Table of Contents
Biodiversity is a natural wealth that includes all living beings on Earth. It encompasses plants, animals, and microorganisms that coexist. All forms of life are interconnected and create balance within the ecosystem.
Though often unnoticed, nearly every aspect of human life depends on biodiversity. From the air you breathe to the food you eat, everything is connected to it.
So, how important is biodiversity to the survival of our planet? Find the answers in the following article.
What Is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity includes all living beings on Earth along with their environments. Also known as biological diversity, this term encompasses plants, animals, microorganisms, and the various ecosystems in which they grow and interact.
Etymologically, the term biodiversity derives from biological diversity, meaning biological variety. This concept refers not only to the abundance of species and genetic variation but also to how all living organisms interact with their environment.
Why Is Biodiversity Important?
Biodiversity is essential because it forms the foundation of the Earth’s ecosystem balance. Every living being plays a role in maintaining the continuity of life for others.
According to the World Health Organization, ecosystem damage and biodiversity loss can directly affect human health. When nature becomes unbalanced, the quality of air, water, and food declines, making humans more vulnerable to diseases and environmental crises.
Beyond maintaining natural balance, biodiversity also supports basic human needs. Food, clean water, and medicines primarily result from biological diversity. This means that human survival depends significantly on the preservation of biodiversity around us.
Well-preserved biodiversity also protects the Earth from the effects of climate change. Healthy forests, oceans, and soils absorb carbon and help stabilize global temperatures.
By protecting biodiversity, you help keep the Earth habitable for future generations.
Read also: Causes of Greenhouse Gases and How to Prevent Them!
Types of Biodiversity
In general, biodiversity is divided into three main types. All three are interconnected and play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. Here are the details of each kind of biodiversity and its role:
1. Genetic Biodiversity
Genetic biodiversity refers to the variation of genes within a single species. The examples can be seen in differences in flower colors, animal body sizes, or a plant’s resistance to disease. This variation helps species adapt to environmental changes and survive.
2. Species Biodiversity
Species biodiversity represents the variety of living organisms within a particular area. Each species plays a role in maintaining the ecosystem’s function. The greater the diversity of species in an area, the more stable the natural balance becomes.
3. Ecosystem Biodiversity
Ecosystem biodiversity includes various habitats, such as forests, oceans, swamps, and grasslands. Each ecosystem has environmental conditions and living organisms that depend on one another. This diversity allows Earth to sustain a complex, interconnected system of life.
Discovering Biodiversity in Indonesia
As a tropical and archipelagic country, Indonesia is recognized worldwide as one of the megabiodiversity nations, along with Brazil and the Congo. Its natural wealth includes hundreds of thousands of species living across various ecosystems, from land and water to air.
According to the 2024 Status of Indonesia’s Biodiversity Report, Indonesia’s biodiversity comprises approximately 31,031 species of flora, 744,279 species of fauna, and 14,580 species of microorganisms, spread across different ecosystems.
Each region in Indonesia has unique characteristics and serves as a habitat for endemic species found nowhere else. The examples include the Komodo dragons in East Nusa Tenggara, orangutans in Kalimantan, and the bird-of-paradise in Papua.
Besides land biodiversity, Indonesia’s marine biodiversity is recognized as among the richest in the world. Regions such as Raja Ampat and Wakatobi are home to hundreds of coral species and thousands of fish varieties.
Read also: 3 Simple Steps to Combat Climate Change
The Benefits of Biodiversity for Humans
Though often overlooked, biodiversity brings countless benefits to our daily lives. Here are some of the main benefits of biodiversity, highlighting the vital role nature plays in sustaining life.
1. Maintaining Ecosystem Balance
Biodiversity plays an essential role in maintaining the balance of Earth’s ecosystems. Every living being has its own function within the chain of life. If a single species becomes extinct, the ecosystem’s stability can be disrupted, leading to environmental damage.
2. Preserving Natural Resources
Biodiversity is the primary source of human daily needs. From nature, we obtain food, clean water, building materials, and medicines. Without biodiversity, the natural resources that sustain human life would be depleted quickly.
3. Reducing the Impact of Climate Change
Biodiversity helps the Earth cope with the effects of global climate change. Forests, oceans, and wetlands act as natural carbon absorbers that stabilize the planet’s temperature. When these ecosystems are damaged, carbon emissions increase, worsening global warming.
4. Supporting the Economy and Tourism
Biodiversity holds great economic value for both communities and nations. Many sectors depend on natural resources, such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and the pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, Indonesia’s rich biodiversity is a major draw for ecotourism.
That concludes the information about biodiversity, covering its definition, types, examples in Indonesia, and the many benefits it provides for human life and the environment.
Understanding biodiversity is the first step toward preserving the environment and preventing ecosystem damage.
It should be noted that conservation efforts are not only carried out through government policies but also through your role as a member of society.
If you want to help protect the environment and create a better planet, join Indonesia Asri and take part in the #AksiAsri campaign.
Register yourself now and become a Warga Asri who actively helps protect Indonesia’s biodiversity for a greener, healthier, and more sustainable Earth!
Read also: 10 Benefits of Protected Forests for All Living Creatures
