Importance Of Biodiversity

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the variety of organisms living within a specific area or region. Biodiversity is the shortened word for biological diversity. (Anon., 2008) Biodiversity also refers to the number of different species. When referring to the biodiversity, one speaks of an ecosystem which is the relationship between the abiotic and biotic organisms in a specific area.

Why is Biodiversity Important?

Large numbers of people when asked why biodiversity is important to them, the response is that they want their children to see what they have been able to experience but there are other reasons as to why it is vital. Every species within an ecosystem plays an important role regardless of size, as each organism is significant.

(Department of Enviromental Affairs and Tourism, 2005)

South Africa is diversified in regards to biotic and abiotic factors but like all over the world, the numbers of species are decreasing. There are species worldwide that are known for the rapid rate at which they are losing their numbers.

Causes of decreases in biodiversity

• Change and Loss of Habitats: The change of a natural can result in the loss of vegetation and animal species due to the imbalance in the ecosystem.

• Climate Change: The change in climate, such as heating or cooling, can cause a loss of biodiversity in an environment as it tilts the natural ecosystem.

• Human Activity: Human activity, such as pollution and the removal of natural ecosystems for urbanization have caused the decrease in environments.

• Exploitation of Resources: Large numbers of species are exploited because of the value of some part of the organism. Poaching and overfishing are two of the many different ways in which organisms can be

A factor that affects the rhino poaching is also a person being able to place a monetary value on the welfare of the rhino (Natural environment or a zoo, illegal wildlife trade, methods on poaching). The rhinoceros poaching is differently affected by how the people in a specific community see the monetary value of the net effect on that community and its well being.

Solutions

• Banning of rhino poaching o This has been as failure as it has not prevented the illegal poaching or trade of rhino horns.

• Dehorning rhinos o This is the procedure by removing the horn of the rhino and then the rhino becomes worthless. This has experienced both failures (Poachers are willing to kill for the horn stub) and successes. The area of concern is that the rhino needs its horn as protection and other purposes and we are removing this horn, and therefore this solution is not as simple.

• Legalizing Trade in Rhino Horns o The areas of concern are whether or not this will be enforceable as places where trade would be activated do not have the regimes to enforce these new laws. Passed experiences show that occasional sales of poached items have not decreased the poaching rate. Debates regarding this solution are still under way and weighing up the pros verses the cons.

(Africa Wildlife Detective, 2013)

• Educating the