Historians say that, before earth was inhabited by humans; it was highly rich in natural and animal resources including surface and underground water. Survival of life on earth is directly or indirectly linked to plant species.
It is said in the life cycle; natural resources are declining in the process of meeting the basic needs of humans, like food, clothing, and shelter.
Evidence shows that the world’s total energy supplies, about 97 percent of the world’s food and other basic needs are from natural resources, which is called the Earth, and the rest from the water bodies.
World countries have different biodiversity based on their geographical diversity. Ethiopia has also wide variety of geographical and climatic zones. It is one of the twenty most endangered biodiversity holders.
Vavlov, a Russian scientist, identifies Ethiopia as one of the 12 countries in the world when distinguishing the countries of great diversity. Evidences show that Africa is also one of the five continents with the same wealth.
Ethiopia is characterized by its unique geography of sunshine almost throughout the year and an altitudinal variability of more than 100 meters below sea level up to 4,620 meters above sea level.
The prevalence is the result of different weather patterns. Moreover, the presence of many rivers and lakes has made it a country with rich diverse and unique biodiversity resources.
Regular studies show that global biodiversity resources are rapidly declining especially in countries where biodiversity is widespread. The consequences of human irresponsibility to take care of the environment are some of the causes of global climate change, drought and desertification and uneven population growth.
Though Ethiopia is rich with biodiversity resources, studies show that natural resources are suffering from the effects of man-made and natural disasters from time to time. A large amount of biodiversity resources are being used in a sustainable way to satisfy the growing needs of the population.
Specifically, habitat change, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, alien invasive species, and the spread of genetically modified organisms are threatening biodiversity.
With such a major impact, they are hurting the economy and the natural systems that support life. Low awareness of the importance of biodiversity, especially in developing countries, is a fundamental reason for the decline and disappearance of this resource from the earth.
Conservation of it, to protect the environment permanently, plays a vital role in maintaining the cycle of nature and ensuring the survival of living things. Countries had no biodiversity sovereignty before signing the treaty of International Convention on Biodiversity in 1992.
The resources of one country were randomly and freely migrated to another. After the treaty, however, countries have been able to uphold their biodiversity rights, but still more work is being done to properly utilize biodiversity resources.
All the biological resources on Earth such as Plants, animals and microorganisms, and the genes that contain compounds that create trees the world’s most endangered species, grass varieties, bushes, flying birds, bacteria, worms, and reptiles are biodiversity. The name of a variety of living things that include a set of all living organisms, including aquatic organisms is said to be biodiversity.
The process of surviving with climate change induced by man-made and natural systems is the factor that reduces vulnerability to climate change. Biodiversity depends on climate change, the productivity of the site, the prior biodiversity, and the degree to which the organisms interact with each other.
According to the Convention of International Biodiversity, it is the distinction between all living things, land, sea, and other aquatic ecosystems and living organisms that interact with each other.
Resulting from the Convention, social culture related to biodiversity conservation and use, customs, and existing indigenous knowledge have been emphasized and considered to be part of it, considering the importance of biodiversity. So, it is the product of biodiversity seed that demonstrates a combination of ecosystem associated with the community’s culture and knowledge.
Biodiversity hurt reasons despite their massive potential for balance between nature and human interaction; its resources are declining due to human negligence and a lack of strong regulatory systems for environmental sustainability.
Lessons on it show, each year more than one billion bio-diversities are extraordinary disappearing from the earth. As a result of this, human resources are being threatened by deforestation, agriculture, housing, and industrialization.
The illegal hunting is harming wildlife habitats. The explosion of new species, climate change, temperature and environmental pollution, are threatening and making endangered natural resources and wildlife.
The explosion of invasive species disorders of the day-to-day beat ecological balance. Destruction of genetic resources in the case of environmental pollution, disruption of plant breeding process, climate change processes, and food chain disorders are not to be overlooked.
Expansion and growth in the natural habitations of humans exerts a negative influence on the weather dependent ecosystem. These biodiversity resources: animals and tiny organisms should be reserved for the next generation rather than destroying them very dramatically through violation of natural processes. Regarding what to be done in the future, various suggestions were provided by different concerned organs.
According to the research and the facts of the Global World, biodiversity is the only basis for a sustainable life. Therefore, proper protection and care are crucial. As a result, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the uses of biodiversity through modern technology to better meet the basic human needs of food, clothing, and shelter.
A country’s plants, animals, and minerals are indispensable resources for development activities aimed at accelerating overall growth of the agricultural, industrial, and health sectors. Researchers suggest that any threat to nature can be saved with the committed participation from individual to government officials guaranteeing its survival by protecting nature. Recycling waste products to reduce the energy under utility saves the air from pollution.
Reducing fuel consumption by using other energy options; using products that do not harm the atmosphere and minimizing artificial and natural pressures enable preserve biodiversity. They highlight the importance of promoting awareness and protection of biodiversity in the local community.
World Biodiversity Day is celebrated each year. The 19th anniversary of this year’s Biodiversity Day was celebrated with the theme: “Nature is the source of our solutions.” Dr. Meles Mario, Executive Director of the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, said in his statement: “It is intended to highlight the fact that nature is the solution to all the problems we face.”
According to the director, when human beings disrupt the ecosystem, there will be epidemics like floods, landslides, desertification, and so on. Ecological problems, endemic biodiversity, and invasive species are the sources of problems that biodiversity faces naturally and these problems can be solved, he suggested.
The Ethiopian herald June 2,2020
BY MUSSA MUHAMMED
