\*This post is for those who have a very little or no knowledge on the subject. Experts may read it but I am sorry if they find it to be boring. There are no technical details. I have tried to keep it as simple as I can.*\
The United Nations has declared today as the International Day for biodiversity. I copy the following directly from this website.
Introduction
As the name suggests biodiversity means the diversity in life forms(Bio-). It relates to having a variety of species of flora and fauna to maintain the balance of nature.
Before learning about the need of biodiversity it is required to know some of the basic terminology and getting used to them. I would start explaining with what a food chain is and then proceed.
The sun is the ultimate source of energy in this planet. The plants use the energy of the sun to make food by the process of photosynthesis. These plants are eaten up by herbivorous or grass-eating animals. These animals are in turn eaten up by the carnivorous or meat-eating animals. After the death of these animals their bodies are decomposed into organic substances by the microbes. These organic substances mix with the soil and are taken up by the plants. This chain continues with a loss of energy at each stage. As for example, the plants are able to use only 1% of the entire solar energy available to them. This chain is known as the food chain and each level where the energy of the sun passes is known as a tropic level. For example, grass is eaten up by a grasshopper, the grasshopper by a sparrow, the sparrow by a snake, the snake by an eagle and the eagle by a lion. The organisms are the tropic levels in this food chain. The highest tropic level is that of the lion and the lowest is that of grass.
An ecosystem is a community of organisms interacting with each other and with their environment such that energy is exchanged and system-level processes, such as the cycling of elements, emerge. The study of ecosystems is known as ecology. An ecosystem may range in size from a drop of water to maybe an ocean. Each ecosystem constitutes of biotic and abiotic components. Biotic components include all the living organisms including plants, animals and other life forms. The abiotic components include all the non-living part of the ecosystem such as water, sunlight, wind, minerals, etc.
Why is biodiversity important ?
Biodiversity might seem to be quite silly to some but infact its importance has a great impact on the survival of man. Each creature is important. God has sent everyone with a purpose on Earth. When we see a tiger killing a deer we feel pity for the deer. For a moment it might strike our minds that it would good if all the tigers existing on this planet should die. But if tigers die, then who would be left to control the increasing population of deers. Initially the number of deers would be continuously increasing and they will keep eating the grass. This would lead to overgrazing thus causing soil erosion and the land would become barren like a desert. This would make the deers starve to death. Hence in any food chain the organisms at the uppermost tropic level are compared to be like the foundation of a building where any damage made to the building adversely affects the entire food chain.
It is obvious that the death (extinction) of the organisms at the lower tropic levels will adversely affect the higher tropic levels.
Biodiversity is important at the national level as a country gains a lot from it and this makes tourism possible. Also a country's international status depends on its biodiversity also.
The ecosystems provide us with a huge amount of wealth which boosts up the economy. Each and every industry are dependent on some or the other ecosystem. Hence any damage to the later will effect the former.
Most of us don't like snakes but we don't know their importance. They check the number of rats thus keeping these nuisance creating creatures aside. Also rats do not have so much of an ecological importance.
Present day situation
Many species which were present even a few decades ago have become extinct. Many are on the verge of extinction. Such species are known as endangered species. Also there are certain species which aren't yet vulnerable but if the same conditions prevail then they may become vulnerable. Such species are known as vulnerable species.
Species such as dodo, passenger pigeon are extinct whereas species such as blue whales are endangered. Remembering about blue whales I tell that if the rate of environmental destruction continues in this way then their number may become handful and finally they may become extinct. Same is the case with lions. Earlier India was known for its lions and we have heard great tales of these mighty kings. But now in entire Asia, their number is so poor that Asiatic lions are found only in the Gir National Park. Earlier in the end of the 19th century the number of passenger pigeons was so high that each huge tree had hundreds of nests. But now one can only see them in statues.
Threats
We think that being at home or in the home town we can't stop destruction to biodiversity. But if we want we can do a lot.
The United Nations has declared today as the International Day for biodiversity. I copy the following directly from this website.
This is the weblink for the event : http://www.cbd.int/idbInternational Day for Biodiversity: 22 May 2012
Date:Tue 22/05/12The United Nations proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity), was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was partly done because it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations for the date of 29 December, given the number of holidays that coincide around that time of year.
The theme for this year is Marine Biodiversity, providing Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and everyone interested in marine life, the opportunity to raise awareness of the number of known marine species and the need to protect them.
Introduction
As the name suggests biodiversity means the diversity in life forms(Bio-). It relates to having a variety of species of flora and fauna to maintain the balance of nature.
