‘Unity in diversity’ this famous phrase not only binds different races, cast, creed, and sex among humans but also ties us with the diverse kingdom of flora and fauna. The variety of plants and animals is known as Biodiversity. So, what this has to do with me? Putting biodiversity in other words ‘every individual matters’. Yes, be it plants or animals every living being are assigned with roles to play. These roles are unique for each organism which makes them able to contribute to the Ecosystem.

Balance is what everyone requires in life and so does our nature. As work-life balance, stable emotional balance is for humans so is the balance of interaction between living and nonliving beings is for nature. This balance is known as Ecosystem which results in energy flow, biotic diversity and material cycling to form a stable self supporting system.
What if the balance is lost? Then the ecosystem gets disturbed resulting in climatic changes, extinction of species, etc. Due to human activities like cutting plants, making artificial foods, setting up industries, excessive pollution we have created ailing situations for us where even our survival is not guaranteed and in the near future we will be heading towards extinction. No one wants to lose their life and so we spend lakhs of money in medications. But rather than going for artificial ways we mostly opt for natural ones. Even for skin products we know that natural treatments work wonders. So does nature maintains the balance through Biodiversity. The different species of animals and birds adapt and reproduce to maintain their uniqueness. But nature’s efforts are not enough when our harmful activities are increasing at a very fast rate.

Studies have shown that humans are the most adaptive species than other beings. That means we can somehow survive the changes. But humans can’t survive on this world all alone as we are dependent on plants and animals for fulfilling each aspect of our lives.
As we can’t control the climatic changes, global warming and melting of glaciers to full extent, humans decided to help the nature in maintaining its stability by going for natural ways to maintain biodiversity. And here comes the role of conservation.We make suitable environmental conditions for plants & animals to live, breed and multiply while giving them special care and protection.

Marine and wildlife conservation comes under fauna conservation. Marine conservation restricts humans to exploit resources in oceans & seas. Overfishing has been restricted, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been set up, Maritime zones of India act, the coast guard act and several others have been enacted to save marine life. Likewise for wildlife conservation national parks, wildlife sanctuaries have been set up in different places, endangered species are identified and projects such as project tiger and project rhino have been started, poaching & hunting are banned.

So, what is my individual contribution in these conversations? You can maintain environmental friendly habits like properly disposing trash, follow the 3R rule i.e. reduce, reuse & recycle plastic, conserve water, use eco-friendly products, if interested in world’s wildlife and oceans then get involved with local conservation organisations, reduce energy consumption. But the important among all of these is to educate yourself and others regarding these matters. Be the reason for change and inspire others.