What is Biodiversity?Biodiversity is the degree of

variation of life forms within a

given species, ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet.

Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems.

Biodiversity is in part a function of climate.

Example of biodiversity

Factors affecting Biodiversity

>Habitat destruction>Introduced and invasive species>Climate change>Overpopulation>Hybridization of organisms

Habitat DestructionHabitat destruction is the process by which natural habitat is damaged or

destroyed to such an extent that it no longer is capable of supporting the species and ecological communities that naturally

occur there. It often results in the extinction of species and, as a result, the

loss of boidiversity. Habitat can be destroyed directly by many human

activities, most of which involve the clearing of land for other uses such as

agriculture, mining, logging, hydroelectric dams and urbanization. 

Introduced and invasive species

Compared to other threats to biodiversity, invasive introduced species rank second only to habitat destructionIn fact, introduced species are

a greater threat to native biodiversity than pollution,

harvest, and disease combined.

Invasive species are everywhere. They damage our

crops, our industries, the environment and public

health. Scientists, academics, leaders of industry and land managers are realizing that

invasive species are one of the most serious environmental threats of the 21st century

Climate changePlants and animals are sensitive to fluctuations in temperature

and climate. In the past, climate has varied considerably within

short time scales. Evidence from fossils and paleobiological

studies have indicated that these periods of rapid climate change have been associated with mass extinction events.

Over Population Growth of the human population

is a major factor affecting the environment. Overpopulation

means that there are more people than there are resources to meet their needs. Almost all the environmental problems we face today can be traced back to the increase in population in the

world.

Hybridization of organisms In agriculture and animal husbandry, the Green Revolution popularized the use of conventional hybridization to

increase yield. As to create high yield strains resistant to local climate and

diseases.  Formerly huge gene pools of various wild and indigenous breeds

have collapsed causing widespread genetic erosion and genetic

pollution. This has resulted in loss of genetic diversity and biodiversity.

 

Conservation of Biodiversity

The conservation is for the purpose of sustaining

biodiversity in species, ecosystems,

the evolutionary process, and human culture and society. It also includes

reforming around strategic plans to protect

biodiversity. Preserving global biodiversity is a

priority in strategic conservation plans that are designed to engage public

policy and concerns affecting local, regional and

global scales of communities, ecosystems,

and cultures.

Government MeasuresGovernment measures include

establishing new provincial parks and protected areas,

new provisions under the Wildlife Act, biodiversity provisions under the Forest

and Range Practices Act, the Fish Protection Act, the Environmental Assessment

Act, the Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory Project, the BC

Conservation Data Centre, and initiatives to restore damaged

ecosystems, the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund,

public education programs, and decades of supporting

scientific research. Participation by stakeholders

Done by Y.Hanish Ramu