Do we need to conserve biodiversity?

• Venue dan Time:  
  • Ruang Seminar Lantai 1 Perpustakaan Pusat ITB
  • 16 Maret 2018, 9.00 – 11.00 am

• Speaker:
  • Prof. Toshihiro Yamada

On Friday the 16th March 2018, Prof Toshihiro Yamada from Hiroshima University gave a guest lecture on biodiversity. The event was opened by Angga Dwiartama PhD. as the Head Department of the Biomanagement Master Study Program. The guest lecture event is part of the series of 70 anniversary of Biology in ITB. Prof. Toshihiro teaches in the department of Integrated Global Studies (IGS) with a specialization of conservation biology and forest ecology. The IGS program consists of 3 areas, namely culture & tourism, communication & peace, and social & environment. The IGS program combines science, language, culture, and environment to create harmony between human and nature. In his lecture, Prof. Tosihihiro introduced two world heritage located in Hiroshima; Itsukushima Shrine and A-Bomb Dome.

Some of the points discussed in his lecture were the reasons why tropical rain forests have a high biodiversity, the introduction of the biodiversity of hot spots, and the reason why biodiversity should be preserved. Biodiversity, or in this lecture specified as biological diversity, simply means a species richness in an area. It is an abundance of genetic, species, and ecosystem. In the world’s biodiversity map, the tropical area have the highest diversity, especially the tropical rain forests in Indonesia. Prof. Toshihiro showed several species that he discovered while collecting data on the forests around West Kalimantan. Some of the species that catch his attention was Shorea laevis with a height of more than 80 m, mantis that imitates the surrounding flower, Camponotus gigas, Asian forest scorpion Heterometrus longinamus, three horned beetle, durian fruit and nephentes plant. He then proposed a question, “Why are tropical rainforests inhabited by many species?”, and many audiences said that tropical rain forests are formed due to appropriate temperature and humidity. However, this kind of thinking was not acceptable by Prof. Yamada because there was no research that can approve of this theory. Temperature and humidity cannot be the reason for high diversity of a species. He explained that the question is one of the unsolved open questions that has not yet been proven scientifically.

Biodiversity hot spots mostly occur in places that possess high diversity of endemic species and experiences massive loss of habitat. Most parts of Indonesia were included in the biodiversity hotspots. The forests ecosystem in Borneo and the Sumatran tiger symbolize the extinction of Indonesian species. Will humans be all right if many species are extinct?. Human interacts with various species which occurs directly or indirectly. Biodiversity provides food, clean water, medicines, raw materials, pollination, recreation, recreation, fresh air, and spiritual experience for humans.

Biodiversity conservation should consists on 2 things; function and affection. The love and affection for species must be possessed by a community. Plants and animals are not created merely for human purpose. Each individual has feelings and desires to survive. We can preserve biodiversity from the simplest things. For example, sorting out garbage for recycling and saving energy is a small thing in life that could be implemented into everyday life. In addition, local wisdom (traditional ecological knowledge) that has been passed down through generations must be maintained through good research. It is also important to oversee the management of genetically engineered species that can affect the stability of the ecosystem.

(Writer : Rizqy Fachria, Translator: Gita Kemala)