[HS] Lesson 4

Biodiversity

Biodiversity describes the variety of life forms and balance of life on Earth. It is essential for the ecosystem to operate well. However, the Earth’s biodiversity is currently under threat.

Yakushima, an island in Japan, has more than 40 mountains and a wide variety of plants. It is home to many different species. The island is said to be under threat due to many reasons. One of those reasons is the damage caused by yakushika, the smallest type of deer in Japan. They were once endangered but are now under a protection program, so their number started increasing again. They eat trees, ferns, and other plants. Because of this, the residents think that yakushika is responsible for the disappearance of Yakushima’s vegetation. However, the residents should think about other reasons that may have caused this problem. One is when the residents created a path to get through the forest easier. This path also made it easier for the deer to get to the vegetation areas. The wide spaces became feeding grounds for the deer. This change that humans made caused negative effects on the environment. It might not be intentional but it resulted in noticeable damages to the island’s biodiversity. Humans have to be responsible in every action they take as well as the possible consequences it may bring about.