Biodiversity and Health

In ways that are not always readily evident or understood, people depend on the existence of biodiversity in their day-to-day lives. In the end, human health is dependent on the goods and services provided by ecosystems. These goods and services include the availability of freshwater, food, and fuel sources, all of which are essential for maintaining human health and sustaining productive lifestyles. Loss of biodiversity has the potential to have major direct effects on human health, particularly if the ecosystem services are no longer enough to meet the requirements of society. Changes in ecosystem services can have a knock-on effect on people’s ways of life, their incomes, 

the movement of local populations, and on occasion, they can even generate or worsen political conflict.In addition, the biological diversity of microbes, flora, and fauna offers significant benefits to the fields of biological science, health science, and pharmaceutical science. Discoveries of significant importance in the fields of medicine and pharmacology are made possible by a deeper comprehension of the biodiversity of the world. The decline in biodiversity may make it more difficult to find viable therapies for a wide variety of diseases and other health issues.Because of its impact on food production around the world, biodiversity plays an important part in human nutrition. This is because biodiversity ensures the continued productivity of soils and supplies the genetic resources for all crops, livestock, and marine species that are farmed for human consumption. A fundamental factor that determines one’s level of health is the availability of a sufficient amount and diversity of nutrient-dense foods.

Effect of biodiversity on human health

Many of the commodities and services that are necessary for life on earth are provided by biodiversity.It is possible for the management of a community’s natural resources to identify the community’s baseline health state. Environmental stewardship has the potential to both contribute to economically stable communities and increase their overall resilience. The depletion of these resources has the potential to bring about the conditions that are the root cause of sickness or mortality.Human and social needs, such as food and nutrition security, energy, the development of medicines and pharmaceuticals, and freshwater, all of which are essential to good health, are supported by biodiversity, which helps to ensure that these needs may be met.In addition to this, it helps to maintain the economic opportunities and recreational pursuits that contribute to overall well being.Changes in land use, pollution, poor water quality, chemical and waste contamination, climate change, and other causes of ecosystem degradation are all factors that contribute to the loss of biodiversity and can represent significant risks to human health.

The positive impact of biodiversity on health

The preservation of biodiversity is essential to the well-being of humans.It is possible that the protection of biodiversity and the responsible use of its products and services could result in considerable improvements to the state of our health. This would be accomplished by protecting the essential goods and services that biodiversity gives to us. In contrast, the ongoing loss of biodiversity on a worldwide scale poses a direct danger to our health and well-being. This problem may be traced back to human activity.There can be no human population on Earth if the environment on a global scale is not clean, stable, and able to accommodate a wide variety of living things.

Some of the most significant health benefits of biodiversity are as follows

Food safety, nutritional health, and the continuation of sustainable livelihoods are all supported by biodiversity.The study of medicine makes significant use of the resources provided by biodiversity.The conservation of biodiversity is critical to the development of both traditional and modern medical practises.The prevention and treatment of infectious diseases are both in some way influenced by biodiversity.The social, cultural, and spiritual significance of biodiversity cannot be overstated within communities.The protection of diverse ecosystems is absolutely necessary in order to adapt to climate change.Ecosystems that have not been damaged can lower the likelihood of natural disasters and help with relief and restoration efforts.

Health and  biodiversity

The isolation of populations from open spaces or the wider countryside that might arise from changes in ecosystems has detrimental effects on both the physical and mental well-being of individuals, in addition to a diminished “feeling of place.” This has been connected to an increasing prevalence of so-called “diseases of affluence” (such as diabetes, obesity, and cardio-pulmonary sickness) as well as psychiatric disorders in a number of areas. On the other hand, access to “greenspace” (both natural and manufactured) is related with improved health outcomes, shorter hospital stays, and lower convalescence time for patients when compared to solely urban surroundings. There is a correlation between children and young adults having an awareness of environmental values and respect for other species, 

which leads to a reduced tendency for children and young adults to engage in anti-social behaviour. Significant natural buffers against the effects of natural disasters like floods, drought, and landslides can be provided by ecosystems that are diverse and in healthy condition. Loss of habitat is another element that contributes to desertification and dryland salinity, both of which have an effect on the stability of community livelihoods.

Conclusion

The maintenance of biodiversity is essential to the provision of many ecosystem services, many of which are important to the well-being of humans both now and in the future. Climate is an essential component in the operation of ecosystems, and the effects of climatic conditions on terrestrial and marine ecosystems have both direct and indirect effects on human health. Ocean acidification, which is directly tied to the quantities of carbon in the atmosphere, has a negative impact on marine biodiversity. The variability of the climate has an effect on terrestrial biodiversity.This includes the occurrence of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, which have a direct impact on ecosystem health as well as the productivity and availability of ecosystem goods and services for human consumption. Changes in climate that occur over longer time periods have an effect on the sustainability and health of ecosystems. These changes can influence variations in the distribution of plants, diseases, animals, and even human settlements.