Before learning about the need of biodiversity it is required to know some of the basic terminology and getting used to them. I would start explaining with what a food chain is and then proceed.
The sun is the ultimate source of energy in this planet. The plants use the energy of the sun to make food by the process of photosynthesis. These plants are eaten up by herbivorous or grass-eating animals. These animals are in turn eaten up by the carnivorous or meat-eating animals. After the death of these animals their bodies are decomposed into organic substances by the microbes. These organic substances mix with the soil and are taken up by the plants. This chain continues with a loss of energy at each stage. As for example, the plants are able to use only 1% of the entire solar energy available to them. This chain is known as the food chain and each level where the energy of the sun passes is known as a tropic level. For example, grass is eaten up by a grasshopper, the grasshopper by a sparrow, the sparrow by a snake, the snake by an eagle and the eagle by a lion. The organisms are the tropic levels in this food chain. The highest tropic level is that of the lion and the lowest is that of grass.
An ecosystem is a community of organisms interacting with each other and with their environment such that energy is exchanged and system-level processes, such as the cycling of elements, emerge. The study of ecosystems is known as ecology. An ecosystem may range in size from a drop of water to maybe an ocean. Each ecosystem constitutes of biotic and abiotic components. Biotic components include all the living organisms including plants, animals and other life forms. The abiotic components include all the non-living part of the ecosystem such as water, sunlight, wind, minerals, etc.
Why is biodiversity important ?
Biodiversity might seem to be quite silly to some but infact its importance has a great impact on the survival of man. Each creature is important. God has sent everyone with a purpose on Earth. When we see a tiger killing a deer we feel pity for the deer. For a moment it might strike our minds that it would good if all the tigers existing on this planet should die. But if tigers die, then who would be left to control the increasing population of deers. Initially the number of deers would be continuously increasing and they will keep eating the grass. This would lead to overgrazing thus causing soil erosion and the land would become barren like a desert. This would make the deers starve to death. Hence in any food chain the organisms at the uppermost tropic level are compared to be like the foundation of a building where any damage made to the building adversely affects the entire food chain.
It is obvious that the death (extinction) of the organisms at the lower tropic levels will adversely affect the higher tropic levels.
Biodiversity is important at the national level as a country gains a lot from it and this makes tourism possible. Also a country's international status depends on its biodiversity also.
The ecosystems provide us with a huge amount of wealth which boosts up the economy. Each and every industry are dependent on some or the other ecosystem. Hence any damage to the later will effect the former.
Most of us don't like snakes but we don't know their importance. They check the number of rats thus keeping these nuisance creating creatures aside. Also rats do not have so much of an ecological importance.
Present day situation
Many species which were present even a few decades ago have become extinct. Many are on the verge of extinction. Such species are known as endangered species. Also there are certain species which aren't yet vulnerable but if the same conditions prevail then they may become vulnerable. Such species are known as vulnerable species.
Species such as dodo, passenger pigeon are extinct whereas species such as blue whales are endangered. Remembering about blue whales I tell that if the rate of environmental destruction continues in this way then their number may become handful and finally they may become extinct. Same is the case with lions. Earlier India was known for its lions and we have heard great tales of these mighty kings. But now in entire Asia, their number is so poor that Asiatic lions are found only in the Gir National Park. Earlier in the end of the 19th century the number of passenger pigeons was so high that each huge tree had hundreds of nests. But now one can only see them in statues.
Threats
- Animals have the greatest threats from poachers. The poachers not only kill their prey but also damage the forests and to get at their targets they also do damage to the other species
- Pollution
- Soil erosion
- Inefficient practices of agriculture such as 'slash and burn'.
- Forest fires
- Oil spills A bird soaked in an oil spill trying to get up
- Fishing
- Global Warming
- Population increase
We think that being at home or in the home town we can't stop destruction to biodiversity. But if we want we can do a lot.
- Stop buying products made of animal skin and hides.
- Decrease the use of poly bags
- Water the plants at the evening
- Try to participate at mass events such as Vana Mahotsava. At least plant a tree.
- Segregate the garbage before discarding
- Use the kitchen water to water the plants
- Use CFLs and tube lights instead of bulbs
- Do not waste energy and resources
- Try using the system of car pool
- Switch off the ignition in a motor vehicle when you have to wait for more than 15 seconds
- Try using other sources of non-exhaustible energy if available such as solar energy, hydel power, bio-gas,etc.
- And this is from me: try to have vegetarian food whenever you can.
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