Why is Biodiversity Important

Biodiversity, aka biological diversity, is a broad concept which encompasses millions of plants and animal species found on the planet. Even this figure, which crosses the million mark, is an estimated figure, as environmentalists believe that the actual number is much beyond that. In fact, the Amazon rainforest in South America alone is believed to house a million species of plants and animals. All the living organisms on this planet are dependent on each other to some or the other extent, and that is where the importance of biodiversity comes into picture. Those who ask why is biodiversity important are either unaware about this fact, or prefer to turn a blind eye to it. In either case, the loss incurred on our planet is a loss for us, and therefore, we need to acknowledge this fact and put in some efforts to save the Earth's biodiversity.

Why is Biodiversity Important in an Ecosystem?

As we mentioned earlier, all living beings on this planet depend on each other for survival, and the importance of biodiversity revolves around this very fact. The phrase 'all living beings', includes each and every organism inhabiting the planet, right from microscopic bacteria species to enormous blue whales. Given below are the answers to three FAQs about the need of preserving biodiversity on our planet.

Why is Biodiversity Important to Continued Evolution?
Biodiversity has a crucial role to play when it comes to evolution of species. Our planet has undergone five mass extinctions since it came into existence. These five extinction events were enough to wipe out 99 percent of the plant and animal species which were ever known to inhabit the Earth. The last of these mass extinctions occurred approximately 65 million years ago, and resulted in the extinction of dinosaurs. The fact that 99 percent of these species have become extinct since the planet came into existence implies that species extinction and evolution are perfectly normal occurrences which repeat themselves every now and then. As a number of species become extinct, newer species evolve. Even though it seems simple, this process takes millions of years to happen. A look at the list of extinct animals in the last 100 years shows that the rate at which extinctions are occurring has increased over the years. The rate of evolution, however, has not budged much. If the rate at which species are getting extinct increases while the rate of evolution remains the same, it is bound to affect the life cycle on the planet, and thus, environmentalists consider biodiversity as an important factor for continued evolution.

Why is Biodiversity Important to the Stability of Food Webs?
Unstable food webs can spell a disaster for the ecosystem. Extinction of a single animal species tends to put immense pressure on several other species which are dependent on it. There are several examples of disturbances in food chain triggered as a result of extinction of animals. When the apex predator of the food chain (a carnivorous animal) becomes extinct, the population of the secondary consumers (which are herbivores in most of the cases) tends to increase. This increase in number of herbivores, in turn, puts pressure on the vegetation, and the lack of vegetation affects the precipitation pattern, thus, resulting in desertification of this region. In order to avoid such implications on the planet, we need to make sure that the right balance is maintained.

Why is Biodiversity Important to Human Society?
Other than being the most intelligent species on the planet, we are also the most dependent species. Since prehistoric times, we have been depending on nature to sustain our basic needs. Over the years, we chose to alter nature to sustain our needs. While doing this, we knowingly and unknowingly caused great harm to our surroundings. We seem to have forgotten that we depend on nature much more than nature depends on us. There are several 'ifs' when it comes to the importance of biodiversity for us. If it were not for nitrogen fixing bacteria, we would have never been able to grow crops! If all the apex predators are killed as a result of excessive hunting and poaching, herbivores will clear the green cover on the planet, thus, leaving us devoid of water! If all the forests are wiped off, the wild animals will have no option but to encroach upon our territory! All these 'ifs' boil down to one simple thing - we are digging our own grave. We need to understand that however much we try, nature will always be a step ahead of us, and every time we try to alter it, the backlash will be felt in some or the other form.

That answered all the questions about importance of biodiversity, including the most important question - why is biodiversity important to people. One can only hope that after going through all the genuine reasons to preserve biodiversity, people will understand the seriousness of this environmental issue. We may not witness the severe implications of the threats to biodiversity over the years, or even till the end of the century but we will have to face it some day, and if not us, the generations to come surely will. The damage has already been done, and now we can only repair it. The sooner we start, the better it will be, for various lifeforms on the planet, including humans.