Question -
Answer -
Major causes for lossof biodiversity are as follows:
· Since the last fewdecades, growth in human population has increased the rate of consumption ofnatural resources. It has accelerated the loss of species and habitation indifferent parts of the world.
· Over-exploitation ofresources and deforestation have become rampant to fulfil the needs of largepopulation. As these tropical rain forests contain 50 per cent of the specieson the earth, destruction of natural habitats have proved disastrous for theentire biosphere.
· Natural calamitiessuch as earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, droughts, etc.cause damage to the flora and fauna of the earth, bringing changes to thebiodiversity of respective affected regions.
· Pesticides and otherpollutants such as hydrocarbons and toxic heavy metals destroy the weak andsensitive species.
· Conservation strategyhas suggested the following steps for biodiversity conservation:
· Efforts should be madeto preserve the species that are endangered.
· Prevention ofextinction requires proper planning and management.
· Varieties of foodcrops, forage plants, timber trees, livestock, animals and their wild relativesshould be preserved;
· Each country shouldidentify habitats of wild relatives and ensure their protection.
· Habitats where speciesfeed, breed, rest and nurse their young ones should be safeguarded andprotected.
· International trade inwild plants and animals be regulated.