Discuss various reason that are responsible for the loss of biodiversity.

1. Habitat Loss

● Nature has decided a particular habitat for every living being, in which it increases its population, by living under the laws of nature.

● In order to fulfil the requirements and need of world's increasing population, we are destroying natural habitats, and converting them into residential and industrial area.

● Due to deforestation in Europe, 50% of fungus species has been extinct in last 60 years.

2. Habitat fragmentation

● Natural habitats of wild animals, which were previously spread across broad areas, have been fragmented by construction of roads, railways, gas pipelines, canals, electric lines, dams, which affect the natural activites of wildlife

● They feel unsafe by these activities. Many animals have died because of accidents.

● Every year about half dozen of tigers and other wild animals are victim to accidents on railway line passing through dudhwa national park.

3. Climate change

● Due to human activities, the greenhouse gases are significantly rising, increasing the Earth’s temperature.

● Due to increase in Earth’s temperature, the ice poles are melting and the sea levels are rising.

● This has an adverse effect on marine biological diversity

● According to a research, if Earth’s temperature rises by 3.5°, 70% of world’s species will be extinct.

4. Environmental pollution

● Due to the adverse effects of industrial pollution, many plants and animals are destroyed by industrial waste on polluted land and water.

● Many micro organisms and vegetation are destroyed by acid rain Due to excessive air pollution

5. Over exploitation of natural resources

● The use of natural resources for local needs is not harmful. However human has exploited excessive and uncontrolled use of trees and other living organisms for commercial benefits.

● This has threatened the existence of many species.

● In Europe and North America, legs of frogs were used to increase the taste of the food. Many Asian Countries, Including India used to export the legs of frog

● In the year 1983, India exported 36500 metric tonnes of frog legs. As a result, the number of frogs in the forest reduced very much, and the insects which were eaten by frog increased tremendously.

6. Commercial practices in agriculture and forestry

● Before green revolution farmers used to produce various varieties of cereal fruits and vegetables in their fields and used to keep a cattle of a different breed.

● But in the greed of more production during a short time, the farmers now grow hybrid varieties of crop and keep hybrid cattle. This is causing the destruction of biodiversity.

● It is dangerous for the future, because if any epidemic condition arises, then all crops will be eliminated, and there will be death because of hunger

● Likewise, forests of same species are being destroyed, by cutting natural forests for paper, timber, match box, and one species are growing fast, thereby decreasing biodiversity.

7. Invasion of foreign species

● Willing or the unwilling arrival of a foreign species threatens the existence of local species and creates an imbalance in the ecosystem

● An example of the willing arrival of foreign species is lengthened. It was brought by the British and was planted in the Kolkata botanical garden. today, this plant is a danger for local biodiversity as it does not allow the nearby plant to grow and is not eaten by the plants.

● Another example of willing arrival is hyacinth. It is also called the water lily was brought to India from Brazil for its purplish flowers. The uncontrolled spreading of water hyacinth covers the water surface and restricts the sunlight from entering into the water. This results in the plants inside the water bodies to get destroyed, and the organisms can die to lack of oxygen.

● An example of unwilling arrival is Parthenium. It came in with imported wheat from America. Parthenium grass seed is one of the most dangerous plant weed, which is not eaten by animals. This plant contains chemicals, which cause allergy.

8. Superstition and ignorance

● In gagroni, parrots are caught in large numbers, hence they are near to extinct.

● Godawan bird is known to enhance sex power, so it’s large hunting has caused it to be an endangered species.