The damage to the bio-diversity on Earth

THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS AND HUMAN ACCOUNTABILITY

INTRODUCTION

The whole eco-system is an extraordinary gift that we have received as natural heritage and it is doing a tremendous amount of good for all humankind : creating soil , cleansing water , creating the very air we breathe , all free ! We live in extraordinary times and we know how great the diversity on earth is , we are surrounded by more species of animals and plants . Moreover , it is noticeable that one species , our own , has developed techno-scientific society and expounded the unique ability of so altering

its surround that it can destroy whole species , indeed whole environments . It is a known fact that the expansion of techno-scientific society was aimed to achieve a comfortable living and avoid hunger However , it is causing such damage to the bio-diversity as well as catastrophically resulted into pollution , Islandisation , introduction of alien species , over-harvesting of natural resources and destruction of habitats . Conversation of bio-diversity will depend on how we scale down our excesses in consumption , because if it continues , then our planet will be left as a inhospitable sphere (Attenborough , Sir D

BIODIVERSITY AND ITS IMPORTANCE

The different naturalist and conservationists groups have come up with several definitions of biodiversity but these can all be summed up with just one thought : Biodiversity is "the variability among living organisms from all sources including and the ecological complexes of which they are part this includes diversity within species , between species , and of ecosystems (UNEP , 1992 . In layman 's terms biodiversity is the interdependence of the different forms of life and their natural homes . For non-scientists and for people whose knowledge is limited with the economic value of other forms of life , especially plants and animals as food source , the issue on biodiversity crisis may not be appealing . If only all people will be well-informed , or at least may be able to understand how biodiversity works , then perhaps the human specie will have no excuse for taking his part in its protection

No matter how one puts it , the importance of biodiversity is vital as It is a fundamental condition of life itself (Lovelock , James 1988 . This is basically because all forms of life depend on each other (Mc Neely , Jeffrey et .al . Every specie support each other and such support requires that predators and prey , fire and water , food and shelter , clean air and open space remain in balance with each other and with the environment around them (Environmental Protection Agency .Although the links between species are complex , there are few simple reasons to safely agree that species do not exist in isolation (Attenborough , David . Humans for example need plants and animals including marine resources for food . Humans need trees and tall grass forms for shelter . There are animals which basically feed on plants or marine life . There are also certain marine species which depend on plants for shelter such as species which thrive and reproduce in mangroves . These are simple life relationships based on food and shelter . However , life forms...