Why do you think that it is important to maintain biodiversity on our planet?

Answer 1

There are many good reasons as to why biodiversity should be preserved. One strong reason as to why I believe biodiversity should be protected has been the immense amount of beneficial substances and products that we can gain, and have gained, from the many species of organism found in nature. We rely on biodiversity for the production of medicines. Farmers rely on biodiversity when a disease devastates one type of crop. For instance, remember the Ireland potato famine, where only a few types of potato were grown and relied upon. Approximately one million died and a million more emigrated from the country when the potato became diseased. If more potato species had been around, there could have been one, a few, or even plenty more that had the ability to resist the disease, thus, preventing starvation.

Many people assume that biological diversity doesn't concern them. However, these individuals do not realize how interdependent all species are upon one another. Maintaining the biodiversity of the planet will ensure a higher quality of life for all species of the planet, including humans. Since the human species has proliferated the planet, and we now occupy many different kinds of ecysostems/biomes, our health as a species is dependent on the health of the biosphere (all of the areas on Earth that support life). After all, we are not exempt from the health of the planet, as we are all animal residents of this spaceship as well, only with an immensely increased ability to affect it due to industrial/technological advancement. We should simply ask: do we want our home to be a desolate wasteland, or a lush garden with an immense variety of fruits and other organisms?