Generalna Dyrekcja
Ochrony Środowiska

Scientists have identified and described almost two million species of plants and animals out of about 10 million ones presumably occur on Earth. It means that at least 80% of them do not even have a name. These figures show what biodiversity looks like, i.e. the multitude and variety of forms that living matter can take.

The diversity of forms of living organisms results from their adaptation to the environment they live in. Passing traits on to subsequent generations ensures the survival of species. With constant evolution, we can admire the wealth of varieties and forms. In the evolution process, nature develops and sustains diversity. On the other hand, the continuous development of specimens with new traits and their new combinations increases the likelihood of species survival in the event of subsequent changes in the environment.

Therefore, biodiversity is a special value of all living nature. It can be defined as the variety of life forms with all their variability both at the microscopic and macroscopic levels. According to the definition adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity, species diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part.

Threats to biodiversity

Species extinction is a natural process in the course of which weak and inadaptable individuals die. Extinction is a result of constant changes in the environment. In the history of the Earth, there have been six great mass extinctions. Humans and human activities contributed to the last one, which dramatically changed the natural environment of the Earth. At least 20 species of animals, plants and fungi vanish from the planet every day as a result of pollution and changes in their natural environment. It is estimated that in the next 30 years, this rate will increase to over 100 species per day.

What makes species vanish so rapidly?

This is primarily due to the loss of habitats, i.e. the destruction of living conditions suitable for given species by humans. Many organisms are unable to live in areas taken over and transformed by people – they cannot hide, reproduce or find food. More than half of the species that become extinct nowadays are threatened by the loss of their habitats. The second reason of species extinction is the introduction by humans of species from other geographic regions, called alien invasive species, that displace native species. The elimination of individuals through fishing, poaching, hunting, and logging is the third one.

Organisms inhabiting small areas, such as birds, are most at risk. This holds true to all groups of animals, plants, and fungi.

Biodiversity protection

Biodiversity needs to be protected primarily to:

• maintain the mechanisms of the functioning of living nature;
• maintain the ability to withstand environmental changes;
• discover and take advantage of new values that may facilitate development and guarantee the survival of future generations.

The extinction of a species is an irreversible loss because it also implies the loss of the combination of genes it contains. Due to the fact that each species has its place and function in the ecosystem, the extinction of any species makes the ecosystem less stable. Humans develop programs for the conservation of endangered species through two key measures, i.e. conservation in situ (in the natural habitat) and ex situ (outside the natural habitat).

In-situ conservation involves activities undertaken in nature, such as:

• protection, restoration and extension of the area of habitats where a given species occurs;
• reintroduction of a species to areas where it has already become extinct;
• limited exploitation of species, by prohibiting their destruction, killing, fishing, etc.

Ex-situ conservation involves:

• keeping and reproducing species outside their natural habitats, e.g. breeding on special farms or in botanical and zoological gardens;
• reproduction through crossbreeding, by mating animals that are least related;
• preservation of seeds and plant embryos at low temperatures, so that they can be used for regeneration.

The level of biodiversity relates to ecological systems, specific characteristics of their species composition and the biological balance based on it. Different types of ecosystems have emerged as a result of the adaptation of species and the size of their populations to the structure of the ecosystem in certain environmental conditions. If a specific type of ecosystem is damaged, it can be restored by nature over a long time, provided that relevant species from outside are available. Very species-rich ecosystems whose large areas have been destroyed cannot be restored. It is also important to protect the ecological landscape characteristic of a given area, not only due to its natural specificity, but also for its aesthetic values.

Biodiversity protection has been enshrined in international conventions on nature conservation, laws and development programs of international communities and particular countries. It is one of the priorities of the EU environmental policy.

In Poland, nature conservation is governed by the provisions of the Nature Conservation Act of 16 April 2004, under which nature conservation involves the preservation, sustainable use and renewal of natural resources, formations and components, such as:

• wild plants, animals and fungi;
• protected plants, animals and fungi;
• nomadic animals;
• natural habitats;
• habitats of endangered, rare and protected plants, animals and fungi;
• formations of living and inanimate nature as well as fossil remains of plants and animals;
• landscape:
• greenery in urban and rural areas;
• trees.