Biodiversity has value in itself, without having to provide a benefit to human beings, it is the natural heritage that we leave as a legacy for future generations. For more information about the Importance of Biodiversity We invite you to read this post.
Why is Biodiversity important?
La Biodiversity is important for the persistence of all species, diverse habitats are required for different species, because each species is suited to an individual set of environmental situations, species depend on each other for survival, and when one of them disappears, the species that depends of it can also disappear.
Special features may allow certain species to adapt to changes in the environment, but many species cannot adapt if their habitat and food chain are too disturbed.
The different levels of Biodiversity constitute an ecosystem when the loss of Biodiversity occurs, the Characteristics of an Ecosystem is affected, the ecosystem is less resilient when some of its components are lost due to extinction or disappearance, the more extinct species there are, the less the ecosystem can resist ecological changes and the less likely it is to function as a whole.
A car, for example, works well when all its components are in good condition, when a part stops working, such as a headlight, the car can work normally, however, if the second headlight is also defective, it becomes dangerous to drive recklessly. night and if you remove the engine, the car will no longer run.
Even the disappearance of a species is worrying, because its importance could be as crucial as that of the car engine, even if all the other parts of the car are functional, without an engine, it cannot start.
This is because all the other parts of the vehicle depend on this part to function, consequently, the disappearance of a species can compromise the survival of the entire ecosystem.
Social Importance
Man lives in close relationship with the rest of the living world, as we have seen, Biodiversity contributes in many ways to the development of the human species, by destroying Biodiversity, man destroys his own source of supply of these vital resources, survival human, therefore, depends on Biodiversity.
The value of Biodiversity and its related ecosystems is increasingly recognized in policy, Biodiversity is significant in supporting important ecosystem services such as the provision of clean water, but it can also provide social services and benefits such as improved employment and services provided to the vulnerable rural population.
Jobs are linked to Biodiversity directly, as people are hired to manage and conserve protected areas and also through employment in Biodiversity sustained sectors such as fishing, forestry and agriculture, there is also an indirect link to the provision and purification of water, as more people are employed in water management and related industries.
The number of jobs attributed to Biodiversity is significant both in developing countries, Biodiversity-related employment is often highly skilled, while in developing countries it tends to be low-skilled and low-paid, particularly in primary industries such as agriculture and fishing.
A time horizon should be developed that maps the gradual elimination of subsidies and incentives that are detrimental to the Biodiversity and vulnerable groups, this should be accompanied by a monitoring process that highlights the effects of policies on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
This process can highlight the effects of policies on natural resources and the rural poor in developing countries (for example, trade, financial or agricultural policies), lastly, current policies for conservation should be complemented by measures to improve connectivity of protected areas and landscapes that integrate green infrastructures.
Economic importance
Economic impact studies document the many and substantial economic benefits generated by Biodiversity, food production depends on Biodiversity for a variety of food plants, pollination, pest control, nutrient provision, genetic diversity, and disease prevention and control. .
Both medicinal plants and manufactured pharmaceutical products are examples of Biodiversity, pollinators, including bees and butterflies, offer substantial environmental and economic benefits to agricultural and natural ecosystems, including adding diversity and productivity to food crops.
Tourism
The tourism industry represents one of the major sectors of the global economy, often referred to as the world's largest single industry, seizing the opportunities and meeting the challenges of the largest ongoing migration of people in history is of paramount importance and it is particularly important for developing countries.
Tourism activities provide bridges and links between various thematic programs to ultimately facilitate the implementation of the Convention, these programs, such as Island Biodiversity, Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, Forests and Invasive Species, are crucial for a complementary approach to tourism problems.
La Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is a large part of what makes tourist destinations such as tropical forests, beaches and national parks so attractive, at the same time, visiting nature serves to increase awareness among tourists about its intrinsic value and also provides local people with an income and an incentive to preserve their natural environment.
Given that international tourism involves 1.200 billion tourists and generates $1,5 trillion a year, while accounting for approximately 9% of global employment, the potential for tourism to help promote and maintain Biodiversity.
Biodiverse and intact ecosystems form a key basis for many areas of the tourism economy, if this sector recognizes the great importance of attractive landscapes and rich Biodiversity, it underpins the political and economic arguments to preserve biological diversity.
Likewise, many of the issues addressed in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity have a direct impact on the tourism sector, the income from an environmentally structured and sustainable tourism sector can make a significant contribution to the protection and preservation of wild animal populations. in danger of extinction and the sustainable use of biological resources.
