Conservation and Maintaining Biodiversity — AQA GCSE Biology
Biodiversity is vital for stable ecosystems, but human activity threatens it. Conservation aims to protect it.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of all the different species of organisms on Earth, or within an ecosystem. A high biodiversity makes ecosystems more stable because species depend less on single other species. The future of the human species depends on maintaining good biodiversity.
Threats to biodiversity
Human activities reduce biodiversity through pollution, deforestation, destruction of habitats (e.g. peat bogs), and global warming. A rapidly increasing human population and higher standard of living mean more resources are used and more waste produced.
Maintaining biodiversity
Scientists and governments take measures to conserve and maintain biodiversity:
- Breeding programmes for endangered species (e.g. in zoos).
- Protection and regeneration of rare habitats.
- Reintroduction of field margins and hedgerows on farms where only single crops are grown.
- Reducing deforestation and carbon emissions by governments.
- Recycling resources rather than dumping waste in landfill.
Conflicting pressures
Conservation often involves a conflict between human needs (food, land, money) and protecting the environment. These decisions require balancing costs and benefits.
Exam tips
- Define biodiversity and explain why high biodiversity gives stable ecosystems.
- List ways to maintain biodiversity (breeding programmes, habitat protection, hedgerows, reducing deforestation, recycling).
- Recognise the conflict between human needs and conservation.
- Be ready to evaluate conservation measures.