. Many species like the One-horned rhinos are on the verge of extinction due to the poaching.

The loss of biodiversity can change the whole ecosystem and food chain. Every species in the food chain play a very important role in keeping the food chain functional, So if there is a loss of biodiversity then the food chain will be disturbed and which can destroy the whole ecosystem.

Many preventive measures have been taken to reduce biodiversity loss,

> Awareness- The government and NGOs have taken initiatives to make people aware of the effects of biodiversity loss. It is the most important measure to preserve biodiversity because if there is no mass participation no one can curb the loss of biodiversity.

> Strict laws- Strict laws have been implemented to save biodiversity. Poaching has been banned. National parks and protected areas have been regulated under strict loss to preserve diversity.

>Social forestry- Social forestry has emerged as one of the best measures to restore biodiversity. In the barren lands or in the areas where the forest has been destroyed many government and non-government organizations for many individual people have planted trees again restoring the forest cover which restored the lost biodiversity.

Other than the above-mentioned points international cooperation, in situ conservation, ex-situ conservation, seed bank and roles of big institutes like IUCN, the UN is playing a major role to save biodiversity.