Biodiversity in Mexico

When we ask ourselves what biodiversity is in Mexico, we refer to the large number of ecosystems and life forms, both fauna and flora that houses this country. Due to its high biodiversity rate, the United Nations Program on the Environment has determined that Mexico It is a megadiverse country.

Some of the causes of biodiversity in Mexico are:

• He Endemism: At least, Mexico must have at least 5,000 endemic species of plants. Within Mexican biodiversity, there are a large number of endemic species (exclusive to this geographical area), both fauna and flora. Some examples of Mexico’s fauna are Mexican ajolote (Ambystoma Mexicanum), the vaquita marina (PHocoena Sinus). As for Mexico’s flora we can find Jalisco’s pine (Pinus Jaliscana) or perennial corn (ZEA Diploperennis).
• The Diversity of species: Between 10 and 12% of existing species on the planet are in Mexico. This makes a total sum of 200,000 species, so it is one of the greatest causes of biodiversity in Mexico.
• The Diversity of ecosystems: Thanks to its geographical, climatic and topographic characteristics, Mexico has a great diversity of different ecosystems, such as jungles (dry and wet), temperate and cloudy forests, grasslands and thickets, deserts, lakes, volcanoes, as well as mangroves and marine areas. If you want to know more, do not hesitate to take an eye on this article about the main ecosystems of Mexico and its characteristics.
• The mountainous systems: As the Eastern and Western Mother Sierras are other characteristics of biodiversity in Mexico.
• The Diversity of climates: both tropical and alpine and extremely arid. All these climates are another cause of biodiversity.
• The Possession of two biogeographic areas: such as Neartic and Neotropical. Both areas are physiographic aspects that favor biodiversity in Mexico.

In this way, when they ask us what elements make up the biodiversity of Mexico, we can mention the aforementioned.

The importance of biodiversity in Mexico lies in the services that it offers in form to all living beings. Biodiversity is important because Our life depends on it by improving our quality of life creating natural spaces that give us tranquility and well -being.

This biodiversity allows us to acquire removable resources and protects us from adverse climatic conditions. In addition, we must take into account that, by depending on some species, the minimum alteration or loss of a component of an ecosystem, can largely harm biodiversity.

There are several risk factors for biodiversity in Mexico, but among the most prominent we can meet:

Loss and degradation of habitats

In Mexico, one of the most important factors that damage biodiversity is anthropic activity, which endangers existing habitats with actions such as:

• The Infrastructure construction to the detriment of natural spaces.
• The Changes in land use: Check out this article on the importance of soils to be able to have more information on the subject.
• The Expansion of agricultural activities for the exploitation of natural resources.
• The growth of human settlements.

All this entails a degradation and loss of habitats and entails a decrease in biodiversity. There are also actions that destabilize ecosystems, such as Introduction of invasive exotic specieswhich, being in an apt medium for their development and without natural predators, expand quickly and change the conditions of the environment and the balance of the bioma.

To expand this information, this other article on the destruction of the environment and habitat may be interested in: causes and consequences.

Overexploitation of natural resources

Deforestation causes desertification of habitats and loss of biodiversity, while activities such as overfishing Merman the natural populations of the species of an ecosystem, since the rate of extraction of resources is higher than their restoration.

Here we talk more about the overexploitation of natural resources: causes and consequences.

Pollution

Human beings produce a lot of waste that, if not arranged and managed in the proper way, end up in the middle, contaminating and destroying their original characteristics. Actions such as:

• He Excessive use of chemical substances: such as insecticides and fertilizers.
• The generation and huge use of plastics of a single use.
• Industrial production associated with Greenhouse gas emission: We recommend this ecology article where we explain how to reduce greenhouse gases.
• The Intensive agricultural practices: that pollute soils and aquifers cause a negative impact on ecosystems and lead to loss of biodiversity in Mexico.

Climate change

Global warming as a result of the activity of human beings leads to climate change that affects all existing species, because Change environmental conditions to those who are adapted. This can lead to a loss of adaptability and, therefore, a decrease in survival capacity of certain organisms, since the development of evolutionary adaptations to the new conditions cannot face the speed with which the climate is changing.

Check out this post about the effects of climate change to know more about the subject.

Non -sustainable tourism

The influx without control of people to ecosystems can cause their imbalance and destruction, due to the impacts that it entails, which entails a degradation of the system and fauna and flora associated with it. This can be clearly seen in habitats such as coral reefs, which are attacked by the enormous tourist intensity that support, with the consequent destruction of the corals, that take long periods of time to recover from the damages suffered.

Once we have already explained the characteristics and risk factors of biodiversity in Mexico, we will mention the existing actions to conserve biodiversity in Mexico, that is, what is being done to stop the loss of biodiversity. We find ourselves with:

• Change the economic model: It has proven to be unsustainable over time if it is intended to maintain environmental conditions within a balance.
• Reduce ecological footprint: based on the substitution point of non -renewable energy sources (fossil fuels such as coal, oil or gas) by renewable sources (such as wind, solar or hydraulic).
• Change production policies: both industrial and agricultural and livestock. It is also necessary to review practices in the field of transport and tourism. The use of public transport and electric vehicles must be encouraged in order to reduce air pollution associated with the use of conventional transport, such as cars and motorcycles that work with diesel or diesel.
• Reduce the exploitation of natural resources: In the same way, a transition must be made to a sustainable extraction mode that allows to guarantee its existence for the enjoyment of the coming generations, without exceeding the restoration rate of resources in ecosystems. Here you can learn about the exploitation of natural resources: definition, types and examples.
• Efficiently manage waste and waste: All this from the rule of the three erres that consists in the reduction, reuse and recycling. It is not sustainable to continue producing amounts of waste such as the current ones. A single use products must be replaced with other reusable and durable that do not contribute to the generation of waste.
• Develop action plans: To reduce the loss of biodiversity. From the coordination between administrations and management and conservation organizations, we work to protect the species of flora and fauna through the standardization of common action plans. Know more about the big problem involved in the loss of biodiversity: causes and consequences with this other post.
• Design and develop projects restoration: as well as carrying out sustainable ecosystems management and establishment of greater number of protected spaces, both sea and land.

If you want to read more articles similar to Biodiversity in Mexicowe recommend that you enter our biodiversity category.