Biodiversity & Why It Is Important

    Biodiversity is the amalgamation of various plant life and wildlife, including insects, organic matter, and organisms. Biodiversity can span locally, regionally, or globally. Biodiversity can also be defined as “all of the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area” (WWF), including animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms, all of which work together to support ecosystems and life on Earth. 

Protecting biodiversity is the most important thing we can do not only for our planet but also for ourselves. Amid our day-to-day functions, it can be easy for us all to forget about the benefits we gain from protecting non-human life. Many of us tend to view biodiversity protection as always being at odds with economic prosperity. Perhaps, though, this does not have to be the case. While economic activities or resource extraction must occur in some cases, healthy biodiversity is the foundation for our well-being.

For instance, think about how small crustaceans such as the Madison Cave isopod can safeguard a local population’s water supply. Not only is the effort to protect this tiny isopod a matter of conservation, but it is also one of human health and thus economics. That is just one local-level example. On a regional scale, different birds can bring various benefits, notably through seed dispersal. When we get to the global scale, protecting biodiversity can also mean shielding native plant or animal species from invasive life from other countries. I was amazed when I started to learn how easy it is for invasive species to spread through accidental human errors. Invasive species can accidentally be carried across waters by boat, find their way into shipping crates, and even be spread by contaminating our clothing.

Indeed, protecting biodiversity with our most significant efforts will undoubtedly require us to make some changes to our economies and consumption habits. Despite any changes that may come, we do not have to see such transformations as unfavorable. Instead, we should view any necessary adjustments for biodiversity protection as opportunities for economic innovation, safeguarding human health, and creating a more politically stable world.