3 days to World Environment day 2020! - Dr Newton Jibunoh writes...

Every year on the 5th of June, the United Nations and many individuals, organizations, environmental organizations around the world celebrate the World Environment day. A day slated for the observance of healthy environmental practices and taking stock of activities done in order to sustain the environment and promote sustainability in the society.

Each year, there is a different focal point/ theme and this year, the theme is “Celebrating Biodiversity”.

An understanding of biodiversity is needed to appreciate why this year, we celebrate biodiversity.

Defining Biodiversity 

Biodiversity refers to the diverse range of organisms, plants and animals in ecosystems and habitats. Biodiversity is defined as “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; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.” 

Dr Newton Jibunoh

Biodiversity is simply biological diversity /difference. From the smallest grain of sand to a drop of water and bigger plants, animals and organisms, biodiversity is present. Understanding biodiversity means accepting that each species is very important, none greater than the other.

Studies show that tropical regions of the world are biologically more diverse than polar regions because of the presence of warmer temperatures. Which is why rainforests, swamps, mangroves etc. record more species existence than very arid or cold areas. A major example is the Amazon forest and the rainforests of some parts of Africa.  

-Dr Jibunoh is the Founder of FADE Africa