By Nneka Nwogwugwu
International Day for Biological Diversity is a day set aside by the United Nations to celebrate and spread awareness about the need to protect biodiversity.
Biodiversity refers to various life forms found in all spheres, land, air, and water, on Earth. But due to human interference and industries, we are seeing a loss of biodiversity on a rapid scale.
The year 2022 is special as the UN has officially launched the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. It is a 10-year goal “to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean.
Now, here are 5 significant ecosystems that need urgent protection.
1. Forest: The increases rate of deforestation in some countries are affecting terrestrial and amphibian habitat. Forests, and trees are used for logging, wildfire, camping, and growing farmland. 80% of terrestrial and amphibian habitat is provided by forests. The initiative on replanting trees around the world, even in deserts, thus, aims to recover forest losses.
2. Marine Life: Marine life is threatened by pollution, climate change, overexploitation, and overfishing. We go to beaches, and resorts but frequently leave beer bottles around the area. These beer bottles are the least of the concerns because other plastic waste, and sewage waste account for more concerns.
The major threats to freshwater lakes and rivers are overfishing, industrial pollution, and agricultural waste. As a result, the ecosystem is also damaged such that marine life is endangered. We can help mitigate this problem by using less plastic and ensuring waste treatment.
3. Farmlands: Farmlands across the world suffer from excess soil erosion, excess use of fertilizers and pesticides, and insect pests. The agricultural industries also contribute to climate change.
4. Mountains: Mountains are important ecosystems, but climate change, warm temperatures, and farming have led to glacier melting, and avalanches, resulting in loss of shelter and habitat for both human settlements, and animals. Farming methods like agroforestry, and growing trees can help in battling landslides and climate change.
5. Peatlands: Peatlands are some kinds of wetlands that store the largest amount of carbon. Damage to peatlands releases these carbon emissions and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, leading to global climate change. They are found in almost every country, including India, where they are said to be found in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, North Sikkim, parts of western ghats and Kerala. Peatlands also supports local communities in providing food and fiber. They also prevent flooding and drought. But peatlands are getting affected due to drainage, agricultural use, and forestry.
In a message to mark World biodiversity day, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said, “ to achieve a sustainable future for all, we must act urgently to protect biodiversity, the web of life that connects and supports us all.
“We must end our senseless and destructive war against nature. The rate of species loss is tens to hundreds of times higher than the average of the last 10 million years, and it is accelerating.”