BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

The earth's biological diversity include the plants, animal micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the ecosystem and habitats of which they are part. This means that biological diversity occurs in three levels;

• genetic diversity
• species diversity
• ecosystem diversity.

Value of biological diversity

1. provision of food and fuels.
2. ecological roles such as food chains, soil conservation, modification of primates soil fertility.
3. educational value such as biology, zoology, and botany.
4. scientific value such as in research and biotechnology.
5. economic benefits from tourism.
6. aesthetic value i.e beautiful plants and animals.drainage of
7. ethical value where organisms have right to survive on earth.

Human activities which promote loss of biodiversity

1. Habitat destruction caused by deforestation for agriculture and settlement.
2. poaching of animals eg elephants and rhinos.
3. commercialized agriculture that emphasis monoculture.
4. over exploitation of resources eg fish and marine organisms
5. drainage of wet lands for agriculture
6. introduction of exotic species eg water hyacinth in lake Victoria.
7. inefficient management of some protected areas eg National parks and Gazetted forests.
8. climate changes that cause some areast become dry while others wetter.
9. siltation of water bodies as a result of soil erosion.
10. pollution of habitats.
11. ozone depletion.