On May 22^nd, everyone celebrates International Biodiversity Day to respect values of all living things and realize the significance of biodiversity. Due to Climate change and pollutions it is estimated that over half of the living things were reduced under extinction or listed as endangered species. According to the International Plant Protection Convention, within couple decades 25% of Earth?s species will become extinct.

Albert Einstein once said, ?If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no mor than four years to live.? Honey bees are important component of our ecology. One Green Planet informed the public more in depth about the significance of the bees, by examining the ways they benefit our lives. To note few things, Bees are known to act as ?environmental indicators.? Meaning, based on the bee population declines, scientists can observe whether ecosystem was damaged. Also, bees assist plants with their pollinations. Without honeybees, 1/3 of the food cannot be produced anymore. We cannot consume fruits and vegetables, and animals-including us- will eventually go extinct as well.

Polar bears are one of the most well-known species that suffer from climate change. Larry Schweiger, the president of the National Wildlife Federation, claimed that ?there will be no polar ice by 2060, and somewhere along that path, the polar bear drops out.? Losing their typical habitat of cold ocean, polar bears are under threats. The melting ice makes polar bears to swim further distance. As ice platforms that they stands to hunt down their preys are melting. Polar bears eat less and their survival rates drop. Due to global warming, by the mid-century 2/3 of the remaining species are suggested to be extinct.

It is never late to help keep the diversity of the Earth?s living things. We need to recognize that hurting our biodiversity can hurt our lives tremendously. We need to recognize that reduction of most of our food basic needs, medicines, and increase of diseases all come from reduction of our biodiversity. We need to recognize that without these valuable species under danger, we would not exist as well.

It is suggested that if 1 degree Celsius rises due to global warming, all of the amphibians will be under danger, and that by 3 degrees rise most of the living things will be under dangerous condition. Recognizing this problem, in the Paris climate conference (COP 21) last year in December, 195 countries announced to keep warming ?well below 2 degrees Celsius, and continue all efforts to limit the rise in temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius.? I would like to see more initiative steps from everyone around the world to take small little steps to save our biodiversity.

Source:

-Based on the official Blog of UNEP Korea: http://blog.naver.com/unepmaster/220706878362

-One Green Planet- How Bees Benefit Other Living Things

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/how-bees-benefit-other-living-things/

-National Wildlife Federation- Polar Bears

https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Polar-Bear.aspx