Why is biodiversity important - with Sir David Attenborough | The Royal Society

Summary

This script highlights the crucial role of biodiversity in maintaining a healthy planet, emphasizing the importance of discovering and protecting unknown species. It discusses the impact of human activities on wildlife, the benefits biodiversity provides to human life, and the urgent need for conservation efforts. The script calls for sustainable development that coexists with nature and involves affected communities, showcasing examples of successful reintroduction and restoration of species.

Takeaways

• 🐒 The spider monkey plays an unwitting role in climate activism by dispersing seeds of tropical hardwood trees, which helps in forest growth and carbon dioxide absorption.
• 🌳 Forests are crucial for maintaining a healthy planet through their role in carbon sequestration and supporting biodiversity.
• 🔍 There are over 1.6 million known species on Earth, but scientists estimate that there may be millions more yet to be discovered.
• 🐦 Large and well-documented animals like mammals and birds are not the only ones important; smaller, less noticeable organisms play a significant role in ecosystem health.
• 🍎 Biodiversity is essential for human sustenance, as it includes microorganisms that enrich soil for agriculture and pollinators that contribute to food production.
• 💊 Many medicines are derived from plants and fungi, with the potential for more discoveries in unexplored regions, such as a fungus with cancer-treating properties found on sloths.
• 🌿 Nature provides protection against natural disasters, with trees and shrubs preventing flooding and coral reefs and mangroves protecting coastlines from storms.
• 🌍 The cultural and spiritual value of nature is significant for people worldwide, beyond its practical benefits.
• 🚫 Human activities, such as habitat destruction for agriculture and mining, overhunting, and climate change, are causing significant harm to biodiversity.
• 🌊 Climate change has global impacts, with events like the mass coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef due to ocean warming.
• 🏞️ Protecting biodiversity requires a multifaceted approach, including preserving 'hotspots', restoring habitats, and managing species populations through human intervention.
• 🤝 Global development must be sustainable and considerate of nature, ensuring that affected communities have a voice in decision-making processes.

Q & A

What role do spider monkeys play in the ecosystem as mentioned in the script?

Spider monkeys act as unwitting climate activists by spreading the seeds of tropical hardwood trees in their dung, which helps in building up forests that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

How many species of life on Earth have been documented so far?

Around 1.6 million species of life on Earth have been documented, but there may be as many as 7 or 8 million more that we don't yet know about.

What are some of the organisms that are often overlooked in biodiversity but are crucial for the planet's health?

The unglamorous organisms such as micro-organisms that enrich the soil, pollinators that provide fruit and nuts, and fish that are a main source of animal protein for many people are crucial for the planet's health.

Why is protecting biodiversity important for human survival?

Protecting biodiversity is important because it provides us with food, medicines, and protection from natural disasters. It also holds spiritual and cultural value for human beings.

How does the natural world contribute to human health and well-being?

The natural world contributes to human health and well-being by providing food, medicines, protection from flooding and storm surges, and offering spiritual and cultural enrichment.

What are some of the human actions that are destroying biodiversity?

Human actions such as habitat changes for grazing, mining, and crop production, hunting animals for meat and body parts, and climate change are destroying biodiversity.

What was the impact of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef in 2016 and 2017?

In 2016 and 2017, nearly half of the corals in the Great Barrier Reef died as a result of the warming of the seas due to climate change.

What measures can be taken to slow down the biodiversity crisis?

Measures to slow down the biodiversity crisis include cutting carbon emissions, using land and water in ways that cause the least environmental damage, protecting biodiversity hotspots, and rebuilding biodiversity through hands-on management.

How did reintroduction experts in the South of England contribute to biodiversity in 2020?

In 2020, with the help of reintroduction experts in the South of England, White stork chicks hatched for the first time in 600 years, contributing to the restoration of biodiversity.

What is one example of how hands-on management helped restore a species population?

Hands-on management was critical to restoring the population of mountain gorillas in the Virunga National Park in central Africa, which included using funds raised through tourism to help human communities coexist with the gorillas.

What is the importance of involving affected communities in global development pathways?

Involving affected communities in global development pathways is important because it ensures that development works with, rather than against, nature, and it gives these communities a say in decisions that affect their environment and livelihoods.