Question : Assertion: Biodiversity conservation is essential for sustainable development as it ensures the stability and resilience of ecosystems.

Reason: Biodiversity loss can disrupt ecosystem functions, negatively impacting human well-being and the environment.

Option 1: Both assertion and reason are correct, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

Option 2: Both assertion and reason are correct, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.

Option 3: Assertion is correct, but the reason is incorrect.

Option 4: Assertion is incorrect, but the reason is correct.

Correct Answer: Both assertion and reason are correct, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

Solution : The correct answer is (a) Both assertion and reason are correct, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

The assertion is correct in stating that biodiversity conservation is essential for sustainable development. Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms and the ecosystems in which they exist. Conservation of biodiversity is crucial for maintaining the stability and resilience of ecosystems, as well as for supporting various ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being, such as clean air and water, soil fertility, climate regulation, and natural resource provision.

The reason correctly explains that biodiversity loss can disrupt ecosystem functions and negatively impact human well-being and the environment. Ecosystems are complex networks of organisms and their interactions, and biodiversity loss can lead to the loss of key species, disruptions in ecological processes, and reduced ecosystem services. This, in turn, can have detrimental effects on human societies, including decreased food security, impaired water quality, increased vulnerability to natural disasters, and reduced resilience to environmental changes.

Therefore, both the assertion and the reason are correct, and the reason provides the correct explanation for the assertion.