Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the sum of all the different species of animals, fungi, and microbial organisms living on Earth and the variety of habitats in which they live. It allowed ecosystems to function properly. It is essential to the well being of human and plant. However the biodiversity is in serious danger, it is shrinking at an alarming rate. It is estimated that the Earth is losing approximately 27,000 species per year. The cause of biodiversity loss is largely due to the explosion in human population.

The shrinking of the biodiversity would have a huge impact on lives of human. Biodiversity provides the necessity that makes life possible. It provides fresh water, clean air and nutrients. Without all of these things, it is impossible for human to survive,

The human destruction of the natural habitats, the raising temperature and introduced species has jeopardized our biodiversity.

The human destruction of natural habitats is one of the greateas threats to biodiversity. Human has physically transformed the earth's face. Human destroyed wetlands, forests and jungles and replaced it with railways and factories. This has caused large amounts of animals to lose their homes and become extinct.

The greenhouse effect has affected our biodiversity tremendously. The burning of fossil fuels produce large amounts of greenhouse gases which trap the heat in the air. The greenhouse effect has caused the temperature to rise unnaturally and dramatically. Scientists blame it for an increase in the Earth's surface temperature of about 0.6 Celsius degrees(about 1 Fahrenheit degree)over the last nearly 100 years. Without remedial measures, many scientists fear global temperature will rise 1.4 to 5.8 Celsius degrees (2.5 to 10.4 Fahrenheit degrees) by 2100. The warmer temperature could melt polar icecaps which would cause the sea level to rise and lands to sink. Lots of animal would be unable to survive in warmer temperature. Scientists have warned that extinction is to be expected if the temperature keeps rising in current rate.

The introduced species have damaging effect to biodiversity. It unbalances the environment. The introduced animals may prefer other wild animals to the pests they supposed to destroy.

We can protect biodiversity in the following methods: conservation and preservation. Conservation is to set resources aside from use. National park is one form of conservation. Preservation means to set resources aside so we can use later. Other strategies include reducing impact of feral animals and plants by controlling them; set species breeding program; introduce laws and rules to reduce pollution.