Biodiversity: Environment

What is it about?

Definition/Description Biodiversity is the shortened form of two words “biological” and “diversity.” Since the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted at the Rio “Earth Summit” in 1992 (UNCED 1993), biodiversity has been discussed on three dimensions: ecosystems, species, and genes. Ecosystem diversity relates to the variety of habitats, biotic communities, ecological processes, and the diversity within ecosystems. An ecosystem is (UN 1992): “a dynamic complex of plant, animal, and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit.” For a business, an ecosystem perspective focuses on where a company operates within the ecological landscape (IUCN 2002). Species diversity refers to the variety of species within a region. The “biological species definition” or the “biological species concept” is based on Ernst Mayr’s definition (Mayr 1942): “Species are groups of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations, which are reproductively isolated from other such groups.” They provide ecosystem services recycling wastes, purifying water, driving biogeochemical cycles, maintaining an aerobic atmosphere, regulating climate, and generating soil fertility (IUCN 2002). Genetic diversity refers to the variation of genes within species. Genetic material is (UN 1992): “any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin containing functional units of heredity.” The corporate sector plays a dominant role in the commercial use of it (IUCN 2002). Biodiversity emphasizes the interrelated nature of the living world changing constantly by evolution. It is of value for cultural and recreational purposes.

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Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Summary Biodiversity means the variability among living organisms from all ecosystems and habitats. Many species are characterized by their unique adaptations to the local environment and special climatic conditions. Climate change is one of the most significant drivers of biodiversity loss. Environmental change causes changes in the distribution of single species and the alteration of habitats. Ecosystems play a key role in the global carbon cycle and in adapting to climate change. Thus losing biodiversity means losing ecosystem processes. In addition, conservation of different ecosystems and restoration of degraded ecosystems including their species and genetic diversity is essential, because biodiversity has been seen to be a contributor to ecosystem services, to be an ecosystem service itself, and to be a product of some ecosystem services. Not only utilitarian benefit but also nonmonetary values of nature are key factors in decision-making regarding creation and management of various kinds of reserves. How the utilitarian benefit and the nonmonetary values of nature are taken into account will determine the future development of biodiversity and future of human beings in the short and long term.