Water and Biodiversity : Role , Implication and Conservation

Water and Biodiversity : Role , Implication and Conservation || Essay

The United Nations designated May 22 as the "International Day for Biological Diversity," to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Water and biodiversity are sources of life and livelihood or options for reducing poverty and enhancing human welfare. Basic human needs such as air, water, food, clothing and medicines are the products of water/ biodiversity.

 

Seventy per cent of the world's poor live in rural areas and depend directly on biodiversity for their survival and well-being. However, when the population and its requirements start to increase, there is proportionate stress borne by water and biodiversity. This contributes to global challenges such as climate change, rising food and energy costs and global economic crises, along with exacerbating poverty, inequality and underdevelopment.

 

Lack of access to safe drinking water is an important issue, especially in developing countries. About 2.8 billion people (40 per cent of the world population), experience some form of water scarcity. Lack of basic services (water supply and sanitation) leads to insecurity, political instability and even armed conflict in developing countries.

 

There has been considerable structural transformation in developing countries during the post-globalization era. A substantial reduction in agriculture along with a rapid increase in industrialization and urbanization has led to severe land use changes. Forests and wetlands (hot spots for water and biodiversity) have been reduced and degraded. In addition, the indiscriminate discharge of wastes into water bodies has damaged the environment, with enormous and sometimes irreversible impact. However, managing these resources is essential if the world is to achieve sustainable development.

 

Understanding the role of biodiversity in the hydrological cycle enables better policy-making. The term biodiversity' refers to the variety of plants, animals, microorganisms and the ecosystems in which they occur. Water and biodiversity are interdependent. In reality, the hydrological cycle decides how biodiversity functions. In turn, vegetation and soil drive the movement of water.

 

Every glass of water we drink has, at least in part, passed through fish, trees, bacteria, soil and other organisms. Passing through these ecosystems, it is cleansed and made fit for consumption. Deforestation increases soil erosion which reduces land productivity and causes water scarcity in downstream areas.

 

Our aim must be to see how biodiversity and water can be used wisely to help us achieve our development goals. Although water and biodiversity is a global issue, the problems and solutions are often very localized.

 

The following steps are proposed

 

• Governments and international communities must work together and make more and immediate investments in water and biodiversity management.

 

• Internalizing the external costs of water and biodiversity by

 

- providing incentives through payments for ecosystem services, which encourage local communities to maintain the integrity of forests and watersheds, and

 

- applying the 'polluter pays' principle.

 

• Along with specific national planning on water and biodiversity such as 'National Water Policy,' multi-sectoral plans on water management that consider biodiversity and ecosystems as an integral part are needed.

 

• The economic values of different water and biodiversity spots should be estimated for effective policy decisions.

 

• Since water and biodiversity are closely associated with the enhancement of life and welfare, people's involvement is significant. In this regard, the media have a crucial role in awareness generation. Non-governmental and community organizations must help in Coordinating conservation programs.

 

• Biodiversity / water benefits should be shared by the community. However, the benefits derived from the business are not shared equitably by local communities. Considering this, the Convention on Biological Diversity has proposed to its parties to implement the Access and benefit sharing' principles and promote them as an incentive mechanism to preserve our natural biodiversity.