Biodiversity- The Context

How can the two subjects of Biodiversity and the Urban audience be brought on the same plane?

Let's look at the 3 main objectives that various biodiversity conventions and organizations stress upon.

CONSERVATION : The biggest threat to biodiversity is how forest cover, wetlands and farms are stripped down to make way for urbanization without conservation of the species who inhabit these areas. We are losing species at 1000-10,000 times the natural rate of extinction, dangerously affecting the interdependence of various species. Not only this, we are also controlling the natural variability through genetic modification and promoting the development of only a few varieties of a certain plant or animal. Raising monocultures to increase productivity, eliminates diversity.

SUSTAINABILITY : There is a great disparity in the rate at which we consume biological resources and the rat at which these resources replenish themselves. The biggest consumers of energy and raw natural material are cities and industries. Exploitation of resources for development in a manner that leaves no sustenance for the future exhausts natural resources and threatens biodiversity.

ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING : Traditional knowledge about plants and animals, that is protected and preserved by indigenous tribes and farmers is patented and used for commercial means by capital powers, often providing no profit or access to the rightful custodians. When urban consumers promote the commercial use of such products, we put the power of controlling diversity in a few hands. 

Here's a map that identifies the various facets that define the context of this project