What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity relates to life, along with its habitat on our planet. We call these living habitats "ecosystems", whether they be aquatic, including marine, or terrestrial environments. In fact, the word refers to all the interactions between the fauna, flora and their natural environment. For example, think of the bees' role in pollination, allowing flowers to reproduce and agriculture to grow. The idea of biodiversity emerged in the 1980s, and its importance was officially recognised for the first time in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro.

It constitutes a global equilibrium, of which the climate is a part. It is quite simply essential to us human beings. Why? Because thanks to it, we can breathe, eat and drink. We also draw on these resources to extract raw materials, which allows us to produce and meet all our needs.We are, therefore, entirely dependant on it being in good health.

Biodiversity is essential to the functioning of our planet. It provides many ecosystem services that are vital to our survival: 

- Food and oxygen production: plants produce the oxygen we breathe and are at the base of the food chain.

- Climate regulation: forests absorb carbon dioxide and help to regulate temperature. 

- Soil protection: plants and micro-organisms help to form and protect soil.

- Pollination: pollinating insects enable many plants to reproduce.

- Water purification: wetlands filter water and make it drinkable.

The erosion of biodiversity, with a decline in animal and plant populations, is one of the nine planetary boundaries.

According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the decline in biodiversity and the threat to ecosystems is accelerating at an unprecedented pace in human history. In the Living Planet Report 2022, the NGO WWF states that vertebrate populations declined by an average of 69% between 1970 and 20183.

There is still time to change, however, if decisions are taken at all levels, both global and local, and in all areas of activity: economic, health, quality of life, etc. Nature must be protected and restored in order to re-establish a balance between the natural functions provided by ecosystems.

The 2019 report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) alerts: "1,000,000 species are threatened by extinction".

We can ask ourselves why and where are the threats to fauna and flora coming from? There are multiple sources, all of which are of human origin. According to this report, in order of importance in terms of impact, we find:

It means the overuse of the ocean's resources and also the artificialisation of the land. Natural habitats eroded by urban sprawl. This phenomenon is leading to soil degradation. With the soil surfaces becoming sealed, it leads to erosion, more flooding — the land no longer capable of absorbing water — and the widespread use of concrete contributing to rising temperatures.

75 % of inland water is now intended for livestock farming and agriculture. There is also the construction of dams. The diversion of these different areas for human needs leaves less and less space for wildlife and diminishes the food chains.   

These include overfishing, overexploitation of forests or even agricultural production. The first does not allow for the renewal of species and subsequently harms their ecosystems. For the second and third, the decrease of wooded areas intensifies global warming.

Its consequences are growing, and its influence on wildlife is expected to increase in the years to come. Rising temperatures lead to changes in the distribution of species in territories when they are not directly threatened. The resulting natural disasters or high temperatures variations mechanically influence life cycles. For example, fruit trees that bloom in February and then experience frost in May.

Firstly the pollution of air, soil and water: whether it be chemical pollution, fertilizers, plastic… They not only have an impact on the environment but also on their inhabitants. Plastic is not only the cause of 400 dead zones in the oceans but also causes ill-health and even the demise of many living creatures that ingest it.
Then there is light and noise pollution, which also disturbs wildlife and forces them to change their habitat.

These invasive species are introduced by humans voluntarily or involuntarily and lead to the extinction of the local fauna and flora. Consequently, with less varied food resources, we witness a loss of diversity.
These 5 causes are resulting in the decline of nature and threaten Mankind itself. Just as the COP21 enabled to set targets for countries in terms of limiting global warming, biodiversity awaits the same legal framework.