Biodiversity is the variety of life: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, their genes and the ecosystems of which they are a part. It constitutes the most important working component of a natural ecosystem. Biodiversity helps maintain ecological processes, creates soils, recycles nutrients, has a moderating effect on the climate, degrades waste, controls diseases and above all, provides an index of health of an ecosystem. The rich biodiversity of the world, however, has been under serious threat from a variety of human induced factors, which can be measured by a reduction in the natural habitat, loss of species and depletion of genetic diversity. Indicators of this change, however, are not easy to define, since only a limited number of species have been identified and catalogued to have; nevertheless, the impact is serious. The purpose of this book is to provide an overview of the changing status of the world’s biological diversity. It provides general information on the nature and scope of biological diversity, and abroad trends at genetic, species and ecosystem level. It also covers a wide range of issues such as the causes and consequences of biodiversity erosion; the strategies of biodiversity convention and its impacts. Being an-all-encompassing presentation on biodiversity, the book is destined to become a highly useful reference tool for academicians, researchers, scientists, administrators and ecoplanners.
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