Final answer:
Biodiversity is vital as it sustains ecosystems and offers potential resources for food crops and medicines. However, deforestation for various human needs is threatening biodiversity, with Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, also seeing a reduction in gene pool diversity due to deforestation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The center of biological diversity of coffee is centered in the highlands of a) Ethiopia where deforestation is reducing gene pool diversity. The biodiversity of plants plays a crucial role in various aspects from balancing ecosystems, to safeguarding watersheds, mitigating erosion, and providing shelter for many animal species. However, with the rapid expansion of the human population, especially in tropical countries, biodiversity is facing severe threats.
One of the primary threats to biodiversity is deforestation, which occurs extensively in the pursuit of arable land to feed the burgeoning population. Notably, figures from various forested areas such as the forests of Madre de Dios, Peru, near the Amazon River, and the tropical lowland rainforest in Madagascar, highlight the rich species diversity these areas harbor. Yet, deforestation continues to restrict these natural habitats, thereby contributing to the loss of biodiversity.
Looking specifically at coffee, Ethiopia is recognized as the biological birthplace of this crop. But here too, the loss of biodiversity, due to deforestation, risks reducing the gene pool diversity of coffee. In effect, the consequences can be significant, also considering that biodiversity is considered an insurance for new food crops and medicines. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to apply effective strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for future generations.
Learn more about deforestation and biodiversity