What is the Biodiversity? wHAT IS ITS VALUE ?

What is the Biodiversity?

More than 10 million different species of animals, plants, fungi and micro–organisms inhabits the Earth .They and the habitats in which they live represent the world’s biological diversity or biodiversity as it is often called. Humans use at least 40,000 species of plants and animals on a daily basis for food, shelter, clothing and medicinal needs.

The populations of developed nations depend on biodiversity for their survival and quietly of life. Close to 40 percent of the pharmaceutical used in the United States are either based on, or synthesized from natural compounds found in plants, animals or micro organisms.

The greatest value of biodiversity might still be unknown. Only a fraction of know species has been examined for potential medicinal, agricultural or industrial value. Nor do we fully understand how biodiversity contributes to the well-being of the larger global environment. And we are only just beginning to learn how biodiversity helps communities around the world satisfy their economic, dietary health and cultural needs

One thing is certain: the more we learn about biodiversity the more we realize how much the world depends on it. Yet whole species of plants, animals, fungi, and microscopic organisms are being lost at alarming rates.

Forests

Forests are the most diverse ecosystems on land, because they hold the vast majority of the world’s terrestrial species. Some rain forests are among the oldest ecosystems on Earth. Timber, pulpwood, firewood, fodder, meat, cash crops, fish and medicinal plants from the forest provide livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. But only a fraction of known species has been examined for potential medicinal, agricultural or industrial value.

Forest Biological Diversity

Forest biological diversity is broad term referring to all the life forms found within forested areas and the ecological roles they perform. As such, forest biological diversity encompasses not just trees but the multitude of plants, animals and micro –organisms that inhabit forest areas and their associated genetic diversity.

It can be considered at different levels, including the ecosystem, landscapes, species, populations and genetics. Complex interactions can occur within and amongst these levels. In biological diverse forests, this complexity allows organisms to adapt to continually changing environment conditions and to maintain ecosystem functions.

Protection of Biodiversity

One of the best ways to conserve forest biodiversity is to establish protected forest areas of a certain size, or consist of a well- designed network of forests areas, to allow the local forest ecosystems to continue operating effectively. The forest surrounding the protected area must then be carefully managed so that it serves as buffer zone. These surrounding forests also allow local communities to earn a livelihood without infringing on the protected forests.

There have been numerous efforts aimed at safeguarding the world’s biodiversity by protecting species in areas outside their original habitats. For example, seeds of some of the most economically important trees are being conserved in seed centres and gene- banks as a way of protecting their diversity. But a large number of forest species have seed that do not survive storage, and many species of animals and plant –life are hard to protect once removed from their ecosystems

A continuing Threat

Forest biodiversity is threatened by rapid deforestation, forest fragmentation and degradation, hunting and the arrival of invasive species from the other habitats. We are losing 12 million hectares of forest a year, much of it tropical rainforest with its unique and rich biodiversity.

Why Does it Matter?

In the past, timber production was regarded as the dominant function of forests. However in recent years this perception has shifted to a more multi –functional and balanced view. Other forest functions and services, such as recreation, health and well -being, biological diversity , maintained of ecosystem services and the mitigation of climate change , are now recognized as part of the importance of forests and have biological diversity is increasingly recognized as both a complex and unique element .

KP