Understanding Biodiversity: Importance, Threats, and Conservation
Understanding Biodiversity
Definition: Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity. Biodiversity is important because a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability.
The Importance of Biodiversity
A healthy biodiversity provides a number of natural services for everyone:
Ecosystem Services:
- Protection of water resources
- Soil formation and protection
- Nutrient storage and recycling
- Pollution breakdown and absorption
- Contribution to climate stability
- Maintenance of ecosystems
- Recovery from unpredictable events
Biological Resources:
- Food
- Medicinal resources and pharmaceutical drugs
- Wood products
- Ornamental plants
- Breeding stocks, population reservoirs
- Future resources
- Diversity in genes, species, and ecosystems
Social Benefits:
- Research, education, and monitoring
- Recreation and tourism
- Cultural values
Species Interdependence
Each species depends on the services provided by other species to ensure survival. It’s a cooperation based on mutual survival and is often what defines a “balanced ecosystem.”
The relationship between soil, plants, bacteria, and other life is also referred to as the nitrogen cycle.
Mass Extinction Due to Human Activity
Human activity has been causing massive extinction. The current extinction rate is now approaching 1000 times the background rate and may climb to 10000 times the rate during the next century, if present trends continue—a loss that would easily equal those of past extinctions.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature notes that many species are threatened with extinction. In addition:
- 75% of genetic diversity of agricultural crops has been lost
- 75% of the world’s fisheries are fully or over exploited
- Up to 70% of the world’s known species risk extinction if global temperatures rise by more than 3.5°C
- 1/3 of reef-building corals around the world are threatened with extinction
- Every second, a parcel of rainforest the size of a football field disappears
- Over 350 million people suffer from severe water scarcity
Mexican Biodiversity
Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Indonesia are at the very top of the list, taking up the first place in reptile diversity, second in mammals, fourth in amphibians and vascular plants, and ninth in birds.
The concept of protected areas in Mexico has been known since pre-Hispanic times. The Mayan cultures, for instance, protected zones. Netzahualcoyotl reforested large areas in the Valley de Mexico, and Moctezuma founded several zoological parks and botanical gardens.
The first protected area is Desierto de los Leones. Between 1976 and 1982, 17 protected zones were established, including Montes Azules in Chiapas and La Michilla and Mapimi in Durango.
The most important tool in nature and landscape protection in Mexico is LGEEPA (General Law of Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection – Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente) and SEMARNAT.
Biosphere Reserves
The category includes 26 reserves within Mexican territory and represents 71% of the total protected area. The objectives are to:
- Involve local institutions and communities in nature conservation
- Incorporate regional socio-economic issues in the activities of investigation and development of the reserve
- Provide the reserve with administrative independence
- Encourage the reserves to form a part of global conservation strategies