All the threats to biodiversity

Biodiversity is at serious risk, according to the WWF , which estimates that 1 million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction forever. This is due to both climate change and other activities that have contributed to destroying or altering the natural balance. Consider that crops and livestock occupy a third of the Earth's surface and use approximately 75% of freshwater resources.

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

Furthermore, according to the report " The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review ," commissioned in 2019 by the United Kingdom from Sir Partha Dasgupta, " humanity has collectively mismanaged its 'global resource portfolio,' meaning that the demands made on nature far exceed its capacity to provide the goods and services we all rely on ." And while natural capital per capita declined dramatically from 1992 to 2014, the same cannot be said for economic capital per capita, which instead doubled. That is, wealth has increased, at least in the wealthy part of the world, while nature has been massacred.

READ ALSO: Angelo and Valerio, the guardians of ancient seeds. To save biodiversity, against the same-sex food.

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?

The diverse collection of animals, fungi , plants, and microorganisms on our planet constitutes the incredible resource known as biodiversity. This term was first used by Raymond Dasmann in 1968 and later revived in subsequent years.

All these organisms contribute to creating a vital balance for life, which, however, is no longer a given today. And the blame lies with humanity and its activities, which too often exploit the environment rather than respect it. Only a radical shift in perspective and a substantial reduction in human impact on the planet can offer some hope for the future.

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY IN SIMPLE WORDS?

Among the many definitions of biodiversity, the simplest, and at the same time the most effective, is to measure it based on the number of species present in a given environment . Obviously, the more species there are, the richer the ecosystem, and it must be protected in this plurality. The richness of an ecosystem, thanks to biodiversity, better protects it from the risks of disasters that could destroy or damage it. In this sense, biodiversity is a form of nature's self-protection, and a measure of resilience to environmental changes that tend, always at the hands of humans, to disrupt it.

WHY IS BIODIVERSITY SO IMPORTANT?

As the Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) emphasizes, biodiversity is essential for strengthening " the productivity of any ecosystem ." Its loss, on the other hand, tends to increase natural disasters, reduce health standards and water resources, and sow food and energy insecurity. Because without a balance between the various species, each of which is precious, the ecosystem collapses. Indeed, ecosystems are more resistant to external attacks or changes when their biodiversity is intact.

Not to mention that it provides humanity with goods, resources, and ecosystem services. Without biodiversity, ultimately, there would be a shortage of many foods, many fibers used in textiles, and countless raw materials. And therefore, the economy and human societies in general would suffer.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: PollinAction, the project that plants wildflower meadows to save biodiversity. And bees.

LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY

There are generally 3 hierarchical levels of biodiversity:

• la genetic diversity indicating the hereditary variations of genes in the population or in different populations of organisms;
• la species diversity, therefore the number of species in a certain habitat or area.
• la ecosystem diversity, or the number of ecosystems present in a certain territory.

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

We were saying that man and his activities are the main threat to biodiversity, but what are these activities?

First of all, habitat destruction, including deforestation , is one of the most serious causes of the climate emergency. This can be caused by both natural disasters and land-use changes, often caused by human intervention.

Secondly, the exploitation of natural resources, climate change , and pollution . The latter is caused by numerous activities, from industrial ones to agricultural activities themselves, which, through the indiscriminate use of pesticides and insecticides, cause harmful changes.

Indiscriminate hunting and fishing also represent a problem, as do alien species , those introduced by humans to geographical areas other than their original ones.

BIODIVERSITY AT RISK

The 2018 report commissioned by the United Kingdom from Cambridge University economics professor Sir Partha Dasgupta highlighted a sad reality. Nature has long been completely ignored by the economy and, more importantly, shamelessly exploited:

“Humanity has collectively mismanaged its ‘global resource portfolio,’ meaning that the demands placed on nature far exceed its capacity to provide the goods and services we all rely on.”

Suffice it to say that since 1970, there has been a decline of approximately 70% in the populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. And 1 million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction. This is why the renowned professor intends to rebuild the economy to include nature:

"Sustainable economics means using a different measure than GDP. It also means fully considering the impact of our interactions with nature at all levels of society. Covid-19 has shown us what can happen if we don't."

If this were not the case, many sectors would suffer, including our economy, not to mention well-being.

READ ALSO: Forests, 10 million hectares are lost every year with a significant loss of biodiversity

BIODIVERSITY IN ITALY

Italy, with 8.195 native plant and flower species , leads Europe in biodiversity. This enormous heritage has been officially surveyed, following 15 years of work and involving 51 botanists coordinated by the Apennine Floristic Research Center, the universities of Camerino and Pisa, and Gabriele Galasso, an expert from the Natural History Museum. So much for the good news. Then comes the bad. Some very rare species are at risk of extinction, such as the Bosnian pine, found on the rocky slopes of the Pollino National Park, or the Nebrodi fir, currently confined only to the Madonie area of ​​Sicily. The risk of biodiversity is linked to anthropogenic factors, especially environmental ones. And confirmation comes from the survey conducted in Italy itself. In the Po Valley, where pollution is out of control and industrial expansion has been enormous, 26 plant and flower species have become extinct. And there are almost no oak trees left.

BIODIVERSITY IN CONSTITUTION

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BIODIVERSITY:

• Climate change, once again far from the objectives set
• Biodiversity: $3,6 billion needed to save a nature reserve from oil