Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms that can be found within a geographical area. For me, this word can be more easily understood when looking at the breakdown of the two words; biological and diversity. 

 It is easier to explain the importance of biodiversity to people in terms of human benefit. Biodiversity ensures sustainability because more biodiversity equals more resilience. More resilience of resources used for food, pharmaceuticals, tourism, aesthetics, cultural purposes- the list goes on. Every species plays a role in the ecosystem no matter how big or small. Look at only agriculture for just a moment. If we examine agricultural biodiversity on the smallest scale, it takes an immense number of microorganisms to be present in the soil in order to break down and provide nutrients to grow a single crop. On the largest scale, the hugely diverse variety of said crops around the world is our source of food, a major aspect of the world economy, and is the livelihood of thousands of people. The vast variety of one specific crop allows for a cushion in our food supply in case of differing conditions. If a drought, a rise in insects, climate change, or any natural disaster has a negative effect on one species of corn for example, there will be countless other species that may have adapted differently to those adverse conditions. This concept can be applied to all species in every ecosystem from the rainforest, to the desert, to the tundra. Regardless if we look at biodiversity locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally, preserving as many species as possible is hugely important. Everything that is living is connected by some means, even if that connection is simply a shared space on this place that we call Earth. That means everything that is living has some sort of impact on us as humans, and we need to do everything in our power to protect that biodiversity. 

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