maintaining biodiversity

• Breeding programmes reduce the likelihood that endangered species will go extinct.

  • This improves biodiversity.
• Breeding programmes involve breeding the species in captivity to build up their numbers.

  • Hopefully, at some point, the species can then be reintroduced into the wild.

  In the wild, they can either join an existing population or form a new one.
• A problem with breeding programmes is that, if the species' natural habitat is unsafe;

  • The endangered species population will just decrease again.

  A solution to this is regenerating rare habitats.

  • If these areas are protected properly, we should not need these breeding programmes in the first place.
• Governments help reduce the impact of farming by;

  • Introducing new laws.
  • Paying farmers to do the right thing.

  For example, a field margin where anything can grow (a strip around the field).
• Having field margins and hedgerows is being encouraged because;

  • It increases biodiversity because different habitats and food sources are present so more species can live there.
• Government regulates things by setting quotas on things such as;

  • How much deforestation is allowed each year.
  • How much carbon dioxide can be released into the atmosphere by businesses.
• As individuals, if we choose to recycle our waste rather than putting it in the bin and don't buy as much things that we don't need;

  • There will be less waste in landfill sites.
• Less waste in landfill sites means that;

  • There will be less damaged land.
  • There will be fewer toxic chemicals that can go into the environment.
• Protecting biodiversity is expensive.

  • Individuals, companies, and governments often overlook how they benefit from high biodiversity.

  Therefore, they generally prefer to use their money elsewhere.
• In order to maintain our current high standard of living, we need to damage the environment.

  • For example, we must use fertilisers and pesticides in order to grow enough food for everyone.
  • We must dig large mines so that we can get to the rare metals that we need for our phones and computers.
• In developing countries, people often rely on the environment for their livelihood.

  • For example, when they cut down forests, it is often to build their homes (out of wood) or have enough firewood to cook food or grow a few crops.