Biodiversity—the amazing range of life found on Earth—is the foundation of the ecosystems that maintain life on Earth. From the rich soil that supports food to reserves of carbon, it offers vital services, including green areas that improve mental health. Though it is essential for the sustainability of our communities and economy, biodiversity sometimes goes under appreciated despite its central importance.
Environmentalists typically stress the significant influence of biodiversity, the unsung hero upon which our whole life depends.
However, human activities rapidly reduce biodiversity despite apparent advantages and the moral need to preserve the environment. We are pushing many plants and animals toward extinction by destroying ecosystems, overusing natural resources, and importing invading species. Driven chiefly by human activity, climate change is aggravating the problem by increasing biodiversity loss and lowering ecosystems’ capacity to offer natural climatic solutions.
What Are the Global and Local Threats of Biodiversity Loss?
Millions of important habitats are vanishing as terrible droughts and fires brought on by climate change destroy South American forests. This starkly reminds us of the pressing need to solve global biodiversity loss.
The circumstances in the UK are equally alarming. The nation is among the most nature-starved on the globe. Should the rate of declining biodiversity continue, effects will be felt in all spheres. Rising risks in food production will be accompanied by more severe flooding and a weakening of natural defenses against the continuous consequences of climate change. This could have broad effects, including a notable influence on the nation’s GDP.
Conservationists warn that we are perilously close to losing important ecosystems that maintain our food supplies and shield us from climate disasters.
How Can Science Help Reverse Biodiversity Loss?
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the leading scientific authority on nature, makes abundantly evident that we cannot save and sustainably use nature without transforming society. Every person, every group, and every country will have to act in this metamorphosis.
Such behavior is challenging in a society where people’s lives seem to be isolated from their natural surroundings, especially in metropolitan areas. In this regard, science is essential in closing the distance, guiding our understanding, tracking biodiversity, and publicizing its significance.
Scientists contend that our natural world is still mostly unexplored. According to their estimates, 86% of the species on Earth are still unknown, suggesting a great chance to find and preserve fresh forms of life before it is too late.
Developing technologies will enable one to monitor changes over time, follow new species, and grasp their environments. For instance, developments in high-resolution satellite photography help us better monitor Antarctic penguin populations. Tracking threatened species and fighting wildlife poaching now uses artificial intelligence. Drones are also increasingly used to identify early stages of forest fires, preventing significant harm.
Why Is Collaborative Science Key to Sustainable Development?
Understanding the human effect on biodiversity requires scientific cooperation. This became abundantly evident on a recent trip to Madagascar, a nation rich in biodiversity but suffering fast forest loss. It is just how challenging it is to balance environmental preservation and economic growth. With 5% of all the species in the world—90% of which are unique to Madagascar—the nation has lost 25% of its forests in just two decades, mostly from agricultural growth.
Leading Malagasy conservationists said, “Preserving Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity with limited resources is a monumental task, but one we must all support.”
Notwithstanding these difficulties, Madagascar is working hard to preserve its natural wealth. The scientific community of the United Kingdom, which includes establishments like the Royal Botanic Gardens and Kew, makes an important contribution. Together with encouraging the growth of native foods to improve food security, Kew’s Madagascar Conservation Centre collaborates closely with local scientists to document and protect the country’s distinctive plant species, including threatened orchids.
How Is Genetic Data Helping in Biodiversity Conservation?
Certain conservation problems require negotiating difficult scientific and ethical ground. The natural environment, for instance, is a gold mine of useful genetic information. Digital sequence information (DSI), the capacity to decipher and digitally record this data, is becoming increasingly crucial for studies on biodiversity.
Open access to DSI allowed researchers to crowd-source genetic data from around the world, especially when a fungal disease started destroying ash trees all around Europe and arrived in the UK in 2012. Through this cooperation, resistance to the disease ash trees were found.
“We must make full use of science,” remarked a top geneticist. “But we must also guarantee that the benefits are shared fairly, especially with areas rich in biodiversity.”
The UK and other countries’ priority is ensuring that the advantages of scientific developments such as DSI return to the biodiverse areas most in need of protection and restoration.
Why Must Science and Local Knowledge Work Together for Biodiversity?
Simply scientific evidence is insufficient. If it is to be influential, science must be carried out in cooperation with local populations. Many people who depend on the environment already understand how to preserve it.
One excellent example of this cooperation in action is the large swath of blanket bog in northern Scotland known as The Flow Country. One of the biggest carbon sinks in the world, the property is being restored in association with local farmers, crofters, landowners, and townspeople.
A conservationist involved in the project says, “By involving local people in the restoration process, we’re not only protecting biodiversity but also ensuring the sustainability of the region’s economy and culture.”
These cooperative projects show that adequate biodiversity protection and restoration depend on combining local knowledge with scientific research.
What Is the Global Commitment to Biodiversity Conservation?
Nations gathering in Colombia this month for the 16th UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) conference urgently need science at the center of their pledges. This worldwide conference allows nations to work with local stakeholders and one another to preserve our planet’s environmental legacy.
Biodiversity is essential for maintaining a healthy and prosperous future. Hence, protecting it is not only an environmental concern but also a basic one. Despite significant obstacles, we can protect the fantastic diversity of life that nourishes us all by combining research, local knowledge, and worldwide cooperation.
“Conserving biodiversity is not only about protecting nature—it’s about protecting ourselves and our future,” one conservationist rightly said.
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