What are the two direct benefits of maintaining biodiversity mentioned in the chapter?

The two direct benefits of maintaining biodiversity are the preservation of genetic diversity and the development of new medicines. Genetic diversity is crucial for crossbreeding and improving crop yields, while many known drugs are derived from plants found in biodiverse ecosystems.

Maintaining biodiversity provides significant advantages to humans. Firstly, it preserves genetic diversity, which is essential for crossbreeding species to combine desirable traits, particularly in agriculture. Secondly, biodiversity is vital for the development of new medicines, as approximately 25% of all known drugs are derived from plants, many of which are found in tropical regions that are currently threatened.