Caption : Montezuma Falls, Tasmania
Photographer : Glenn Schultes |
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variation in life on earth. It refers to all living creatures such as plants, animals and organisms. This issue page will focus on the biodiversity of species and the push to conserve the species that are present on the earth today.
Why does biodiversity matter?
Vegetation on the earth’s surface helps to maintain a healthy balance in the atmosphere by taking in carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen.
Biodiversity is related to nearly all aspects of human life. The clothing we wear, power we use in our homes, medicines we use to cure diseases and the food we eat all have a direct relationship to biodiversity.
The biodiversity and beauty of Australian animal and plant species is a major tourist attraction and therefore plays an important role in supporting the Australian economy. It’s not hard to see why preserving biodiversity is important.
Is there really a problem here in Australia?
Yes, in fact the Australian government thinks that conserving biodiversity is one of the major environmental problems facing Australia today. The biological makeup of Australia has changed dramatically since colonisation 200 years ago. In recent years the government has been engaged in an active struggle to help conserve Australia’s unique collection of species. This is especially important because many of the species found in Australia are found no where else in the world.
What are the biggest threats to biodiversity in Australia?
- Invasive species and non-native species threaten to disturb the balance of the Australian bush. These invasive species can be devastating to the native plants.
- Land clearing can result in the loss of an entire ecosystem. Erosion and runoff from land clearing can also lead to problems with water quality.
- Salinity changes soil structure and can affect the biodiversity of local species .
- Over-grazing can result in loss of vegetation that can lead to the loss of species.
- Climate change can affect the conditions that species need to survive. This in turn may lead to the extinction of some species from a specific area.
What’s the good news?
The Commonwealth Government has been working with state and local governments to conserve biodiversity in Australia. Gains have been made and the number of species on the threatened and endangered lists in Australia is declining.
How do I know this?
Australian Government Biodiversity Tool Box,
http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/toolbox/about-b...
Australian Museum,
Biodiversity,
http://www.amonline.net.au/biodiversity/what/index.htm
Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, ¬
Biodiversity,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity
