Why does biodiversity differ across environments?


Society is increasingly more aware of the detrimental impacts which biodiversity loss can cause on human well-being (Collen 2013). Biodiversity has a direct influence on those ecosystem structures and functions which affect our food supply security, spreading of contagious diseases, pollination, genetic resources for the pharmaceutical industry etc. (Collen 2013). For this reason, academics and policy makers' focus has shifted more and more towards developing a comprehensive methodology to allow a correct monitoring of biodiversity indicators as well as indicators of pressure in order to derive a better understanding of the causality of biodiversity loss (Collen 2013). Moreover, this can lead to a reconciliation of the current gap between global and national policy implementation leading to a more holistic approach (Collen 2013).

Biodiversity loss differs in specific regions of the world. Notwithstanding the difficulties in measurements outlined above, the main driver of such differences is still anthropogenic climate change which impacts mostly island and coastal regions and is derived by factors such as population overgrowth, extensive land use, invasive alien species and overexploitation of resources (van Goethem 2021). 

The level of species richness as well as the specific environment's area and location can be of relevance as well in the degree of biodiversity loss as they might increase the vulnerability of the populations (The Royal Society). In such isolated regions, for example islands, the introduction of foreign species can have greater impacts on native biodiversity (The Royal Society). 

Finally, specific societal pressures are key drivers for the pace of biodiversity loss, "these include financial constraints, lack of technical capacity, policy and legal barriers, and perverse incentives"  (Collen 20213). Going back to the first point, it is vital to develop and agree on harmonized monitoring practices in order to track the progress towards shared targets in an unanimous and constructive manner.


References:


Collen, B., et al., (2013), Biodiversity monitoring and conservation: bridging the gap between global commitment and local action, Chapter 1: Biodiversity monitoring and conservation: bridging the gaps between global commitment and local action, Cambridge: Wiley-Blackwell


Where is most biodiversity loss happening and why?, The Royal Society, Available at: https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/biodiversity/where-is-most-biodiversity-loss-happening-and-why/


Thomas van Goethem, Jan Luiten van Zanden, (2021), How Was Life? Volume II. New Perspectives on Well-being and Global Inequality since 1820, Chapter 10: Biodiversity Trends in an Historical Perspective, OECD

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