Food industry
Markets use goods produced from nature and natural resources in different ways which have a great impact on nature, therefore, companies depend on the subsistence of Biodiversity.
A firm reduction of biological diversity can represent a real danger for several companies in the future, at the same time, a proactive orientation to store Biodiversity can establish new business circumstances.
Food retailing is the last link in a globalized supply chain and plays an important role when it comes to protecting biological diversity, on the one hand, food retailers for the most part do not manufacture products themselves, but on the other At the same time, they can influence consumer decisions.
In addition, in most agriculture, the production is sold by retail and they have direct contact with consumers, both of which place the food retail sector in a privileged position to promote "sustainability by consumption" and support the protection of the Biodiversity.
Biotechnology
In its simplest form, biotechnology is a technology based on biology, biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet.
The biological processes of microorganisms have been used for more than 6,000 years to make useful food products, such as bread and cheese, and to store dairy products, modern biotechnology is the expression used to describe a range of processes and methodologies, especially at the molecular.
Personal care and cosmetics
Many cosmetic products have natural medicines derived from plants and animals, among these are basic oils, pigments and other substances of biological principle with advantageous participation for cosmetic applications.
There is a growing consumer demand for reasonable natural medicines and cosmetic products which means that Biodiversity continues to be an increasingly important issue for cosmetic manufacturing, when it comes to the development of new remedy actives for cosmetics, Biodiversity is a rich source of inspiration and innovation.
Ecological importance
Biodiversity is a measure of how many different types of organisms are found in an ecosystem, the higher the Biodiversity, it means the ecosystem can support many different types of producers, consumers, and decomposers, this generally means the area is healthy.
For example, tropical forests have many different types of trees, ferns, flowers, birds, insects, and mammals, making it one of the most productive and healthy ecosystems, however, if there are only a few different species in the area, Biodiversity is low and the ecosystem is not considered healthy.
Invasive species
An invasive species is an organism that grows and spreads rapidly because it can adapt to a variety of growing conditions. Invasive species are often non-native (introduced from other areas) and lack the usual predators that control their population.
Non-native species can sometimes co-exist with native species without becoming a problem, concerns arise when a non-native species becomes invasive, beyond ecological losses and problems stemming from negative changes caused by invasive non-native species , there is also a social loss.
Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the process of using organisms to neutralize or remove contamination from waste, it is very important to understand that in this form of waste remediation you do not use toxic chemicals, although you may use an organism that can be harmful in certain circumstances.
Importance of Biodiversity for Human Life
Preserving Biodiversity ultimately contributes to conserving human health, various medicines come directly from plants and in turn from animal poison.
human microbiome
Both inside and out, our bodies are home to a wide variety of microorganisms. While bacteria are the main players, we are also home to single-celled organisms known as archaea, as well as fungi, viruses, and other microbes, including viruses that attack bacteria. .
natural environments
La Biodiversity provides stability to the ecosystem and maintains ecological balance, the plants and animals in the ecosystem are related to each other through the food chain and food web, the loss of one species in the ecosystem disturbs the survival of other species, so the ecosystem becomes fragile.
Biodiversity plays a significant role in the creation of the soil and its subsistence, the vegetation improves the soil structure, increases the water retention capacity of the soil and also raises the level of soil nutrients.
Medical uses
The continued supply of most traditional medicine depends on the existence of plant biodiversity in nature, medicinal plants are supplied by collecting from wild populations and cultivation.
Biomedical research also relies heavily on the natural supply of plant and animal materials, as well as microbes, to understand the physiology of humans and to process how to treat disease.
Biodiversity in agriculture
Agricultural biodiversity is the effect of interactions between gene pools, Consequences of environmental impact, the management methods and experiences used by farmers, this is the result of natural choice and human invention developed over millennia.
Resistance and protection against pests
Interactions between plants and insect herbivores are important determinants of plant productivity. In natural vegetation, in response to attack, plants have evolved a range of defenses to reduce the threat of injury and loss of productivity.
Importance of Biodiversity in Mexico
Mexico is considered one of the most diverse countries in the world in terms of BiodiversitySince it brings together more than 200,000 different species, Mexico is home to 10 to 12% of the world's biodiversity.
Also considered the second country in the world in terms of variety of ecosystems and the fourth in terms of the number of global species, Mexico must take on the challenge of conserving the wide biological range of its terrestrial and marine ecosystems, recalls the organization under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in a press release published on this occasion.
International Day for Biological Diversity
This discovery is celebrated on May 22 of each year and its objective is to optimize the understanding, awareness and positive measures of the challenges of biological diversity.
