What is Being Done to Protect Biodiversity?

There are many different organizations and individuals that work to protect biodiversity. Many organizations focus on a specific habitat, such as the ocean or the rainforest. There are scientists working to create goals in conservation in a meeting in Nagoya, Japan as part of the Convention on Biological Diversity. There are organizations such as the Rainforest Alliance, the Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, The Sierra Club, and many more. While these organizations work tirelessly to protect the environment and preserve biodiversity, their efforts alone will not be able to succeed. Individuals everywhere need to increase their efforts to reduce overconsumption and excessive waste. Only together can we  protect biodiversity.

Sources:

Peeples, Lynne. "Scientists Urge Tougher Efforts to Preserve Biodiversity." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 14 Oct. 2010. Web. 05 May 2015.

Klappenbach, Laura. "Top 10 Wildlife Conservation Organizations." About Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2015.

Population Growth

Population growth is a multifaceted issue that is a difficult one to solve. Human populations are ever increasing, and with this comes an increasing demand for resources. This includes things such as more land, more fuel, more food, as well as others. These demands impact biodiversity greatly, because they cause land that has previously been habitat to many different species to be used for building houses, or growing crops. The impact of humans on the environment and the resulting loss of many species is known to many as the “Sixth Mass Extinction.” Another part of the decrease in biodiversity that comes from increasing demands is the wars that result from the insatiable desires of many to acquire much more material goods than is necessary to sustain life. Population growth is an issue that can be found as a cause of many other threats to biodiversity. Increased pollution and emissions of greenhouse gasses, habitat loss or alteration, logging, resource overconsumption. All are results of an increasing population, and an increasing demand to exploit the resources of the planet. Because the population has already grown so much, and is expected to grow far more in coming years, to maintain biodiversity it is necessary for everyone to engage in sustainable practices, and change their behaviors to reduce overconsumption and pollution. Only with everyone working together can we save the biodiversity of the planet.

Sources:

TRI. "Population Growth and Biodiversity." Population Growth and Biodiversity. The Rewilding Institute, n.d. Web. 05 May 2015.

Pollution

Pollution such as chemical runoff is a very serious matter as well. There are many causes to pollution such as transportation, factories, construction, mining or resource extraction, and many others. The discharge created through these processes can affect species and habitats both directly and indirectly. The direct effects are what most people think of when they think of this topic. Factories sometimes release waste directly into the environment, such as into rivers. The waste directly affects animals that inhabit those rivers. Through the food chain, we know that those animals are eaten by others, and those animals are affected as well. The Rainforest Conservation Fund tells us that “In developing countries approximately 90% of wastewater is discharged, untreated, directly into waterways.” This has a major impact on environmental systems and biodiversity.  Chemicals that are released into the environment can also have long term affects by changing the balance of chemicals in systems, and harming or even killing individuals in those systems.

Sources:

Rainforest Conservation Fund. "5) Causes of Recent Declines in Biodiversity."Rainforest Conservation Fund RSS. N.p., 02 Mar. 2010. Web. 04 May 2015.

National History Museum. "What Threatens Our Biodiversity?" What Threatens Our Biodiversity? N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.

Image: http://www.grinningplanet.com/2006/12-05/water-cartoon.htm

Air Pollution

Air Pollution poses a threat to biodiversity that is closely related to several other topics that I’ve mentioned.  Pollutants contribute greatly to greenhouse gasses, which are in turn related climate change and global warming. Another affect of pollutants in the atmosphere that I haven’t talked about before is the creation of acid rain. Acid rain is precipitation that is acidic, or has a low pH. It is made through the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. There are natural sources of these emissions, such as volcanoes and decaying fruit but the leading cause is the burning of fossil fuels. Acid rain is very harmful to the environment. One part of this is that it harms trees and plants by reducing the amount of nutrients available. It also allows aluminum to be absorbed into soil, which can harm trees as well. This is harmful to the biodiversity of trees and plants, but also of the species that rely on them. Another effect of pollution is coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is caused directly by ocean acidification, or a decrease in the pH of the ocean caused by an increase of carbon dioxide. Coral bleaching is a threat to biodiversity because corals are a home to 25% of fish in the ocean. Their endangerment causes a threat to the diversity of species of fish and other aquatic organisms in the ocean. Air pollution has a very damaging effect on biodiversity and a serious problem.

Sources:

BISE. "Pollution." Biodiversity Information System for Europe. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.

"8 Biodiversity | 3 Pressures Affecting Biodiversity | 3.5 Pollution." Department of the Environment. Australian Government, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.

Rainforest Conservation Fund. "5) Causes of Recent Declines in Biodiversity."Rainforest Conservation Fund RSS. N.p., 02 Mar. 2010. Web. 04 May 2015.

Image: Payam Boromand-http://www.cartoonmovement.com