Why biodiversity should matter to everyone | Alen Amirkhanian

Biodiversity Overview - Biodiversity is on the fringes of modern society, mainstreaming it is essential for human survival, health, and ethical considerations [4] - The planet consists of living and non-living things, with non-living things being more abundant [7][8] - Life on Earth began approximately 4 billion years ago, evolving into diverse forms [9] - Living organisms are interdependent and connected to non-living elements [10][11] - Plants constitute 80% of the Earth's biomass, followed by bacteria and fungi [16] Species and Extinction - There are an estimated 8 to 10 million species on the planet, but less than 20% are known [17][18] - The planet is experiencing its sixth mass extinction, primarily caused by humans [19] - IUCN has assessed 170,000 species and identified 47,000 (approximately 6%) as threatened with extinction [20] - Extinction rates are increasing, with projections of 1,000 species per million per year by the end of the century [21] Causes of Biodiversity Loss - Habitat destruction and fragmentation, mainly due to food production and dietary choices, are major causes [22] - Invasive species introduced by humans disrupt ecosystems [23] - Chemical use, including pesticides and veterinary medicine, contributes to species decline [24] - Overexploitation, over hunting, over fishing, and poaching further threaten biodiversity [24][25] Conservation Efforts - Scientists are cataloging and identifying species, and IUCN has developed a system to assess extinction risk [26] - International agreements like CITES regulate trade in endangered species, and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) promotes national biodiversity strategies [26] - The CBD aims to protect 30% of seas and lands [28] Regional Biodiversity - Armenia is located within two biodiversity hotspots, the Iran-Anatolian and Caucasus hotspots [29] - Armenia has 27,000 species of plants, animals, and fungi, with 640 being endemic [29]