4 Biodiversity
Introduction
Biodiversity is a conjunction of the words “biological” and “diversity”, which refers to the variety of life forms that exist on the planet, and the ways they interact with one another. Human degradation of natural environments has led to a massive decline in global biodiversity. Through environmentally harmful acts such as deforestation, fracking, increased pollution and general overconsumption, human greed and entitlement have destroyed many of the ecosystems we depend on to survive, for example, coral reefs. Human degradation of natural environments affects humans, plants and animal species that rely on these environments, we must therefore start to preserve what remains, for us to have a future on the planet.
|
Video Name |
Biodiversity
|
|
Video Source URL |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK_vRtHJZu4
|
Topic Overview
The issue of declining biodiversity connects to almost all, if not all, of the sustainable development goals. Responsible consumption and production, life below water and on land, sustainable cities and communities, good health and wellbeing industry as well as innovation and infrastructure, stand out as being particularly relevant. Biodiversity and issues of sustainability go hand- in-hand, in that a community (or habitat) cannot be sustained without a diverse range of biological influences having the space and nurturing their needs to contribute to the long-term prosperity of the ecosystem.
A good example towards sustainable development goals is the video, “Urban Nature-based Solutions”. It is about a residential area, Ekostaden Augustenborg in Malmo, Sweden. This community was able to achieve a 50% increase in biodiversity, and a 20% decrease in carbon dioxide emission and a 30% reduction in unemployment by producing green jobs.
|
Video Name |
WWF (2021, Nov., 12). Urban Nature-based Solutions: Buildings and neighborhoods |
|
Video Source URL |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRXx0QyxBFo
|
Innovators and Ideas
In the article “Tallgrass”, Robin Wall Kimmerer (2018), describes the importance of maintaining the biodiversity of the tallgrass prairie lands. Maintaining biodiversity sustains interconnectivity between humans, nature, and culture, and sequesters carbon dioxide to mitigate the damage of climate change.
An Indigenous worldview of the land inherently respects the ecological diversity needed for it to flourish. Stewardship towards the land is reflected in many Indigenous cultural and spiritual practices. The destruction of these lands is not just a removal of resources but a depletion of cultural integrity, as an Indigenous worldview sees the land as sentient.
Through the conversion of the prairies into agricultural land between 1800 and 1930, 95% of the world’s tallgrass prairie was converted into farmland that has fed billions of people. However, more than 50% of the United States corn crops are used to create ethanol, and less than 10% is for human consumption. Recently, a lot of this land