The United Nations has earmarked May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity to create awareness and educate people about issues relating to biodiversity.
Bio bits
Biodiversity is the variation of life forms within a species, ecosystem or on the earth or in other words it means “life on earth”. All the species are an integral part of the ecosystem and extinction of any species diminishes the well-being of the remaining ones, including human beings. The occasion, the International Day for Biodiversity a few weeks ago, was a wake up call to throw light on conservation of biodiversity. And it got the young citizens thinking. “I think there is a need to conserve biodiversity and it is very essential for us to be a part of conservation programmes or activities because if there is loss of biodiversity, we humans also have to suffer the repercussions,” says Raunak, a student of Std. IX.
The main reasons for loss of biodiversity is due to the destruction of natural habitat, exotic species (introduction of new species in a region), genetic pollution (hybridization and genetics) and lastly, climatic changes. Conservation of biodiversity is a strenuous process and needs much attention on the global, national and local levels from the government, people and through policies. Perhaps, conservation of biodiversity is as important to us as any individual's survival today because everything is inter-related and if one perishes in a chain or a system then the rest follows.
What you can do
Spread the message about the conservation of biodiversity to one and all.
Open a biodiversity club in your school. Organise meets, have contests and weekend activities all through the year.
