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Biodiversity may be defined as the variety and richness in which life presents on the earth. It refers to the diversity in all species such as plants, animals and microorganisms. Since all species in an ecosystem are interrelated and dependent on one another, biodiversity has enormous value in the lives of all organisms, particularly for human beings. It would be difficult for life to continue and sustain without biodiversity.
Biodiversity serves a dual purpose in providing ecological functions. Biodiversity helps living beings procure food, fuel, fibre and other extractable commodities. Biodiversity is vital for the ecosystem because it provides regulatory, cultural, and sustaining functions.
Vegetation cover, for example, protects the land against erosion by binding soil particles and decreasing the impacts of water runoff. Similarly, crop cultivation is strongly dependent on the presence of pollinating insects.
Fundamental Value to Humans
Humans place a high value on biodiversity because they rely on it for social, economic, and environmental wellbeing. Biodiversity also helps to shape our culture and identity. Different character traits are regularly integrated into cultural practices.
Other elements of human wellbeing, such as wellness and economic and political security, depend on biodiversity. Encompassing prospective sources of multiple foods, medications, and energy can help economic activity and make the population healthier. When adjusted for use in wellbeing, agrarian, or industrial applications, biodiversity has proven to be extremely valuable.
Explain the Values of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is commonly defined in terms of species or groups of independent living organisms that can produce offspring. Marine mammals, fair-skinned deer, pine forests, fresh flowers, and micron-sized bacteria that cannot be seen with the naked eye are some of the examples of species that inhabit the earth.
Biodiversity has fundamental values, which can be categorised into:
- Environmental values
- Social values
- Ecosystem services
- Economic values
- Value of consumptive use
- Value of productive use
- Moral and ethical values
- Aesthetic values
1. Ecosystem values: The environmental values of biodiversity can be evaluated by analyzing the functions of the ecosystem. Ecosystem services, such as intensive agricultural production ecosystems, help in maintaining human needs and activities. These include the establishment and maintenance of fertile soil, retention of fresh groundwater resources through vegetation and the output of oxygen by ground plants and microalgae.
2. Economic Value: Biodiversity has a tremendous economic perspective on food, livestock feed, medicative, ethical, and social ideals. Biodiversity is an important resource for many industry sectors that regulate the world economy.
3. Consumptive use value: This refers to natural products that are used for food, such as livestock feed, wood products, fuelwood, and other purposes. Humans consume 40,000 flora and fauna species daily. Many people remain dependent on wildlife for the majority of their necessities, such as nutrition, temporary housing, and clothing.
4. Productive Use Value: This implies products that are sourced and commercially marketed. Almost all of the crops grown today have evolved from wild varieties. Biotechnologists are continuously experimenting with wild plant species to create new, more productive disease-resistant variants.
5.Ethical and Moral Value: Biodiversity has enormous economic potential in terms of food, livestock feed, medications, etc. Biodiversity is vital for many areas of the economy.
6.Aesthetic Value: The beauty of our planet is due to biodiversity. Otherwise, it would have looked like any other deserted planet, which is scattered throughout the universe. Biological diversity enhances the quality of life and contributes significantly to some of nature’s most beautiful aspects. Biodiversity makes a significant contribution to the gorgeousness of the landscape.
Conclusion
Biodiversity may be defined as the variability with which life presents on the earth. It is difficult for life to sustain on this earth without biodiversity. The variety of organisms that exist on the earth is referred to as biological diversity. They are interconnected, as well as create an impact on each other. Biodiversity includes a wide range of plants, animals, and microorganisms. In layman’s terms, biodiversity corresponds to the quantity and wide range of lifeforms found in a given geographic area. It refers to the various plant, animal, and microorganism species, as well as the genetic mutations they encompass and the ecosystems they form. Biodiversity helps to create and preserve cultural, and religious values.
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