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How To Conserve Biodiversity Article
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The Concept Of Biodiversity – An Exercise In Variability
from:While it shouldn't be, it's often hard for people to wrap their minds around the concept of biodiversity. Partly this is because the concept of biodiversity is a complex one, and partly it's because so many agencies have vested interests in people seeing anything that conserves resources as a threat to their lifestyles. The first steps toward defining the concept of biodiversity were undertaken by E.O. Wilson in the mid-1980s. Since then, the concept has become so important that there are a number of world, national, and local initiatives targeted at reducing biodiversity loss by 2010.
The concept of biodiversity breaks down into three major factors, all of which are interwoven:
First is the concept of genetic diversity. This refers to the variation of genes within a single species and can be further broken down into two components: genetic variations within distinct populations of the same species, and genetic variations within a population.
Next is the concept of species diversity. This take us up one rung as we consider the varieties of species within a region. There are two main measures to assess this: the first is species “richness”, or the number of species, both plant and animal, that inhabit an area; the second is the more precise “taxonomic diversity,” which takes into account the relationships between species in addition to their numbers.
The third factor, and the overarching one, is ecosystem diversity. Since the boundaries between various biological communities are highly fluid, this is the most difficult factor to measure accurately, yet it may very well be the most important, since this is where changes that affect all life occur. Climate change, often caused by things like global warming, are among the greatest threats to ecosystem diversity.
Biological diversity includes the variety of ecosystems, and their patterns. It also includes their linkages across regional landscapes. There is a hierarchy of the parts and processes of biological diversity that is, admittedly, artificial. This hierarchy also has a distinct human context (i.e., things are seen in the context of how useful they are to humans). Still, it provides a focus for the concept of biodiversity, which is so infinitely varied that any lens taken to it must be narrowly focused compared to the full spectrum of both the topic and human needs.
Understanding the concept of biodiversity should be a high priority for everyone, since we cannot preserve it if we don't understand it, and not preserving it will ultimately affect the lives of all of us. One of the best ways of understanding the very broad concept of biodiversity is reading the various definitions used by scientists, philosophers, environmentalists, and others.
How To Conserve Biodiversity News
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Meghalaya pledges to protect biodiversity - Assam Tribune
Meghalaya pledges to protect biodiversity Assam Tribune SHILLONG, May 23 – Meghalaya yesterday pledged to protect its threatened biodiversity both for ecological as well as economic security. The pledge was made while celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity here at the U Soso Tham ... |
Use NREGA framework for conserving biodiversity: official - IBNLive.com
Use NREGA framework for conserving biodiversity: official IBNLive.com He said the concerned department's scheme would move forward and in the process, also conserve biodiversity. "We want to make sure that in India, all the schemes and all programmes, specially on development, especially on providing employment, ... |
'Marine biodiversity needs more attention' - Daily News & Analysis
 Vereinte Nationen (UNO) | 'Marine biodiversity needs more attention' Daily News & Analysis Efforts taken to conserve it and challenges in protecting the same were discussed at a one-day workshop on coastal and marine biodiversity at Science City on Tuesday. The workshop, held as part of the International Day of Biological Diversity ... Biodiversity body to fix targets before UN convention IGNOU launches online course on biodiversity UN Defends Marine Biodiversity |
Google Mapping Tool Shows Impacts of Deforestation on Indonesia's Sumatra Island - Albany Times Union
Google Mapping Tool Shows Impacts of Deforestation on Indonesia's Sumatra Island Albany Times Union ... the public to visualize Sumatra's forests and wildlife such as rhinos, tigers, elephants and orangutan, providing vital information in the race to protect forests, save some of the world's most important biodiversity and help local communities. |