Biodiversity and sustainable development

Abstract

Biodiversity is a modern term which simply means “the variety of life on earth.” Biologists most often define biodiversity as the “totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region.” Biodiversity is the result of 3.5 billion years of evolution and indicates that the living diversity is dynamic. It increases when new genetic variation is produced, a new species is created or a novel ecosystem is formed. It decreases when the genetic variation within the species decreases, or when a species becomes extinct or an ecosystem complex is lost. There is inter relationship between the living world and the processes. The survival of each is linked to the health of the two and together they comprise of the wealth of the ecosystem with huge number of species in them. Biodiversity is not evenly distributed. Diversity consistently measures higher in the tropics and lower in Polar Regions generally. Flora and fauna diversity depends on climate, altitude, soils and the presence of other species. Diversity is the reservoir of genetic traits which is present in wild varieties and in the traditionally grownland races which are extremely important in improving crop performance. However human activities have resulted in climate change leading to the mass rapid extinction. This is likely to precipitate the collapse of the ecosystems at a global scale. Increase in life span and greater number of neo-natals result in growth of populations. These along with consumerisms is leading to unsustainable life styles. The rapid industrial growth has made water pollution, air pollution, hazardous wastes and other pressing environmental problems specially in the developing world. Transboundary air pollution, water shortages, drinking water contamination, freshwater and marine pollution, deforestation, climatic disasters, and other environmental problems are posing serious threats to the well-being of people. It has been well established that human societies and cultures co-evolve with their environment.Biological resources including agro-biodiversity are the basis of life in the tropical world. What is weed for one is food for the other. In this type of scenario there should be all types of species of animals, plant and even microorganisms that are valuable to the different people of the world. So, we need to conserve at all level of diversity, that is- all ecosystems of the world (Terrestrial, Aquatic, Mangrove, Coral reefs etc.), diversity at the species level and genetic levels (all types of higher and lower plants and animals all types of viruses, bacteria and fungi) known or unknown to us, irrespective of its commercial importance, known to us. Thus conservation of biological diversity is important. The conservation of the environment includes the conservation of all the natural resources Thus there is need to readdress environmental challenges and an equal urgency for adopting integrated development which ensures environmental sustainability so that we humans have access to pure drinking water, food, clean air - healthy life.