Introduction
What is biodiversity? Biodiversity defines the range of life on Earth as well as the marine and terrestrial ecosystems that help sustain the amazingly diverse life forms that we live in the midst of. This is important for kids to know about because they are an inalienable part of the same biodiversity. Anything that harms this biodiversity will harm the future of the kids as well. What is biodiversity and why is it important to kids are questions every kid should know the answers to.
This is something that good schools in Manila as well as elementary schools in Pasig are well aware of.
Why is Biodiversity Important?
Biodiversity is important because it helps support the life that abounds on Earth. It makes human beings not only live in good health but also engage in profitable economic activities like agriculture and fishing. It is, therefore, very important to help maintain healthy biodiversity.
1. Clean Air and Water
Clean air and water are fundamental requirements for life on Earth. A deterioration in the quality and quantity of these will have a negative impact on life forms, in the process, leading to a weakening of biodiversity which does not augur well for life on the planet.
2. Ecological Stability
If biodiversity is not taken care of, there is bound to be ecological instability. Everything from deforestation and overfishing to burning fossil fuels and excessive consumption leads to loss of biodiversity and ecological instability. This has to be taken care of if we want our children to have a safe and healthy future.
3. Pollination and Agriculture
Biodiversity helps in the pollination process with the help of pollinators like bees, butterflies and birds. It, therefore, has a direct impact on agriculture and any decline in biodiversity will have a direct impact on the world food security.
4. Nature’s Medicine Cabinet
Most of the pharmaceutical drugs and medicines that the world uses are sourced from natural compounds derived from plants, animals and other microorganisms. Therefore, we have to protect this natural medicine cabinet at any cost.
5. Ethical Importance
Mankind is the only species of living beings which has caused immense harm to the biodiversity of planet Earth – a world that we share with all other forms of life. Therefore, it is our ethical and moral duty to protect and preserve biodiversity on Earth.
6. Climate Regulation
The Earth’s climate is regulated to a large extent by its ecosystem comprising oceans, forests and animals that store carbon dioxide and help maintain a delicate climate balance. This cannot be disturbed at any cost.
7. Cultural Value
Biodiversity helps add colour to our lives, helping inspire everything from art and literature to spiritualism and tourism. Besides, it enables economic activity as well. It powers the very culture that is the bedrock of human existence.
8. A Healthy Planet
A healthy biodiversity equals a healthy planet and there are no doubts about that fact. Therefore, no effort should be spared in ensuring that biodiversity is not only maintained but restored as well so that we leave a healthier planet for our children and their children.
9. Economic Importance
Poor biodiversity diminishes the ability of the planet to support economic activity, thereby directly impacting the way that people live their daily lives. There is, therefore, an extraordinary economic importance attached to a healthy biodiversity, requiring everybody to give their all to achieve that.
Conclusion
Biodiversity is the lifeblood of life as we know it on Earth. If we want our children to continue to enjoy the bounties of nature the same way that we have, we need to do everything within our power to protect biodiversity. Unfortunately, with the overexploitation of natural resources, the burning of fossil fuel and mindless economic activity, we have brought the climate to its knees.
The ravages of climate change are already visible in every corner of the globe and it may already be too late to fully mitigate the impact of climate change. We don’t have a second to lose in the fight to repair and restore biodiversity on Earth. Given that it is going to be a long-drawn fight, we need our kids to be taught to join in the fight, for it is their future that is at stake. They have to be taught to not repeat past mistakes and choose a way of life and economic activity that does not harm precious biodiversity in any manner.
Human beings are capable of great achievements when they put their minds to it. If they can put a man on the Moon and send a spacecraft to Mars, they can surely work on restoring biodiversity on Earth. Doing so would be by far mankind’s greatest achievement, for it would have saved the very future of humanity.
We may be running out of time with regard to saving planet Earth from ecological disaster given that the world is going on living its life like it’s business as usual. The young people should make their voice be heard by those in charge to let them know that their future cannot be trifled with. They can show the way by making the right life choices themselves and leading by example when it comes to restoring Earth’s precious biodiversity.