Importance of Biodiversity
Biology: Cambridge International A Level, topic 18.3.1
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
- 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
- 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
- Protecting landscapes is important for human mental health.
- Interaction with nature helps to promote good mental health and relieve stress.
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
- 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
- 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 (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
- 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.
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.
Test yourself on Importance of Biodiversity
Why is continuous monoculture an economic problem?
Which of these statements about monoculture are true?
Which of these organisations provides grants for farmers and other land owners to make improvements to the environment in order to promote biodiversity?
What environmental improvements does the Countryside Stewardship Scheme encourage?