Biodiversity provides ecological support for humans. It provides ecosystem benefits such as protection of freshwater, biological resources such as food, social benefits such as research and Education.
Thus, in return, humans must make an effort to protect biodiversity to keep benefiting from it. Below are the ways ten ways to preserve our biological environment.
Table of Contents
1. Rules and regulation
Amending rules and regulation is the cornerstone to protect and preserve biodiversity. The government has the power to control what is done to biodiversity.
The government can outlaw any development activities or exploitation to keep biodiversity pristine form. Additionally, various efforts are made by the government of Nations to conserve biodiversity.
Different laws, conventions, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), local and national authorities, national and international organizations, etc., are there to help impacted species and prevent them from extinction.
It is prudent to prevent than to cure. Thus, there should be the protection of habitat before that is altered. The rules made by the legislature could profusely implement that process.
2. Preservers
Preservers do what their name says; they preserve. Preservers are government bodies that protect any species. They provide humans to see and appreciate the biodiversity around us. Moreover, various types of preservers are explained below.
- National parks are set up to conserve and manage biodiversity, landscapes, and historical objects of that area. Malicious activities such as hunting, cultivating, and cutting trees down are strictly prohibited.
- Wildlife reserve is an area set to conserve and manage animals and plants in their habitat.
- Hunting reserve is an area set to conserve and manage biodiversity. These types are the ones permitting the legal hunting opportunity.
- Conservation area is an area set to protect the natural environment and make sustainable use.
- Buffer zone is the surrounding area of national parks and wildlife reserves, and the locals are allowed to use the forest.
3. Restraining invasive species
Invasive species are those species that become overpopulated and negatively alter their surroundings. Usually, the species changing the environment and affecting other species is a natural phenomenon, not a natural threat.
Still, invasive species are speeding up their process because of human involvement in every part of the ecosystem.
An example of invasive species is the sea urchin decimating the natural kelp forest because of the historic overhunting of its natural predator, the California sea otter.
4. Research
Everything requires research. Proper research is carried out to find how the species interact with the environment. It helps us, humans, to accommodate biodiversity optimally.
There is much more research required to help endangered species from extinction. Due to the research carried out by some teams, wildlife corridor construction is escalating.
These corridors help connect plants and animals who otherwise would be at the risk of extinction. Wildlife corridors help to migrate, colonize, and interbreed plants and animals.
Eight hundred hundred meters long with a width of 50 meters, the longest wildlife corridor is in the Netherlands. Built in 2006, the gallery provides safe passage to animals across the N524 road.
5. Education
Nelson Mandela quotes, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. Biodiversity is significant to humans.
The quality of life of humans and biodiversity is intertwined. Every human must understand it. For that, we must try to liberate everyone.
We should make humans know that we cannot harm biodiversity by any means. The damage may be inflicted back on us if we try to break the biodiversity.
Many activities can help us achieve this mission. A chapter in the child’s book to conserve biodiversity will help students understand well.
Many awareness programs can take place teaching about biodiversity conservation. A rally will acquaint more people with the idea of conservation.
6. Reducing climate change
Climate change is the cause of so many problems on the earth. The temperature change devastates the habitat of so many species that the species reach the verge of extinction.
To protect biodiversity, one must control climate change. What can be done to reduce climate change? It is a quest to be solved to preserve biodiversity. Some of the ways to tackle climate change are:
Use renewable resource
Replace the energy sources with renewable resources such as solar energy or wind energy. Burning fossils fuels releases too many toxic gases, which is the leading cause of Global warming.
Eat meticulously
It is better to eat local and organic foods. Taking meat-free meals would be a massive contribution to reducing climate change.
Use less water
Using less water could reduce greenhouse gas, thus reducing climate change. These are the few steps that any individual can take to reduce climate change.
7. Captive breeding and seed banks
The one best way to flourish any endangered species is captive breeding. Captive breeding is the process of maintaining a plant or animal species that are endangered.
However, the methods are pretty expensive and could bring severe genetic issues. While breeding, factors like genetics, ecology, behavior, ethics must be considered.
There is a seed bank that stores seed to preserve genetic diversity. Increasing yield, making plants more resistant to diseases, and tastier products are the few examples of why the seeds are stored.
It is a challenge to protect a seed over a long period. Different samples require different ways to store them. The infrastructure may not be available in every place.
8. Purchase sustainable products
Every individual plays a vital role in reducing climate change. Every little action we do has a tremendous effect on the environment.
Thus, thinking twice before doing anything would be appropriate. As we know, many clothing and food are made from species of some kind.
Activities performed to produce clothing and flooding are very detrimental to biodiversity. It reduces the population of that particular species and brings them to extinction.
It is estimated that over two billion animals are used in the global fashion industry. It is a shocking revelation.
During the covid pandemic, the fashion industry was at a halt which is why at that time, the industry got time to watch out for its actual impact on biodiversity.
Many organizations are carrying out protests to bring light to animal welfare to protect biodiversity. Moreover, the awareness activities are escalating and making a true impact globally.
9. Habitat restoration
The one problem faced by the endangered species is habitat destruction. The habitats are somehow turned into agricultural land or an area for urbanization.
What’s worse is that no one regards the area’s biodiversity. If the development activities were carried out considering the likelihood of the area’s biodiversity, then it would have been okay.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared that 665 species have been entirely extinct since the start of the century.
Human destruction inflicted as humans expand their activities into the wild is the reason behind the extinction. Formosan Clouded Leopard, a native to Taiwan, went extinct in 2013. The reason behind the end was human encroachment on wildlife.
To stop the extinction of biodiversity, we must prepare plans before intruding on any forests. If the harm is already done to the woods, we must build a similar habitat for those species whose habitat we have destroyed. We could stop extinction if we make a favorable environment for biodiversity to drive.
10. Reuse, reduce and recycle
Following the principles of 3Rs would be a considerable step to solve many problems prevailing in this world. Recycling lessens pollution.
More than 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic wastage were collected by the programs in the world in the last thirteen years. The improper discarding of human wastage creates atrocity to the creatures.
We have been enlightened enough to know the consequences of our actions and started redeeming ourselves. However, there is still more to go in terms of going all in.
Many people and organizations have begun to protect and preserve biodiversity by following the 3Rs principle.
Wrapping up
There are still more methods to conserve biodiversity. If we as humans want to thrive, then the only way to do so is to preserve biodiversity. Biodiversity is our identity and the stairs to help us progress.
We have made a few steps to manage biodiversity. Our efforts, such as using less water while bathing, and buying eco-friendly products, can also play a more prominent role in achieving the elusive mission to eradicate extinction.
(Last Updated on November 11, 2021 by Sadrish Dabadi)
