The impact of human activities on Biodiversity

What is Biodiversity?Biological diversity, or the shorter "biodiversity,"

(bio-di-ver-si-ty) simply means the diversity, or variety, of plants and animals and other living things in a particular area or region. For instance, the species that inhabit Los Angeles are different from those in San Francisco, and desert plants and animals have different characteristics and needs than those in the mountains, even though some of the same species can be found in all of those areas.

What is Biodiversity?Biodiversity also means the number, or

abundance of different species living within a particular region. Scientists sometimes refer to the biodiversity of an ecosystem, a natural area made up of a community of plants, animals, and other living things in a particular physical and chemical environment.

In practice, "biodiversity" suggests sustaining the diversity of species in each ecosystem as we plan human activities that affect the use of the land and natural resources.

Why is biodiversity important?

Everything that lives in an ecosystem is part of the web of life, including humans. Each species of vegetation and each creature has a place on the earth and plays a vital role in the circle of life. Plant, animal, and insect species interact and depend upon one another for what each offers, such as food, shelter, oxygen, and soil enrichment.

Why is biodiversity important?Maintaining a wide diversity of species in

each ecosystem is necessary to preserve the web of life that sustains all living things. In his 1992 best-seller, "The Diversity of Life," famed Harvard University biologist Edward O. Wilson -- known as the "father of biodiversity," -- said, "It is reckless to suppose that biodiversity can be diminished indefinitely without threatening humanity itself."

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life. This can refer to genetic variation, species variation, or ecosystem variation within an area, biome, or planet. Terrestrial biodiversity tends to be highest at low latitudes near the equator,which seems to be the result of the warm climate and high primary productivity. Marine biodiversity tends to be highest along coasts in the Western Pacific, where sea surface temperature is highest and in mid-latitudinal band in all oceans.

Biodiversity and protected areas in Macedonia

A MAP OF MACEDONIA SHOWING ALL THE PROTECTED AREAS, NATIONAL PARKS NATURAL RESERVES. THE INDUSTRY SECTOR IS THE MAIN POLLUTER IN MACEDONIA. THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION ARE THE OLD, INEFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES, INADEQUATE CONTROL OF WASTE, AND INSUFFICIENT EQUIPMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION. THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE COUNTRY ARE THE QUALITY OF AIR IN VELES, BITOLA, AND SKOPJE; THE POLLUTION OF SURFACE WATERS (AS A RESULT OF DISCHARGING UNTREATED WASTE WATERS), AND THE INADEQUATE TREATMENT OF THE SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE.

Biodiversity of BregalnicaThe program for the

conservation of nature in Macedonia , supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is intended to support activities for nature conservation and local development Bregalnica region . The program also supports and interventions at the national level are expected to have an impact on the conservation of biodiversity and nature in general. The program will assist Macedonia in achieving the requirements of NATURA 2000 , one of the conditions for joining the EU .

VII2By:1. Simona Andonova2. Milena Paunova3. Rozeta Petrova4. Simona Ristova