Welcome to Biodiversity Guide
Biodiversity Hotspots For Conservation Priorities Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Can Any Biodiversity Definition Really Cover The Topic
from:Biodiversity started out as a contraction of “biological” and “diversity”. It was coined in 1985, but has taken on its own meaning since then.
Scientists prefer using the broadest possible biodiversity definition, in order to not overlook any aspect of what is an exceedingly complex subject. However, one of the largest problems facing scientists, government agencies, end environmental groups is how exactly, to define “biodiversity”. Dictionaries are generally silent anything more than the most general outline of the subject, but most have some elements in common. Most take into account that a it must reference the number and variety of plants and animal species, and that these species occupy a particular geographic region. Some include the concept of the variability of those plants and species. One or two include the variability within and among ecosystems, as well as within and between living organisms.
One of the best biodiversity definitions we have found comes from The Center for International Environmental Law: “Biodiversity is the variability of all living organisms -- including animal and plant species -- of the genes of all these organisms, and of the terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems of which they are part.”
Developing a biodiversity definition is problematic no matter who is doing it because biodiversity is a very broad topic and includes “everything”, making it very hard to exclude “anything”. For example, while every biodiversity definition includes plant and animal life, not all include the soil or water that sustains that life, although to be totally fair, most do so. Further, not every biodiversity definition includes human beings. Complicating the matter even more is the problem of whether a real, comprehensive biodiversity definition should include only those species that humans find useful, or all the given plant and animal species of an area.
With such differences, it is almost impossible to come to a conclusion about the meaning of the term, let alone the scope of the topic. Add in the differing agendas of all those who claim to be concerned about biodiversity, and those who claim to want to do something about it, and you have a situation more confusing than resolvable. Then add in those who insist that nothing can be done because there is no way biodiversity and progress can coexist. Clearly, if something cannot be defined easily and concisely, how can the issues presented by it be prioritized, let alone having resources allocated to resolve them?
Given the difficulties of establishing a unified, comprehensive biodiversity definition, the question is less which definition should prevail, but more what we do to preserve biodiversity.
Biodiversity Hotspots For Conservation Priorities News
Celebrating World Biodiversity Day - GreaterKashmir.com
 GreaterKashmir.com | Celebrating World Biodiversity Day GreaterKashmir.com The main aim of celebrating this day is to make people aware about the vital importance of biodiversity on one hand and its unprecedented loss on the other hand, so as to refocus our attention and reaffirm the endeavor to promote its conservation and ... |
Language Diversity Is Highest in Biodiversity Hotspots - Huffington Post (blog)
Language Diversity Is Highest in Biodiversity Hotspots Huffington Post (blog) Yes, that's a lot of numbers, but the bottom line is: These biodiversity hotspots and wilderness areas must be among our top priorities for terrestrial conservation if we hope to preserve Earth's natural ecosystem services and biodiversity for future ... |
Island biodiversity focus of USD$1.7 million project - Matangi Tonga
 Matangi Tonga | Island biodiversity focus of USD$1.7 million project Matangi Tonga A USD 1.7 million dollar project to conserve island biodiversity in the Cook Islands, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu was launched at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in Apia, Samoa. Under this three year initiative the ... |
Islands in the sky – conserving the cloud forests of Samoa - Scoop.co.nz (press release)
 Scoop.co.nz (press release) | Islands in the sky – conserving the cloud forests of Samoa Scoop.co.nz (press release) Savaii's forest ecosystem has been rated by Conservation International as one of two hotspots for biodiversity in Samoa and, it has also been said that the Savaii cloud forests are the largest remaining intact high-altitude forests in Polynesia. |
Millions of heartbeats bring Copper River Delta alive - Cordova Times
Millions of heartbeats bring Copper River Delta alive Cordova Times They use science to identify conservation priorities and support conservation actions and policies, with an emphasis on public lands and waters. Current priorities of Audubon Alaska include the conservation of wildlife hotspots in Alaska's Arctic, ... |