Biodiversity

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Biodiversity

Biodiversity (pronounced: /ˌbaɪoʊdaɪˈvɜːrsɪti/), also known as biological diversity, is a term used to describe the variety of life forms on Earth. The term is a combination of the words "biological" and "diversity", and was first coined in 1985.

Etymology

The term "biodiversity" is a portmanteau of "biological" and "diversity". It was first used in 1985 during the National Forum on Biodiversity, organized by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the Smithsonian Institution. The term was popularized by the publication of the forum's proceedings, titled "Biodiversity", in 1986.

Definition

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and the ecological and evolutionary processes that sustain it. It includes not only species we consider rare, threatened, or endangered, but also every living thing - from humans to organisms we know less about, such as microbes and fungi.

Importance of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is important because it boosts ecosystem productivity and health. Each species, no matter how small, has an important role to play in the ecosystem. A diverse ecosystem can prevent and recover from a variety of disasters. Moreover, healthy biodiversity provides a number of natural services for everyone such as fresh water, clean air, and food products.

Threats to Biodiversity

Biodiversity is under serious threat as a result of human activities. The main threats to biodiversity are deforestation, habitat destruction, climate change, overexploitation, invasive species, and pollution. These issues can lead to the extinction of species and the destruction of important ecosystem services.

Conservation of Biodiversity

Conservation of biodiversity is done through the protection of species and their habitats, as well as the restoration of degraded ecosystems. It can be achieved by creating protected areas, promoting sustainable use of resources, and taking action to control or prevent threats to biodiversity.

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