Biodiversity is a relatively new term. It is actually short for "biological diversity" and was first used in the eighties by scientists, and later on popularized by authors from various backgrounds, and became more known to non-specialists. But what does biodiversity mean? The commonly accepted definition of the term biodiversity refers to three levels of richness: the ecosystems in the biosphere, the species within them, and the genetic information/populations among these species. An area/habitat/ecosystem with a high level of biodiversity denotes that there is a large number of species of animals and plants in it, which is often taken as a measure of its health. There are 1.8 million species known to exist on the earth, in its air, land and oceans. Many scientists believe this is only a small fraction of what is really there. Indeed, discoveries of new species take place every day and will surely accelerate with the advancement in genetic bar-coding research. Back in 2002, a project called the Millennium Project was commissioned by the United Nations Secretary-General to develop a concrete action plan for the world to achieve the new Millennium Development Goals. The project carried out a worldwide survey of all ecosystems, species and populations, only to realize that biodiversity loss has reached an unprecedented level. The reduction of the rate at which biodiversity components are lost was set as Goal No. 7, under the umbrella of “Ensuring Environmental Sustainability” through integrating the principles of sustainable development in country policies and programs, through reducing biodiversity loss, and most importantly, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss of the proportion of land area covered by forest, and the proportion of species threatened with extinction, and an increase in the proportion of terrestrial and marine areas protected. To this end the United Nations declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. While these millennium targets have unfortunately not been met, it is important to note that the main causes of biodiversity loss include habitat loss and destruction, one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. Habitat loss is directly linked to human-induced pressures on land through unsustainable development and misuse of environmental resources such as coastal zones and forests. Alterations in ecosystem composition occur when a species population is reduced or removed from the ecosystem due to extinction and the whole ecosystem changes and leads to more species and habitat loss. Invasive alien species, through the introduction of exotic species replacing local and native species, often result in the extinction of native ones. Over-exploitation of resources including over-hunting, over-fishing or over-collecting of a species can quickly lead to its decline. Other threats are pollution and contamination, and finally the much publicized global climate change. From a biodiversity point of view, Egypt has a unique position as it lies at the junction of four bio-geographical zones. These include the Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean, Saharo-Sindian and Afrotropical, and as their names denote, each has a different array of plants and animals, and Egypt has representatives from all of them. At the same time, Egypt is at the center of the great Saharo-Sindian desert belt that runs from Morocco on the northwest corner of Africa, to the high, cold deserts of central Asia. Egypt's desert covers 96 percent of the land surface and is not particularly rich in biodiversity, which translates into the fairly low number of terrestrial species in the country. On land, the flora comprises 2100 flowering plants, and 335 non-flowering plants. The fauna comprises 92 mammals, 103 reptiles, 470 birds and more than 10,000 species of insects. The marine fauna in the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, on the other hand, remains largely unsurveyed but is estimated to be more than 4000 species; there are also around 200 species of freshwater fauna in the Nile. The high variation in habitats makes conservation and proper management of the various eco-zones necessary to protect their species, protected species in turn safeguard the ecosystems in which they exist. A well-studied network of protected areas in which all habitats and eco-zones are represented is therefore of particular importance in the case of Egypt. With more than 25 protected areas varying from geological monuments to marine protected areas, Egyptian efforts to protect its biodiversity (as well as its geo-diversity and cultural diversity) seem to be a much needed endeavor. It is easy to understand why we should prevent biodiversity loss. The loss of biodiversity is dangerous and its consequences are immediate: There will be fewer fish in the sea and less plants in forests and other terrestrial ecosystems, which means less food and medicine, both indispensable for our survival; there will also be a lack of clean water, fewer opportunities for livelihoods, less income among the poorer communities, and less chances for better health, education, and a better life in general. Indirect consequences include increased vulnerability to climatic change, floods, droughts, and eventually, the loss of our cultural diversity. A quote from the UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) website reminds us of just how precious our planet's biodiversity is: “Come with us on a journey; from the hot arid deserts of the Sahara, through the lush green rain forests of the Amazon, to the ocean depths and bright corals, our natural world is a marvel of different landscapes, materials, colors and textures. The land, air and seas of our planet are home to the tiniest insects and the largest animals, which make up a rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces. This is life, this is biodiversity.” The above article is part of Al-Masry Al Youm's weekly "Environmental Voices" series, in which issues relating to the environment--whether local, regional or international in nature--will be discussed from the point of view of environmental experts.
