Every day 150 species disappear. Every hour three species bid goodbye to the planet. While species have been appearing and disappearing on earth since it was formed, this is the first time that the evidence has clearly pointed the hand at human activities. Climate change is a major driver behind loss of species and with the IPCC reports fearing a rise of up to 5 deg by the turn of the century, many species will be at a loss to adapt to the increase in temperature and rainfall. Up to one million species will be lost to climate change! The Global Biodiversity Outlook report prepared by the Convention on Biological Diversity says species will struggle to cope. This is already being felt in the Arctic, where the reduced sea ice has seen decreasing numbers of polar bears. The speed at which change is happening is the more alarming aspect as it does not allow time for adaptation. It has been observed that regions rich in biodiversity are able to cope better with change.
Climate change will result in a change in distribution of species, change in reproduction timing, growth season for plants, etc all of which will have cascading effects on a host of other species. Biodiversity and climate change work both ways. Loss of biodiversity adds to climate change. Forests and oceans not only keep us breathing but regulate the temperature thanks to the many species resident. Consider that around 1,000 species of bacteria are resident in the human body. These help break down nutrients and keep other invaders at bay. What would happen if just a few of these were to become extinct? More pathogenic bacteria would invade the body. Our digestive system would break down! If not for any altruistic reasons, at least for the well-being of human life it is up to all nations to protect the biodiversity.
It would also help to learn lessons from nature. These could help us to adapt better. Even plants growing in drylands sustain many species through their survival kits. If we are to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in rate of biodiversity loss, which is now part of the millennium development goals, steps have to be taken now. The biodiversity boards set up in some states need to pick up pace in identifying species as also the threatened ones and bring them under the protection umbrella.