Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #77
Explain in detail the term biodiversity conservation
Biodiversity conservation is defined as the preservation, management and restoration of the Earth's biological variety and the species that live within it. In broad terms, biodiversity is defined as the variety of life on Earth at all levels of biological organizations. These levels include genetic, species and ecosystem biodiversity, which respectively stand for variation within species, diversity in the number of species and their abundance, and the diversity of different habitats, species and their ecological processes.
The goal of conservation is to reduce biodiversity loss that is caused by human activity and to maintain a fully functioning system for existing and future human population, the activities and actions involved in its conservation are described as "biodiversity conservation practices". It may refer to two different methods;in-situ conservation involves conserving species within their natural habitat, these protected areas often called National Parks,Wildlife Reserves,Biosphere Reserves and community managed forests.
And ex-situ conservation involves conserving species outside their natural habitat, these usually seed banks, botanical gardens, zoos and captive-breeding programs. Modern biodiversity conservation may include implementing regulations (Convention on Biological Diversity - CBD), promoting sustainable use of resources and practices (sustainable agriculture and forest management), rehabilitation of habitats, control of invasive species and involvement of communities through the implementation of integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs).
What is the importance of biodiversity conservation?
The importance of biodiversity conservation is substantial and multi-facet. Ecologically,biodiversity supports the vital functions of our planet such as pollination of most crops by pollinating organisms (including animals like insects and birds) which provides a service estimated at billions of dollars annually that ensures more than 75% of world crops are pollinated; purified of water, soils formation and nutrient cycling and regulation of the climate.
Economically, it contributes to industries valued in the trillions of dollars per year, from fishing and agriculture to the supply of raw materials to the pharmaceuticals industry from wild species. More than half of all of today's medicines are derived from wild organisms; cultuturally and aesthetically, variety of habitats contributes to recreation, tourism, income and spiritual significance for indigenous people, and ethically it concerns the species survival, its right to existence and our duty to protect the integrity of evolution. Loss of biological diversity can lead to more widespread poverty, food shortages and health crises; in this sense this conservation is essential for humanity's future, especially for the developing countries.
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