Thoughts on Biodiversity- Its Perceived Threat and Solution

We observed World Environment day (WED) recently on 5th June. Aim of WED is to create awareness about environment and encourage action to protect it. United Nations decide central theme for each environment day to highlight importance of one of the multiple aspects of environment. This year focus is on ‘Biodiversity’, as several studies have shown that about one million species, out of estimated 8.7 million species, are on the verge of extinction in near future. This is an alarming call because nature is in trouble because of loss of biodiversity and troubled nature is jeopardizing life. WED provides us an opportunity to awaken people to this life threatening crisis.

 

 

 

Biological diversity, i.e., ‘Biodiversity’ is a very significant and essential aspect of life on earth. Innumerable species, microscopic as well as macroscopic, play a vital role in running various natural cycles. Varied species display amazing interdependence that complements each other to achieve desired outcome of these cycles. Natural cycles further work together to create nature as a whole. This makes earth habitable and life evolves through it.

 

Life on earth becomes enjoyable and worthy because of diversity which surrounds every one of us. Variety of enchanting colors, melodious sounds, magical smells and delicious tastes make our lives interesting, exciting and pleasant. Entire spectrum of variety springs from nature which is full of diversity. Biodiversity, thereby, lays foundation for development of life.

 

Think of anything that supports, protects and sustains human life; everything comes from enormous diversity. Air we breathe, foods we eat, water we drink, clothes we wear, medicines we take, materials we use for all kind of comforts and numerous other things are all products of diversity. Physical wellbeing is ensured by rich biodiversity.

 

Biodiversity imparts noble values to human life and helps in sociocultural development of society. Diversity teaches how to coexist with mutual respect and grow with cooperation even though having distinct appearances, identities and expressions. Vast diversity in nature signifies freedom or liberty to each individual entity and simultaneously indicates responsibility of each one to maintain togetherness to evolve and prosper. Acceptance of and respect for plurality gets developed in society because of diversity. This is the secret of sustainability.

 

Biodiversity is a source of strength for life, objectively as well as subjectively. Therefore, it is a fundamental duty of human beings to respect and protect diversity.

 

 

In spite of growing awareness about protecting biodiversity, situation today reflects something that is contrary to this vision. Terrific rise in human activities has threatened biodiversity seriously. Human activities have increased manifold over last 250 years since the beginning of industrial revolution (1760). Industries need resources which come from nature. Natural resources get processed through machines. With the advancements in technology and engineering speed of processing has increased tremendously. Rise in speed of processing has drawn more resources from nature that has ultimately resulted in fast depletion of diversity. Also, rate of growth of biological entities does not match with the speed of advanced processing machines. This mismatch or imbalance, in natural and artificial processes, has become another major cause of decrease in natural resources.

 

Growth of industries has an adverse impact on diversity in agriculture too. Industries need specific agricultural produce to feed their machines. Demand of such specific produce has changed sector of agriculture. This has forced farmers to go for some particular produces instead of variety of crops. Besides this, to produce more and more from same soil, as per the demand of industries, has initiated use of artificial chemical products in farming; awfully affecting diversity of microorganisms’ present in soil. Ultimately, this over yielding has affected fertility of soil which is decreasing rapidly.

 

 

What is the solution for this life threatening challenge or existential crisis? In order to seek solution we need to go to the origin or root of this undesirable development. Basically life has three major components, namely, man, machine and nature. Close observation of life highlights dynamic interplay of these three components, going on incessantly through ages. In this triad of components ‘machine’ is an artificial component developed by ‘man’ by using resources from ‘nature’. ‘Machine’, being a centerpiece, influences both other components.

 

What we have seen through centuries is the changing character of ‘machine’. Instinctive desire of ‘man’ to seek protection from unpredictable and threatening behavior of ‘nature’ has been a reason behind progressive development of ‘machine’. However, in last three centuries we have observed that thought of overpowering ‘nature’, with the help of ‘machines’, has overtaken thought of achieving protection. This has disturbed the desired balance between three basic components of life. Imbalance created has given rise to excessive environmental problems and threat to biodiversity is a most serious amongst them.

 

Solution to the threat lies in regaining balance between three components of life. This demands major shift in our attitude. Balance can be regained primarily by rejecting idea of conquering ‘nature’ and adopting idea of living in harmony with ‘nature’. Profound changes are required in life style in vogue. Revision of life style needs to be done by keeping in mind well-being of all species on the ‘Only One Earth’. ‘Well-being of All’ should be the fundamental guiding principle for all kind of development in every walk of life.