Biodiversity – A Gift Of Nature

The world we see today has come into existence through a journey of evolution for millions of years, leaving biodiversity as its trail.

Biodiversity represents the variety of life on earth and the various forms of their associations. We are completely dependent upon this network of life, which we are an integral part of.

All life on earth has been segregated as plants, animals, birds, and microorganisms based on taxonomy.

A wide variety is observed in these taxonomic categories, which at present are estimated to contain 1.75 million identified species.

Some scientists, however, have hypothesized an estimate of 13 million species, some of which may be yet to be identified.

Biodiversity may also exist within a species due to the variance of genetic material that results from extensive breeding of crops and livestock in geographical isolation.

Such kind of genetic variance is a result of mutations in the DNA structure of chromosomes, which carry the information for the inheritance of traits.

As different species of organisms provide a big picture of the diversity of life on this planet, microbial diversity forms the last piece that completes this puzzle.

Although microbes have existed since the beginning of life on Earth, the acknowledgment of their significance was quite late in the journey of evolution.

Microbes, with their biochemical machinery, have played an intricate part in the survival of different species by improving their adaptive skills.

Similarly, many anthropological activities related to agriculture and industry have been greatly influenced by microbial diversity.

A few good examples of this would be the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria in fields, the use of antibiotic-producing bacteria in pharmaceutical industries, and many more.

• Also Read – What Is Biodiversity? And Why Does It Matter?

Nature has always haunted us with problems that remind us of the imbalance our ignorance has created.

Now and then, we rush back to Nature’s store for cures for illnesses or to seek stronger crops that are resistant to abiotic and biotic stress.

Therefore, the protection of biodiversity is of utmost importance to preserve the ecological balance and restore the biological resources that have laid the foundations for our civilization.

The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) is commemorated by the United Nations on 22nd May to increase our understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

It is our responsibility to preserve Nature’s treasures and respect the biodiversity of the region we visit. The Native Americans had once very famously said, ‘We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.’

• Also Read – The Future Of Sustainable Fish Farming