Biodiversity is the composition of various organisms found in a particular ecosystem or biome or even for the whole Earth. This can be used as a way to measure how biological systems fare in terms of health.

Its existence is very important because of the benefits that it has in terms of the resources it provides to man. It is essential in the maintenance of the agricultural, scientific and economic development of countries.

Benefits in agriculture

Biodiversity is one of the main sources of man's greatest necessities: food resources. Humans depend on 40,000 species of plant and animals in a day. That is despite the fact that 80 percent of food supply come from 20 types of plants.

Aside from food resources, shelter and clothing are also some of the products biodiversity provides to humans. Since biodiversity is a vital source of food supply, humans may continue benefiting themselves with what it has to offer as long as the threat of extinction can be prevented.

Medicinal and scientific benefits

Biodiversity also has a great impact on medicine. In the US alone, around 40% of pharmaceutical products are produced with the use of compounds found in plants. Animals and microorganisms are utilized as well.

In the utilization of plants, only a small quantity of them are found to be useful when it comes to their medicinal properties. However, several microorganisms are one of the best sources for drug manufacturing.

Benefits in industrial materials

Since the industrial age and up to the present, humans have depended on natural resources found in biodiversities when it comes to the production of such materials.

Certain known materials that are derived from biological resources are:

• oil
• building materials
• fibers
• resirubber
• dyes

Ecological benefits

Biodiversity has an essential role when it comes to the ecosystem services. It provides a vital source for the world's water supply as well as the atmosphere.

It plays a vital part in the purification of the water system like sewage. Also, it has been responsible for the recycling of nutrients and offering fertile soil. It has been known that man-made controlled environment cannot equate with the ecology present in ecosystems like pollination.

Cultural and other ecological benefits

Biodiversity has been a source of inspiration to certain people like artists, writers and poets. Particular individual hobbies like gardening or aquariums have been solely dependent on the diverse effect of biodiversity.

The value sustained as a cultural benefit cannot be replaced by anything man-made. This leads to the preservation of ecosystems since it offers economic and aesthetic values, as well as spiritual and educational benefits.