What human factors impact biodiversity? What does overexploitation do to the environment? How can you help? Read to find out!
Human factors that impact biodiversity include climate change, habitat destruction, introduction of invasive species, overexploitation, overpopulation, and pollution. There are three types of biodiversity: genetic variation, which increases the chances of species survival, diverse species types that increase chance the ecosystem will survive, and diverse ecosystem, which increases the chance that the biosphere will survive. An ecosystem that has high biodiversity has a higher resilience meaning it is less likely to collapse.
What is overexploitation?
Overexploitation is the overharvesting of animals and plants to the point of extinction. Animals are being removed from their natural habitat for food, clothing, jewelry, or even pets. Plants are being removed, which decrease food, habitat, natural resources, clean air, clean water, and more. Over harvesting plants are hazardous as some plants might not grow back, also known as deforestation. Deforestation changes the carbon cycle causing more carbon dioxide to escape into the air as there is no soil to keep it underground, leading to global warming. The plants that are over harvested will not be able to recover in a short period of time. Workers typically use plants for food, medicine, building materials, and raw materials. These are essential to human life but harms the environment significantly.
Removing plants and trees is removing the animal's natural habitat, their food, and clean climate. Some plants, including orchids, are now considered endangered. Medicine plants are decreasing in numbers and are harder to find. A few type of trees are harder to locate because many are getting chopped down for their wood. Animals, including fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates, are essential species to biodiversity. Imagine what would happen if some are close to extinction. As modern technology and tools are improved, fishes are becoming easier to catch. Fishing nets are thrown in the ocean capturing hundreds and thousands of fish per catch. Birds are being hunted for hats, food, and house pets. This action led to 30% of birds being endangered and some even extinct, like the Carolina parakeet.
What can YOU/GLOBALLY do to help?
As a teen or adult, there are many small and big ways you can contribute.
YOU:
Make SMART consumer choices (buy locally, eat smaller fish)
Spreading awareness of the danger
Reduce buying fur clothing (hats, coats)
Be aware of what you are consuming
GLOBALLY:
Create national or marine parks
Monitoring the harvest or fishing (many go unreported)
Helping undeveloped countries
More protection on plants and animals
Having specific dates and times for harvest
Reduce throwing big nets in the ocean
How would these solutions impact social, cultural, and environmental factors?
Socially if there is a decrease in over-harvesting there will be more fertile soil, less hunting, and the economy will slowly grow. As people will get more access to nutritious food, clean water, and clean air, their lifestyle will improve. More plants and food will be accessible for animals, more natural resources, less deforestation, and less endangered species.
How long will it take for changes to kick in? Cost?
Changes in the environment will start to change once people start taking care and stop cutting down natural resources for their goods. Creating a national park is advised, but it takes a lot of time and money. Anywhere from two to ten years and 4 billion to 12 billion dollars. In the meantime, as a student or adult, I advise you to start caring for the environment.
Take a minute and think about how eco-friendly you and how you can make improvements. Even the smallest change in your life can affect the whole environment greatly.
Thank you for reading!
Written by Amber Truong
Sources:
“Overexploitation.” National Wildlife Federation, www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Threats-to-Wildlife/Overexploitation. Accessed 16 Feb. 2021.
“Solutions.” Overexploitation, landdegredationassignment.weebly.com/solutions.html. Accessed 16 Feb. 2021.
“Overfishing Solutions.” Revolution, therevolutionmovie.com/index.php/open-your-eyes/overfishing/solutions. Accessed 16 Feb. 2021.
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