What is Biodiversity?
What is biodiversity?
- According to Article 2 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), biological diversity (or biodiversity) is defined as “the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.”
- Biodiversity generally refers to the diversity of species on Earth, the diversity of ecosystems in which organisms live, and the diversity of genes within organisms.
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Species
Species diversitySpecies diversity is often understood as the diversity of species, including animals, plants, and microorganisms. It generally refers to the level of species diversity within a specific area or to taxonomic diversity.
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Ecosystem
Ecosystem diversityEcosystem diversity refers to the diversity of ecosystems, including deserts, forests, wetlands, mountains, lakes, rivers, and agricultural lands. It also refers to the diversity of interactions between all living organisms and non-living components within an ecosystem.
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Genetic
Genetic diversityGenetic diversity refers to the genetic variation within a species. It also includes the diversity among different populations of the same species, or genetic variation between individuals within a single population.
What is the value of biodiversity?
- Humanity relies on biodiversity for clothing, food, and shelter. In particular, they obtain food, medicine, and industrial products from the components of biodiversity.
- Genetic diversity is also utilized, for example, by breeding genetically distinct varieties to enhance productivity.
- Biodiversity plays a crucial role in absorbing or decomposing environmental pollutants, purifying air and water, enriching soil fertility, and maintaining appropriate climate conditions.