How to protect biodiversity?

Disclaimer: this is an automated translation from Italian. Go to the original article.

Biodiversity represents the variety of living organisms on Earth, their genetic variants, and the habitats that host them. Thanks to the set of functions performed by different organisms, biodiversity plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance because it regulates processes such as oxygen production, air and water purification, soil formation, and climate stabilization. Biodiversity is not only a natural treasure but also the basis for human survival, as it provides food, medicine, and raw materials. However, it is threatened by numerous factors, so it's urgent to adopt protection strategies and targeted actions to ensure its conservation.

In recent decades, the loss of biodiversity has reached worrying levels and the extinction rate has accelerated compared to the pre-industrial period: there are many causes, but the main one remains human activity. Insects are among the most affected organisms and their decline represents a global crisis with effects that we can also notice on our windshield. They perform essential ecological functions, such as plant pollination, decomposition, and the recycling of nutrients and the maintenance of food chains. According to several studies, insects are dwindling at such a rate that it seriously jeopardizes the health of ecosystems. Trees are also in decline and, with them, the environmental balance and food security are also threatened.

Fragile ecosystems, such as tropical rainforests and coral reefs, are on one hand the richest in biodiversity, but on the other hand the most vulnerable. Rainforests host millions of species, many of which have not yet been discovered. However, many forests are threatened due to deforestation to make room for agriculture and livestock: once gone, it takes millennia for a forest to regenerate. Coral reefs are reserves of biodiversity like rainforests, but they are also at risk. Global warming is the greatest danger, as it causes ocean acidification, which in turn causes the phenomenon known as "coral bleaching". Even in Europe, we find fragile ecosystems, such as the Alps and the Po Delta, where the loss of biodiversity is mainly linked to climate change and intensive human activity.

Fragile ecosystems include unique habitats that are home to thousands of species, including many rare species at risk of extinction and included in the IUCN Red Lists. These ecosystems are valuable also because they provide essential and irreplaceable ecosystem services. Forests, for example, sequester carbon and help mitigate climate change. Coral reefs protect coasts from erosion and provide a vital habitat for many marine species. The loss of biodiversity in these ecosystems sometimes irreparably undermines their ability to offer such services. When a fragile ecosystem collapses, the species that inhabit it, as well as the human communities that depend on it, are severely threatened, creating a cycle of ecological decline that takes thousands of years to regenerate.

The main threats to fragile ecosystems include deforestation, climate change, pollution, and overexploitation of resources. Deforestation, for example, destroys the natural habitats of many species, accelerating their decline. Climate change is altering ecological balances, making some environments uninhabitable for species adapted to stable climate conditions. Pollution, especially plastic and chemical pollution, contaminates crucial habitats such as oceans and wetlands. Protecting these ecosystems is essential to preserve biodiversity and ensure the resilience of nature. Planting trees is not enough to safeguard them, but more concrete actions are needed from institutions, companies, and citizens.

The protection of biodiversity is also influenced by individuals and their responsible choices, such as limiting car use, reducing meat consumption, or choosing low environmental impact products. However, to a large extent, it depends on the actions of institutions, which have the power to influence entire economic and environmental sectors. Governments and supranational organizations like the European Union must promote strict regulations for ecosystem protection, limiting deforestation, regulating the use of natural resources, and promoting sustainable development for agriculture and industry. Companies, for their part, increasingly need to monitor impacts, risks, and dependencies on nature, also following the introduction of new Directives such as the CSRD and CSDDD, which introduce stringent obligations from the perspective of sustainability reporting.

Biosphere reserves are protected areas recognized by UNESCO that promote a balance between biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, celebrated annually on November 3rd. These reserves are studied as examples of sustainability, where management strategies are tested to preserve local ecosystems while also engaging local communities. In these areas, scientific research, environmental education, and the sustainable use of resources are promoted. Biosphere reserves are essential for biodiversity monitoring and the promotion of practices that can be replicated in other parts of the world.

Tourism risks becoming one of the main causes of the degradation of historical heritage and the environment. "Overtourism" is a phenomenon that occurs when tourism exceeds the sustainable management and hosting capacities of a specific area. It leads to excessive exploitation of resources, causes overcrowding and inflation problems in cities, and disturbs flora and fauna in natural areas. However, responsible tourism represents an opportunity for biodiversity conservation. Through ecotourism and archaeotourism practices, which promote the protection of natural environments and respect for local cultures, it is possible to combine the enhancement of natural resources with their preservation. Sustainable tourism educates visitors on conservation and supports nature protection because it becomes a source of income, creating economic incentives for local communities to keep their ecosystems intact.

Local communities play a crucial role in protecting biodiversity. Often, indigenous and rural populations have a deep knowledge of the natural environment in which they live and, in many contexts, have developed sustainable practices for using its resources. Involving them in the management and conservation of ecosystems is essential to ensure the sustainable use of resources and to convey the value that nature possesses because it represents a resource and a source of sustenance. Conservation projects that respect the rights of local communities and value their skills are more effective and contribute to creating a direct link between biodiversity protection and human well-being.

The conservation of biodiversity is not only about fragile ecosystems but all natural environments and protected areas. Even ecosystems that appear more resilient, like temperate forests or grasslands, are under increasing pressure due to human activity. It is essential to protect all forms of life and their habitats to ensure the balance of global ecosystems. Every ecosystem, with its unique species and ecological processes, helps sustain life on Earth. Conserving biodiversity means protecting the future of our planet, and to do so requires individual actions and policies that ensure sustainable development.