Biodiversity: A Matter of Life and Colour

The world is nothing without its colour. Our planet Earth is the territory of numerous living creatures, big and small, either living on land or water. The land, air and seas of our planet are home to the tiniest insects and the largest animals, which make up a rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces. This is LIFE. This is BIODIVERSITY.

What is Happening?

What is happening is happening quickly, which isn't always a positive thing. Species are becoming extinct at the fastest rate known in geological history, and most of these extinctions are tied to human activity. Not many people know about this, and it may seem boring. Some conservation organisations estimate species are heading towards extinction at a rate of about one every 20 minutes square. Of the 47,677 species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species of 2009, 17,291 are deemed to be at serious risk. The list reveals that 21 per cent of all known mammals, 30 percent of all known amphibians, 12 percent of all known birds, 28 percent of reptiles, 37 percent of freshwater fishes, 70 percent of plants and 35 percent of invertebrates assessed so far, are under threat. This may appear tedious, but it is extremely essential. We have to act, We have to save & We must reduce. This reminds me of a story that my Grandmother told me back in her days when there wasn’t much trouble and not that much pollution. We would always travel by boat or by walking, but nowadays, all I see when I am taking a walk is a black cloud of smoke coming right at me. I could see tears in her eyes when she was telling this to me. Biodiversity is not an optional bonus in human affairs, but it is the foundation of human life and necessary for the existence and survival of humans and their sustainable development.

Ways to Preserve Biodiversity.

-Support Local Farms

-Save the Bees.

-Take Shorter Showers.

-Plant Local Flowers, Fruits & Vegetables

-Respect Local Habitat and many more.


Why does it Matter?

Biodiversity conservation provides substantial benefits to meet immediate human needs, such as pure water flowing and a stable climate.

The loss of biodiversity is dangerous, and its consequences are immediate:

• Lack of Clean Water
• Lack of Forest Resources such as Food or Plants for Medicine.
• Fewer fish in the Sea means less food for Survival.
• Fewer Opportunities for Livelihoods, better Health, Education, and a  better life and many more
  
  

Causes of Biodiversity.

-Climate Change

-Pollution

-Destruction of Habitats

-Overexploitation of the Environment

What you can do to make a difference!

We have to make a difference if we want to make our planet Earth healthy and resourceful for us to live.

Here are a few things we can do:

-Support local and regional projects aimed at tackling biodiversity loss.

-Buying fewer products and making sure the products you do buy minimise the impact on biodiversity.

-Investing in ways that promote biodiversity.

-Recycling.

- Educating children about biodiversity and how to save it.

Conclusion

We, as humans, have an important role to play. We need to be cautious and try to reduce the damage we do each day. So let us reduce the damage, let us be mindful of what we do, and let us Save Our Planet Earth!!

References

https://www.unesco.pl/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/BIODIVERSITY_FACTSHEET.pdf

https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/summary-statistics

https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/biodiversity/how-can-you-protect-biodiversity/

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4048276

About the Author

Hello! I am Aishath Ada. I was born in 2009 in Addu City. I now live and study in Sri Lanka. She likes to listen to music. She has a passion for Biology as she aims to become a doctor.

Cite this article as:

Aishath Ada, Biodiversity: A Matter of Life and Colour, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023).