Biodiversity Loss: Threats and Conservation Strategies
Reeta Kumari, Agarwal Deepali, Sonal Bhatnagar
Abstract
The global population is expanding day by day, the increase in food demand by the growing population poses serious environmental challenges. To satisfy the increasing food supply, a shift in conventional agriculture was observed that lead to expanded agricultural land uses with reduced wildlife and biodiversity. Deterioration of agricultural land has caused overexploitation of forest land by converting natural habitats into managed systems. Life has originated billions of years ago. Since then, there is a continual extinction of over 90% of the species due to various factors such as increased human population, unsustainable resource consumption, habitat fragmentation, habitat degradation, alien species invasion, pollution, monoculture practices, climate change, loss of forest cover etc. Food, fodder, fuel, medicines, wood, crop plants are some of the natural resources received from the environment. Biodiversity also provides an ecosystem, social, and spiritual services to mankind. We must realize the significance of biodiversity on earth as a valuable resource that can help in developing new products for generations. A consensus has been developed to adopt a holistic view of biodiversity for its conservation and sustainable utilization. Numerous techniques have been proposed and implemented for the conservation of biodiversity and its genetic resources. Since we are dependent on nature for our livelihood, this review paper aims to address the biodiversity and its threats along with some conservation strategies which are not adopted on a large scale.