Welcome to Biodiversity Guide
Save Biodiversity Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
How To Define Biodiversity
from:How to define biodiversity changes with who is doing the defining.
Environmentalists might define biodiversity as the total of all plant and animal life (excluding humans) of the planet, and the planet itself – the air, water and land that supports animal and plant life. A scientist might add humans to the animal life considered when trying to define biodiversity.
Governments and businesses often jump through varying hoops while trying to define biodiversity, depending on the audience they are addressing. When they to define it, they are very careful to tailor it to the specific groups of listeners they are addressing, who have varying opinions on the topic. To some groups, biodiversity and anything to do with preserving it is seen as a threat to their livelihood, while other groups regard conservation and anything related to preserving biodiversity as a panacea for all the ills humankind suffers.
In order to accurately define biodiversity, however, there are some specific factors that must be considered, notably:
Genetic diversity, which is the variation of genes within a single species. There are two kinds of genetic diversity: the variations within distinct populations of the same species, and the genetic variation within a population.
Species diversity is the consideration of the varieties of species within a region. While there are many ways to determine this, two of the most popular measures are species “richness”, or the number of species, both plant and animal, that inhabit an area, and the more precise “taxonomic diversity,” which considers the relationships between species as well as their numbers.
Ecosystem diversity is usually considered the most difficult type of diversity to measure since the boundaries between various biological communities are highly fluid.
One example of how to define biodiversity is the criteria that USAid uses as requirements for their programs:
• The program must have an explicit biodiversity objective. Just saying it's to conserve biodiversity is not enough. The objective must be achievable and measurable;
• All activities related to the project must be identified by analysis of threats to biodiversity;
• Monitoring of all indicators for biodiversity conservation is required; and
• On-site programs must have the goal of positively impacting the biodiversity of areas that are biologically significant or threatened.
While the study of all biodiversity's individual factors is fascinating in and of itself, in order to successfully define biodiversity, no one factor should be allowed to overwhelm the consideration of the others. And since there is no one simple, elegant, and workable way to define biodiversity, one of the best ways to comprehend it is to read the varying definitions used by scientists, governments, businesses and environmentalists, in order to get a good overview of the subject.
Save Biodiversity News
'India lacks a good brand ambassador for biodiversity' - Times of India
'India lacks a good brand ambassador for biodiversity' Times of India LUCKNOW: In order to save biodiversity, there is a need to have a good biodiversity ambassador. India, however, lacks a good brand ambassador as far as biodiversity is concerned. The views were expressed by Syed Ajmal Khan, from the Centre for Advanced ... |
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. |
Biodiversity: we must take action now - The Zimbabwean
Biodiversity: we must take action now The Zimbabwean International Biodiversity Day is celebrated on May 22 each year to raise awareness and understanding of biodiversity issues. Biodiversity is the term used to describe the variety of life found on Earth and all the natural processes. |
Local reptile gets Lacoste support - BusinessWorld Online Edition
Local reptile gets Lacoste support BusinessWorld Online Edition FRENCH FASHION giant Lacoste has renewed its commitment to the Save Your Logo project, a biodiversity conservation project which includes saving the Philippine crocodile. LACOSTE Chairman and Chief Executive Michel Lacoste speaks at briefing in Manila. Lacoste Magnate Backs Drive To Save Philippine Crocodiles 'Lolong' eyed as croc envoy |
Bio diversity - Pakistan Observer
 haveeruonline | Bio diversity Pakistan Observer Addressing a ceremony here at Pakistan Forest Institute Peshawar in connection with World Biological Diversity day, he stressed the need for creating awareness among the masses to save the environment and biological diversity. Marine Biodiversity and Maldives Ocean Month, Biodiversity Day marked |