22 may world biodiversity day. We would celebrate it in other circumstances, but the truth is that when faced with the stark reality of the growing impoverishment of the diversity of living things that accompany us on this journey of life, the truth is we have little to celebrate. A few days ago we will be celebrating the day of the birds, this will remind us that in the last fifty years about 1.5% of their species have gone extinct and about 25% have had a drastic reduction in their populations. We also know that a third of freshwater fish, 21% of reptile species, 32% of amphibians and 56% of tropical forest mammal species and more than a third of marine mammals are threatened with extinction. Sometimes I wonder if we can realize what this data means, what we do with our planet, the bleeding of life we ​​cause from habitat destruction, pollution and climate change as a result of climate change. activities and misuse of energy resources.
The numbers are certainly alarming and should enable us to make and encourage firm decisions that do not seem to be part of our priorities as a society right now or what governs our destiny. But if it is difficult to convey the message of the serious situation affecting these groups of animals, consider the difficulty when it comes to inconspicuous creatures that have never been imagined in our society. There is biodiversity that is constantly overlooked, and it goes unnoticed if not underestimated, and yet contains the greatest diversity of life on our planet. Insects make up 75% of the species living on Earth, with more than one million known species and possibly more than 10 million yet to be discovered. This is the most endangered group of animals today, as countless media outlets have reminded us in recent years that 40% of insect species worldwide are at risk, meaning over 400,000 species of these creatures have been affected, and 25% of their species in just 10 years. It may disappear.
Insects are essential to life on earth, and if we haven’t understood what’s going on in their world, it’s worth remembering what happened just a few decades ago when traveling by car in Spain. Crossing our fields meant stopping several times not only to refuel, but to clean the windshield of the car, which after the collision was trapped by hundreds of tiny insects. Traveling is now more comfortable, and not only because engineering has improved our means of transportation, but also because the windshield is no longer covered in insects. However, the seemingly good news suddenly confronts us with a serious reality: Insects no longer have the abundance and diversity in our fields that they once did. Something is happening in the world of these tiny animals that society rarely shows interest in conservation despite their importance in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Important ecosystem services depend on them, such as the pollination and production of fruits from wild and cultivated plants, the degradation of animal and plant remains, and their incorporation into the soil as plant nutrients. Insects are part of the diet of many vertebrates, many of which are endangered, and their use in the biological control of pests helps us have a healthier world with the production of food free of pollutants that contribute to maintaining our health.
The reasons for the decline of insects can be found in radical transformations of the landscape and ecosystems, fundamental changes in land use, large areas devoted to intensive agricultural production, increased occupation of the region by infrastructures and urbanization processes that cause it. It is full of life to the destruction of the natural environment, the disconnection of urban areas from the nature around them, the serious impact of climate change and the increasing loss of traditional agriculture and livestock activities that develop in harmony with their natural environment, which is the producer of various landscapes.
Urgent and effective action must be taken Because the fates of humans and insects are interconnected, it allows us to deepen our knowledge of insects to help stop their disappearance, we need them so that life on earth can run its course and there is currently unprecedented disruption. the biosphere that undermines well-being and questions our model of development. Major actions are not needed, but sometimes a paradigm shift in the management of our closest environment is enough. Each of us can make small gestures that support their existence and life. Our cities can be a haven for a significant diversity of insects, thereby contributing to reducing their disappearance. By protecting the native plants that provide shelter and food, we can improve the presence of small insect-friendly habitats on our balconies, patios, yards and gardens.
To the best of our abilities, we should be able to develop informative programs that demonstrate the significant environmental, social and economic benefits they provide us. Insects are essential for life and therefore we need to transfer the need to develop actions such as controlling more pruning, maintaining the presence of wild plants called weeds in gardens and crossroads, to provincial and city governments. and gutters completely eliminate mowing and introduce insect-attractive plants into the garden. In short, we should be able to jointly promote urban environments that foster greater habitat diversity for insects and biodiversity in general.
If we succeed in putting these actions into action, we will be promoting biodiversity as a society and then we will find reasons to celebrate its earth day.
Source: Informacion
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.