Question.
What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?
( Chapter - 2 -Forest and Wildlife Resources, Cass X NCERT Contemporary India -II )
Answer.
Biodiversity is made up of two words – bio and diversity. Bio means life and diversity means many forms. Biodiversity is the number and different types of life forms (plants, animals, microorganisms) in a particular habitat.
Each species has a specific role in the ecosystem and the richer the diversity, the stronger the ecosystem. Like other resources, it is not evenly distributed on Earth. Biodiversity decreases from the equator to the poles. Biodiversity is highest near the equator and lowest at the poles.
Biodiversity is a living wealth because it is very important not only for humans but also for the entire biosphere. Man cannot survive without biodiversity, a variety of life forms have contributed in many ways to the development of human culture.
Biodiversity is very important for human life in the following ways:
The importance of biodiversity can be seen from three perspectives-
- economic benefits
- ecological benefits
- scientific advantage
economic benefits of biodiversity
Plants make and store energy. Other animals store energy and transfer this energy to other animals and humans. Biodiversity is a storehouse of resources that satisfy human needs. It provides us with food, medicine, and cosmetic products.
Ecological Benefits of Biodiversity
Species like microorganisms help to decompose organic matter and help to complete the cycle of the water cycle and other nutrients and make the ecosystem function. The nutrient cycle and decomposition help the biosphere to be pollution free.
Plants and animals control the composition of gases in the atmosphere which helps in controlling the climate and reducing atmospheric pollution.
Biodiversity help in soil formation.
Scientific Benefits of Biodiversity:
Each species of biodiversity provides us with information about the evolution of life. It also provides information about how life functions and the role of each species.
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