Convention on Biological Diversity

Biological diversity refers to the diversity of life on earth. India is one of the world’s 12 most varied nations. India, with just 2.5 % of the world’s geographical area, currently accounts for 7.8 % of all species documented. India is also endowed with a wealth of traditional and indigenous knowledge, both codified and uncodified.

Biological diversity meaning

Before one can define biological diversity, it is first important to note the establishment of the name. Biological diversity comes from two words, biological and diversity. Therefore, when one connects both of them, it can be concluded that biological diversity refers to the various life forms that can be found on earth. These life forms include animals, fungi, plants, etc. So yes, the encompassing name or term for these life forms is biological diversity. 

Indeed, everyone will agree that different species have different behavioural patterns. For example, some animal species are herbivores like goats, while others are carnivores like lions and hyenas. To further understand the concept of biological diversity, let us look at its different levels below.

Patterns of biological diversity

1. Species vary globally: One of the patterns of biological diversity is that organisms from various places on the planet might be distantly related since they share many characteristics. Emus, Rheas, and Ostriches are all similar in appearance and behaviour. All of them are unable to fly.
2. Species vary locally: This pattern of biological diversity is characterised by a variety of habitats for various species within a limited region. Despite their near proximity, the Galapagos Islands have vastly varied climates. The tortoise shells on the various islands varied, as did the biological circumstances. Isabela Island’s high peaks get more rainfall than the rest of the island and are covered with lush flora. Short neck and canopy shell characterise the tortoise on this island. There are fewer trees and shrubs on Hood Island, which has a drier environment and lower heights. This tortoise has a thick neck and a saddle-backed shell, which distinguishes it from other species. Researchers also observed that the mockingbirds found on different islands are all different species of the mockingbird.
3. Species vary over time: Scientists have learned that some prehistoric animals were massive replicas of their younger counterparts after researching their fossilised remains. Armadillos of the current day (50 cm long) and the prehistoric species glyptodont (3 m long) are strikingly similar in size and appearance.

Threats to biological diversity

Humans have come to dominate the earth over the last century, generating fast ecological change and enormous biological diversity loss all across the world. As a result, some individuals have coined the term “Anthropocene” to describe the current epoch. While changes and extinctions have always occurred on Earth, they are now occurring at an astonishing rate. Habitat loss and degradation, inefficient resource use, invasive plants, pollution, and global climate change are all major direct threats to biological diversity. The fundamental causes of biological diversity loss, such as population growth and overconsumption, are frequently complicated and include a number of interconnected processes.

Biological diversity Conservation

Conservation refers to the correct management of natural resources to preserve ecological balance and variety. It also includes making prudent use of natural resources to meet the current generation’s demands while simultaneously leaving enough for future generations. 

biological diversity conservation is crucial for the following reasons:

• To prevent a species’ genetic diversity from vanishing
• To save a species from extinction 
• To protect ecosystems from harm and degradation.

The following two categories can be used to categorise conservation efforts:

• Plant and animal conservation in their natural or protected habitats is known as in-situ conservation. Protected areas are areas of land or water devoted to preserving and protecting different types of biological diversity.
• Ex-situ conservation refers to keeping plants and animals in environments similar to their natural habitats but outside their native. Botanical gardens, zoological parks, gene banks, seed banks, tissue culture and cryopreservation, are a few examples.

Biological Diversity Act 2002

• Biological diversity refers to the diversity of life on Earth. India is one of the world’s 12 most varied nations. India, with just 2.5 % of the world’s geographical area, currently accounts for 7.8 % of all species documented. India is also endowed with a wealth of traditional and indigenous knowledge, both codified and uncodified.
• India is a signatory to the convention on biological diversity 1992, which acknowledges nations’ national sovereignty to exploit their own biological diversity. To assist in achieving the CBD’s goals, India passed the Biological Diversity Act 2002, which aims to conserve marine biological diversity and related knowledge while also providing access to them in a healthy way.
• The legislation sets a framework for distributing advantages gained from the use of traditional biological resources and knowledge in an equitable manner.
• The Act primarily addresses: 
  • Development and sustainable use of natural resources in the nation are major concerns.
  • Accessibility to biological resources and associated information, as well as the equitable distribution of benefits derived from living resource utilisation to the nation and its people
• This legislation establishes the Environment Management Committee, the National biological diversity Authority (NBA), the National and State biological diversity Funds, the State Ecology Committees, and various other governmental entities.

Conclusion :

In this article, we studied different aspects of biological diversity, along with types, importance and threats to biological diversity. Forests and woods are decreasing, and with them, species that might become incredibly valuable resources in the future, not just for food but also for curing diseases and other purposes. Genes from many species might be important resources in the future for addressing human needs and managing environmental issues. Hence conservation of biological diversity is extremely important. Conservation of biological diversity refers to ways that one can uplift, maintain, and protect biological diversity.