Biodiversity helps and supports us by providing us the food we eat, water we drink, medicine, shelter… everything in nature that we need to exist in this planet. But right now it is in crisis – because of us, the humans. So what does this mean for our future generations and can we take measures to stop it?

Without biodiversity, there is no future for humanity. It is made up of all the different kinds of life that we see around us like the variety of animals, plants, fungi and even microorganisms like bacteria. It supports everything in nature and each of these work together in ecosystems like an intricate web to maintain balance and support life.

We are increasing the planet’s pressure by consuming more resources than before and upsetting the ecosystems as a result of which losing the biodiversity. We have cleared forests, polluted our water bodies. These actions are having an impact all around the world and also affecting the biodiversity.

Nature and biodiversity will recover if we manage our resources and ecosystems well. We need to immediately identify the threats and take actions to address them:

1.      Try to end illegal deforestation

2.      Ensure to use natural resources responsibly

3.      Put an end to wildlife crime

4.      Rebuild the web of biodiversity

We need to take a pledge for our planet and conserve the resources. We are facing major threats as a result of our actions.  By following a few simple tips, we can reduce the impact and encourage local biodiversity:

1.      Follow 6Rs – Reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink, repair and refuse

2.      Reduce your consumption

3.      Buy local and organic foods

4.      Try to restore habitat in your local community

5.      Reduce your fuel and energy consumption

6.      Educate yourself and your neighborhood on the importance of biodiversity

7.      Use organic pest control

Let’s try to create a small ecosystem. It is the interaction between living and non-living organisms.

What you will need:

·       Small rocks

·       Garden soil

·       Fish bowl

·       Small plants that can fit into a fish bowl

·       Insects that can be caught

·       Toothpick

·       Measuring tape

·       A little water

·       Cling film

Instructions:

J    Fill the bottom of the fish bowl with small rocks.

J    Place the garden soil over the small rocks.

J   Support the plants into the soil and rocks, in a way that they are near to the edge of the bowl to be measured.

J   Pour a few drops of water over the soil.

J   Carefully place the insect inside the bowl and quickly cover the bowl with cling film and tape into place.

J    Carefully poke some holes into the cling film using a toothpick.

J    The holes are for air to enter the bowl so that the insect can breathe.

J    Tape the measuring tape to the outside of the bowl.

J   The insect and plant are living things while the soil and rocks are non-living. The non-living things are supporting the plants to stay up. The insect will eat the plant and plant will absorb the water from the soil. This is an ecosystem.

J   You can measure the growth of the plants using the measuring tape. Record the height of the plants, so that you can see how it changes over the new few weeks.

J   Observe and note the changes in the leaves to see if the insect has been eating the plants.

 Image source: www.cnn.com