18.3.1
Importance of Biodiversity
Advantages of Maintaining Biodiversity
Advantages of Maintaining Biodiversity
There are ecological, economic and aesthetic reasons why maintaining biodiversity is advantageous to both humans and other organisms within the ecosystem.


Ecological reasons
Ecological reasons
- Ecosystems are a complicated web of interdependence.
- Protecting key species whose extinction would greatly affect the existence of other species in the ecosystem is essential to prevent its collapse.
- Humans need to maintain ecosystems to sustainably obtain the resources we need, such as food, water and air.
- Conservation of species is also important for maintaining genetic resources to call on in the development of new medicines.


Economic reasons
Economic reasons
- Continuous monoculture can leach nutrients from the soil and cause future crops to become poorer in yield.
- Crop rotation can help avoid this and improve the structure of the soil for more productive yields.
- Cutting down trees results in the loss of topsoil from bedrock, causing instability on sloping ground and increased risk of landslides.


Aesthetic reasons
Aesthetic reasons
- Protecting landscapes is important for human mental health.
- Interaction with nature helps to promote good mental health and relieve stress.
Methods of Maintaining Biodiversity
Methods of Maintaining Biodiversity
There are a number of different initiatives and organisations, both national and international, set up with the aim of conserving species and maintaining natural biodiversity.


Conservation in situ
Conservation in situ
- In situ conservation involves designating an area specifically for protecting the species within it by monitoring and maintaining the habitats to promote biodiversity.
- Marine conservation and wildlife reserves are examples of in situ conservation.


Conservation ex situ
Conservation ex situ
- Ex situ conservation, in contrast, involves artificially collating collections of species with the aim of increasing their numbers to avoid extinction.
- Examples of ex situ conservation include seed banks, botanic gardens and zoos.


CITES
CITES
- CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) is an international agreement between over 180 governments.
- The agreement ensures that licenses are required to import or export specific animals or specimens who are at risk of extinction, in order to protect these species.


CBD
CBD
- The CBD (Rio Convention on Biological Diversity) is an international agreement between 150 governments, involving:
- Development of national biodiversity strategies and action plans to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable use of natural resources.
- Land development now requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to inform how it would affect biodiversity and measures to reduce the impact.
- International cooperation and sharing of technologies and research.
- Development of national biodiversity strategies and action plans to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable use of natural resources.


Countryside Stewardship Scheme
Countryside Stewardship Scheme
- The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is a UK scheme that provides grants for farmers, foresters, woodland owners and land managers to make improvements to the environment, including:
- Flood risk management.
- Conservation and restoration of wildlife habitats.
- Reduction of water pollution.
1Cell Structure
1.1Cell Structure
1.1.1Studying Cells - Microscopes
1.1.2Introduction to Eukaryotic & Prokaryotic Cells
1.1.3Ultrastructure of Eukaryotic Cells
1.1.4Ultrastructure of Eukaryotic Cells 2
1.1.5Ultrastructure of Eukaryotic Cells 3
1.1.6Prokaryotic Cells
1.1.7Viruses
1.1.8End of Topic Test - Cell Structure
1.1.9Exam-Style Question - Microscopes
1.1.10A-A* (AO2/3) - Cell Structure
2Biological Molecules
2.1Testing for Biological Modules
2.2Carbohydrates & Lipids
2.3Proteins
3Enzymes
4Cell Membranes & Transport
4.1Biological Membranes
5The Mitotic Cell Cycle
6Nucleic Acids & Protein Synthesis
6.1Nucleic Acids
7Transport in Plants
8Transport in Mammals
8.1Circulatory System
8.2Transport of Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide
9Gas Exchange
9.1Gas Exchange System
10Infectious Diseases
10.1Infectious Diseases
10.2Antibiotics
11Immunity
12Energy & Respiration (A2 Only)
13Photosynthesis (A2 Only)
14Homeostasis (A2 Only)
14.1Homeostasis
14.2The Kidney
14.3Cell Signalling
14.4Blood Glucose Concentration
14.5Homeostasis in Plants
15Control & Coordination (A2 Only)
15.1Control & Coordination in Mammals
15.1.1Neurones
15.1.2Receptors
15.1.3Taste
15.1.4Reflexes
15.1.5Action Potentials
15.1.6Saltatory Conduction
15.1.7Synapses
15.1.8Cholinergic Synnapses
15.1.9Neuromuscular Junction
15.1.10Skeletal Muscle
15.1.11Sliding Filament Theory Contraction
15.1.12Sliding Filament Theory Contraction 2
15.1.13Menstruation
15.1.14Contraceptive Pill
15.2Control & Co-Ordination in Plants
16Inherited Change (A2 Only)
16.1Passage of Information to Offspring
16.2Genes & Phenotype
17Selection & Evolution (A2 Only)
17.2Natural & Artificial Selection
18Classification & Conservation (A2 Only)
18.1Biodiversity
18.2Classification
19Genetic Technology (A2 Only)
19.1Manipulating Genomes
19.2Genetic Technology Applied to Medicine
19.3Genetically Modified Organisms in Agriculture
Jump to other topics
1Cell Structure
1.1Cell Structure
1.1.1Studying Cells - Microscopes
1.1.2Introduction to Eukaryotic & Prokaryotic Cells
1.1.3Ultrastructure of Eukaryotic Cells
1.1.4Ultrastructure of Eukaryotic Cells 2
1.1.5Ultrastructure of Eukaryotic Cells 3
1.1.6Prokaryotic Cells
1.1.7Viruses
1.1.8End of Topic Test - Cell Structure
1.1.9Exam-Style Question - Microscopes
1.1.10A-A* (AO2/3) - Cell Structure
2Biological Molecules
2.1Testing for Biological Modules
2.2Carbohydrates & Lipids
2.3Proteins
3Enzymes
4Cell Membranes & Transport
4.1Biological Membranes
5The Mitotic Cell Cycle
6Nucleic Acids & Protein Synthesis
6.1Nucleic Acids
7Transport in Plants
8Transport in Mammals
8.1Circulatory System
8.2Transport of Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide
9Gas Exchange
9.1Gas Exchange System
10Infectious Diseases
10.1Infectious Diseases
10.2Antibiotics
11Immunity
12Energy & Respiration (A2 Only)
13Photosynthesis (A2 Only)
14Homeostasis (A2 Only)
14.1Homeostasis
14.2The Kidney
14.3Cell Signalling
14.4Blood Glucose Concentration
14.5Homeostasis in Plants
15Control & Coordination (A2 Only)
15.1Control & Coordination in Mammals
15.1.1Neurones
15.1.2Receptors
15.1.3Taste
15.1.4Reflexes
15.1.5Action Potentials
15.1.6Saltatory Conduction
15.1.7Synapses
15.1.8Cholinergic Synnapses
15.1.9Neuromuscular Junction
15.1.10Skeletal Muscle
15.1.11Sliding Filament Theory Contraction
15.1.12Sliding Filament Theory Contraction 2
15.1.13Menstruation
15.1.14Contraceptive Pill
15.2Control & Co-Ordination in Plants
16Inherited Change (A2 Only)
16.1Passage of Information to Offspring
16.2Genes & Phenotype
17Selection & Evolution (A2 Only)
17.2Natural & Artificial Selection
18Classification & Conservation (A2 Only)
18.1Biodiversity
18.2Classification
19Genetic Technology (A2 Only)
19.1Manipulating Genomes
19.2Genetic Technology Applied to Medicine
19.3Genetically Modified Organisms in Agriculture
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