Question

What are the major factors that are responsible for the loss of biodiversity? What steps are needed to prevent them?

Answer 1

Major causes for loss of biodiversity are as follows:

• Since the last few decades, growth in human population has increased the rate of consumption of natural resources. It has accelerated the loss of species and habitation in different parts of the world.
• Over-exploitation of resources and deforestation have become rampant to fulfill the needs of large population. As these tropical rain forests contain 50 percent of the species on the earth, destruction of natural habitats have proved disastrous for the entire biosphere.
• Natural calamities such as earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, droughts, etc. cause damage to the flora and fauna of the earth, bringing changes to the biodiversity of respective affected regions.
• Pesticides and other pollutants such as hydrocarbons and toxic heavy metals destroy weak and sensitive species.
• Conservation strategy has suggested the following steps for biodiversity conservation:
  1. Efforts should be made to preserve the species that are endangered.
  2. Prevention of extinction requires proper planning and management.
  3. Varieties of food crops, forage plants, timber trees, livestock, animals and their wild relatives should be preserved;
  4. Each country should identify habitats of wild relatives and ensure their protection.
  5. Habitats where species feed, breed, rest and nurse their young ones should be safeguarded and protected.
  6. International trade in wild plants and animals be regulated.