In the context of sustainability, what is meant by ‘preserving biodiversity’?

The concept of 'preserving biodiversity' refers to maintaining a variety of species within an ecosystem. Biodiversity encompasses the diversity of life at all levels, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. It is essential for ecosystem resilience, providing vital services such as pollination, water purification, and climate regulation, which are critical for sustaining life on Earth.

Maintaining a variety of species allows ecosystems to function optimally and adapt to changes, such as climate change or habitat destruction. Healthy ecosystems with rich biodiversity are more resilient to disturbances and can recover more effectively from environmental stresses.

The other options do not align with the principles of preserving biodiversity. Creating new species through genetic engineering does not inherently contribute to biodiversity conservation and can sometimes have unintended consequences on existing ecosystems. Limiting species solely for economic gain compromises biodiversity instead of preserving it, as it focuses on extraction rather than conservation. Promoting urban development over nature conservation disregards the importance of ecosystems and the biodiversity they support, leading to habitat destruction and loss of species.