The Importance of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is important for numerous reasons. In order to understand how or why it is important, we need to understand the different components that make up biodiversity. In its most basic understanding, biodiversity is the many variations of all species, the genetic differences between individuals within a species, and the ecosystems where species live and all of these “... are necessary for the continued survival of life as we know it, and all are important to people” (Primack, 2014). 

Image from Primack 2014. 

A species can is defined as a group of individuals that looks and is different from other groups, a group that can also breed among themselves and don’t breed with other individuals of other groups, and a group that has similarities in DNA and their evolutionary past (Primack, 2014). The number of species found within a specific location is called species richness and this can be further examined by where on Earth these species are found. For example, there is more species richness in tropical areas versus more temperate climates and can therefore have scientists focus on  conservation efforts that are needed in order to protect the most species. The genetic differences of individuals within a species allows adaptation to the constantly changing environment while within ecosystems, species interact and are grouped into various trophic (feeding) levels to represent how energy is obtained. This breakdown of biodiversity is to further understand why all the components that make it up is important to conserve in its own entity. And this is just the biological side of the importance of biodiversity!

Biodiversity is also important to humans. Humans obtain benefits from ecosystems, called ecosystem services. These can be as simple as providing timber and recreation from a forest. However, this same forest can provide the air we breathe and create a habitat for animals that some people depend upon as their livelihood. Gascon et al. describes the importance of species to ecosystem services in relationship to their loss within the ecosystem (2015). The “...demonstrable links between individual species and ecosystem services that are critical to humanity should, at a minimum, eliminate the burden of proving the relevance of species, and give way to an intelligent approach founded on the precautionary principle” (Gascon et al., 2015). It can be simple to put a price or number associated with goods that are brought to the market and become part of the economic ecosystem, but it becomes difficult to quantify how much air the forests are producing to express the benefit to the forest ecosystem. 

Image from National Parks Board, 2019. 

In Singapore, biodiversity is important across all levels of ecosystems; locally, nationally, and internationally. The National Parks Board of Singapore recently reviewed and updated their master plan for biodiversity, called “Conserving our Biodiversity”, which mentions that conservation efforts took off in the 1960s when the Prime Minister started planting trees along roadways and round-abouts (2019). Ever since, they have continued to enhance their green spaces and protect the species within the country. 

Image of Singapore’s Prime Minister planting a tree and starting the Tree Planting Campaign in the 1960s from the National Archives of Singapore. Available at www.nas.gov.sg.

However, they also have to consider that 207 species of birds and 156 species of butterflies may travel to other neighboring countries of Malaysia or Indonesia (National Parks Board, 2019). This makes Singapore’s biodiversity efforts important internationally to ensure the conservation of the species that migrate. The country continues to conduct biodiversity surveys and finds new species as a result of this, in addition to updating their Red Data Book that lists all of the plant and animal species that need focused conservation projects (National Parks Board, 2019), such as their species rich coral reefs and mangrove forests. Singapore is also a member of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), “...an intergovernmental regional centre of excellence, which facilitates cooperation among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its partners for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and fair sharing of benefits arising from such use” (National Park Board, 2019). The strategies for the conservation of their biodiversity are vast and inclusive of protecting or reestablishing their native species, habitats, and ecosystems. Singapore is considered an urban environment as it is considered one of the most densely populated countries in the world. In this sense, the relationship of natural areas and humans is very important. According to Edwards and Saunders, Singapore has gained a better understanding of how they can benefit and depend on ecosystem services (2019). This continued learning and knowledge of the benefits of biodiversity will push Singapore to pursue conservation efforts and will have the support of the local population. 

Image from National Parks Board, 2019. 

Resources

Edwards, P., & Saunders, J. (2019, May 10). Tackling global biodiversity challenge from the ground. Available at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tackling-global-biodiversity-challenge-from-the-ground.

Gascon, C., Brooks, T. M., Contreras-Macbeath, T., Heard, N., Konstant, W., Lamoreux, J., … Vié, J.-C. (2015). The Importance and Benefits of Species. Current Biology, 25(10). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.03.041

National Parks Board. (2019). Conserving our Biodiversity: Singapore’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Available at https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/sg/sg-nbsap-v4-en.pdf

Primack, R. B. (2014). Essentials of Conservation Biology (6th ed.). Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinauer Associates, Inc.