Monday, 13 February 2017
Biodiversity and Conservation
The term
“biodiversity’ is a shortened form of biological diversity .the term biological
diversity was coined by Thomas Lovejoy in 1980. Biological diversity or
biodiversity is the totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region. It
has three components. They are :
Genetic
diversity: The diversity of genes within a species . There is a genetic
variability among the populations and the individuals of the same species.
Species diversity: the diversity of species.
Ecosystem
diversity:
The
diversity of the ecological complexes of which the species are part.
The
biodiversity is mostly expressed in terms of species diversity. So far, about
1.8 million species have been indentified and described . A board breakup of
this species diversity led to an estimate of about 1.3 million species.
The value of
biodiversity .Biological diversity plays a fundamental rate in maintaining the
ecological balance on the Earth. It also provid3s varieties of product of human
interest . a brief list of product and service categories to which biodiversity
contributes is given below
1. provision
of food , fuel and fibre
2. provision
of shelter and building materials.
3.
Purification of air and water
4.
Detoxification and decomposition of waste
5.
stabilisation and moderation of the Earth’s climate
6.
moderation of floods, droughts, temperature extremes and the forces of wind.
7.
generation and renewal of soil , fertility, including nutrient cycling.
8.
Pollination of plants including many crops
9. control
of pests and diseases.
10
Maintenance of genetic resources as key inputs to crop varieties and livestock
breeds, medicines and other products.
11. cultural
and aesthetic benefits.
12. Ability
to adapt to environmental changes.
Biodiversity under threat. Because of variety of factors-mostly directly or
indirectly caused by humans-biodiversity today faces a threat of unprecedented
scales . based on the current trends and estimated 36,000 plant and 7,800
animals species face extinction globally.
Factor causing threat to
biodiversity.
Destruction
of natural habitants of species for making land available for human settlements
, urban centres’, industries and mines, agriculture, etc.
Ecosystem
degradation due to various types of pollution.
Over
harvesting of biological resources and targeted elimination in some cases.
Introduction
of exotic and invasive species in various ecosystems.
Disturbances
in ecosystem dynamics due to climate change.
If these
factors are not checked immediately and rigidly, the substance of most of the
ecosystems, including our food production systems can be very seriously
disrupted. Courtesy wisdom
Quote from the True Charm
&Power of Vedanta
For the gaining
of knowledge concentration , discrimination, sustained application and memory
are needed Premarital continence is the secret of developing these powers.
Therefore, from the Vedic times, in the Indian system of education, this state
of the student has been known as brhamacharay or the period of continence,
living in the awareness fo Brhaman. It is such a valued concept of Hinduism that
the foundation of ideal education and truly spiritual life is nothing but
bhrahmacharya. This makes for the development of the subtle powers of the mind
and strengths memory. Ideal education does not mean the mere gathering of
information. Swami Vivekanada defines education as the manifestation of the
perfection already in men He further says that true religion is the very core
of education’ . And he defines religion as the manifestation of the divinity already
in man. So, in the ultimate analysis , true education and true religion are
overlapping terms.
So we see
how far reaching the role of religion is in the growth and development of the
young, on whom depends the destiny of the nation and of humanity itself. Courtesy
True religion always helps
But, if He exists?
I drive joy
There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening
for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him.
One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something,
which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does
not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am
afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes
rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive
4m.
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