Final answer:
Protecting genetic biodiversity is crucial for species adaptation to environmental changes. High genetic diversity within a species or genus allows for greater evolutionary potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is important to protect genetic biodiversity because variation is the raw material for adapting to changing environments. Genetic diversity within species is critical as it allows for adaption to local conditions, which is notable in the different varieties of crops we cultivate. A species with high genetic diversity within its population is better equipped to evolve and adapt to environmental changes, new diseases, or other challenges. Similarly, higher taxonomic categories benefit from genetic diversity, as a genus composed of species with various genetic makeups is more capable of evolution than one with species showing little variation.
Preserving biodiversity is also important due to its role in human survival and maintaining healthy ecosystems. The loss of biodiversity can lead to the depletion of ecosystem services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, pest control, and soil development. This can make food production more expensive or even impossible. Measures like international treaties, species protection acts, and habitat restoration aim to mitigate the risks to biodiversity.
Conservation efforts are thus vital in maintaining the genetic diversity necessary for species adaptation and, ultimately, survival in the face of continued environmental changes and human activities that threaten biodiversity.