Loss of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is not just how much wildlife there is, but the different kinds of wildlife. Each different habitat, from rainforests to polar regions, has a variety of animals, plants, fungi, etc. Why is biodiversity so important? Every organism in an ecosystem plays some role in keeping things healthy and in balance. The overlapping jobs of organisms act as backup in case of drought, disease, flood, or fire. This complex tapestry of life has evolved over a long period of time. Even the smallest microbe in the soil plays its part. When species begin to disappear from an ecosystem, things balance on a much less secure foothold.
Don't Support Poaching
There are many ways you and your family help stop poaching.
Never buy, sell, or own anything made from ivory. Even ivory that has been gotten legally drives the sale of, and even indirectly the poaching of, ivory. Remember, all ivory represents the death of an elephant or walrus.
Don't support coral reef poachers. Never buy coral for your fish tank unless it has been stamped with the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) . This makes sure the coral was raised for aquariums and not from a wild reef.
Don't keep exotic animal pets, even if you see them at the pet store. The exotic animal pet trade, though legal if regulated in the United States, is not regulated in all countries around the world. So owning exotic animals does drive the hunting of exotic species. It's best to leave wild animals in their natural habitat.
Spread the word!
An example of the danger in losing species variety can be shown with modern corn. American farmers over many generations bred the best-tasting sweet corn and planted only that pure strain year after year. This is called monoculture. Then a disease called corn smut attacked the crop. The corn had been bred to be so specific that it had little resistance to the fungus. The entire corn crop was destroyed. Agricultural researchers went to Mexico and searched out the wild maize that corn was descended from to find the gene that resisted smut and bred it back into the corn. Now farmers plant a variety of crops and strains to avoid the danger of crops losing their healthy biodiversity.
