BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity encompasses the complexity and richness of life on our planet, from the tiniest microbe to the mightiest tree, and from the simplest ecosystem to the most intricate web of relationships. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines biodiversity as "the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part". Biodiversity is the vast array of all the species of plants, animals, insects and the microorganisms inhabiting the earth either in the aquatic or the terrestrial habitats. The human civilization depends directly or indirectly upon this biodiversity for their very basic needs of survival–food, fodder, fuel, fertilizer, timber, liquor, rubber, leather, medicines and several raw materials. This diversity’s the condition for the long-term sustainability of the environment, continuity of life on earth and the maintenance of its integrity....