Question

It is important to protect _________ biodiversity because often, compounds discovered in nature (such as one produced by a plant) can benefit human health and welfare.

Answer 1

Protecting biodiversity is crucial because it contains compounds beneficial to human health and offers a breadth of economic benefits.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is important to protect biodiversity because often, compounds discovered in nature can benefit human health and welfare. Humans use many compounds first found in nature as medicines, including secondary plant compounds, animal toxins, and antibiotics produced by bacteria and fungi. More medicines are expected to be discovered in natural ecosystems. The loss of biodiversity affects the number of pharmaceuticals available to humans, impacting health outcomes and medical advancements.

Economic Importance of biodiversity extends to providing a vast array of products vital to human enterprise. As many as 40,000 species contribute to products such as clothing, shelter, medicines, poisons, and more. Notably, 57% of the key prescription drugs are derived from natural sources such as bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals.

Furthermore, biodiversity is essential for maintaining ecosystem services that support agriculture, like pollination, nutrient cycling, and soil maintenance. The ongoing loss of biodiversity due to unsustainable resource use and climate change threatens these ecosystem services, potentially leading to more expensive or unfeasible food production. Protecting biodiversity ensures that we continue to benefit from the natural compounds and ecosystem services that are indispensable for human wellbeing.