Habitat alteration-every human activity can alter the habitat of the organisms around us. Farming, grazing, agriculture, clearing of forests, etc. This is the greatest cause of biodiversity loss today.

Reason for Loss of Biodiversity

• Habitat destruction. Habitat destruction is a major cause of biodiversity loss.
• Invasive Species.
• Over-exploitation of Species.
• Global Warming and Climate Change.
• Pollution.
• Human Overpopulation.
• Natural Calamities.
• Genetic Pollution.

Human activities have led to the biodiversity crisis. The three main causes of biodiversity loss are overexploitation of natural resources, deforestation and habitat destruction and climate change.

Major threats to biodiversity are:

• Habitat destruction/Deforestation.
• Introduced and invasive species.
• Genetic pollution.
• Over exploitation.
• Hybridization.
• Climate change.
• Diseases.
• Human over-population.

Some of the major values of biodiversity are as follows: 1. Environmental Value 2. Social Value 3. Ecosystem Services 4….

• Environmental Value:
• Social Value:
• Ecosystem Services:
• Economic Value:

Usually three levels of biodiversity are discussed—genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. Genetic diversity is all the different genes contained in all individual plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. It occurs within a species as well as between species.

Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability among living organisms and ecological compliances in which they occur. Major components in biodiversity are ecosystem diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity.

Biodiversity includes three main types: diversity within species (genetic diversity), between species (species diversity) and between ecosystems (ecosystem diversity).

• Genetic Diversity.
• Species Diversity.
• Ecological Diversity.
• Biodiversity Agreements.
• Human Impact.
• Conservation.

The term biodiversity (from “biological diversity”) refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and can encompass the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life.

It refers to the variability’s among species of plants, animals and microorganisms; ecosystems; ecosystem including terrestrial, aerial, marine and other aquatic system and ecological complexes of which they are part. In simpler terms, biodiversity is the assemblage of different life forms (Fig. 19.1).

Biodiversity: UN report says ‘it is not too late’ to stop the world’s wildlife crisis. The United Nations (UN) has given a new warning that action is needed now to protect the natural world. It comes after the conservation charity WWF said nature is being destroyed at a rate never seen before.

6 Ways to Preserve Biodiversity

1. Support local farms. Regularly buying from small local farmers at stands or markets helps to keep dollars in the local economy and supports agricultural efforts to conserve biodiversity.
2. Save the bees!
3. Plant local flowers, fruits and vegetables.
4. Take shorter showers!
5. Respect local habitats.
6. Know the source!