Course Code and Title: GE106 – Science, Technology and Society

Module 9 Week 13

Topic: BIODIVERSITY AND THE HEALTHY SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION:

Our Planet Earth has shared trillions of varied species and the different species of our plants
and animals and the places they live in is called biodiversity. All of them together give us all our needs
to live our life like food, clear drinking water, crisp air, medicines, and provide us our homes. We can
say that biodiversity is like a safety net.

Let’s say that a huge variety of plants and animals in our planet Earth as threads in the net. The
more threads that adhere and intertwined, the thread gets stronger, and the better nature can provide
for us and less threats for a climate change.

Unfortunately, people have been disregarding the safety and help of that net for decades now.
The forests were flattened to give way to farming and subdivisions. Young fishes were netted until
their numbers have collapsed. Wetlands were bulldozed causing floods and wreak havocs.

The greatest impact man has done for the very first time in human history is full understanding
of when to start mending the affected net wherein the natural world we love and depend upon. There
is still the need to reverse the losses of nature, but we need to move fast to avoid any catastrophic
change and disaster.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. determine the interrelatedness of society, environment, and health;

2. create a diagram that would show the relatedness of species in forming up a diverse
and healthy society without compromising one another; and
 3. identify everyday tasks and evaluate whether they contribute to the wellness and
health of biodiversity and society or not.

CONTENT:

Biodiversity and Ecosystem

We define biodiversity as the vast variety of life forms in the entire Planet Earth. It
encompasses all kinds of life forms, from the single-celled organisms to the largest multi-celled
organisms.

It is also defined as “the variability among living organisms from all sources, including
terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they
are part; within, between the species, and of ecosystems. Biodiversity is the source of the
essential goods and ecological services that constitute the source of life for all and it has direct
consumptive value in food, agriculture, medicine, and in industry.” (Villaggio Globale, 2009)

In the above diagram, Biodiversity is referred to as the web of life because many

microorganisms, plants and animals interact with each other. The relationship among species is
an important part of biodiversity. A food chain is a sequence of who eats whom. ... Humans are
omnivores, as they eat plants and animals too.

BIODIVERSITY

● Biodiversity is the source of the essential goods and ecological services that constitute the
source of life for all.
 ● In food, agriculture, industry, and in medicine. It has direct consumptive value.

Understanding biodiversity within the concept of ecosystem needs a thorough study on the relationship
of the biotic (the living organisms) and the abiotic (the non-living organisms).

⮚ Interdisciplinary approach is needed to study the ecosystem.

⮚ Biodiversity plays a major role in this natural dynamic.
⮚ Human inhabitants of the ecosystem, must preserve and conserve the biodiversity of all
creatures.
⮚ People will always depend on biodiversity on the wholeness of our being and in our everyday
lives.
⮚ We as human inhabitants of the ecosystem, must preserve and conserve the biodiversity of all
creatures.

CHANGES IN BIODIVERSITY

❖ Alteration in any system could bring various effects.

❖ A change in biodiversity could have erratic effects not only in wildlife or marine life but also in
human beings.
❖ We can clearly infer that when our ecosystem is not well taken care of, biodiversity encounters
changes that may impact human health on such different levels.

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

Major threats identified by United Nation’s Environment Program (WHO, n.d.)

▪ Habitat loss and destruction.

▪ Alteration in ecosystem composition.
▪ Over-exploitation.
▪ Pollution and contamination.
▪ Global climate change.

CONSEQUENCES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS

Even with the improvement of technology and science at present, we still have a lot to learn
about biodiversity, more so about the consequences of biodiversity loss. However, the basic concept
about biodiversity loss was from Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. The particular species
making up an ecosystem determine its productivity affect nutrient cycles and soil contents, and
influence environmental conditions such as water, cycles, weather patterns, climate and other non-
biotic aspects.

THE LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

The loss of biodiversity has many consequences that we understand and many that we do not.
As stated by Tilman, “The Earth will retain its most striking feature, its biodiversity, only if humans have
the prescience to do so. This will occur, it seems, only if we realize the extent to which we use
biodiversity (Rainforest Conservation Fund, 2017).

NUTRITIONAL IMPACT OF BIODIVERSITY

● According to the WHO, biodiversity is a vital element of a human being’s nutrition

because of its influence to food production.
 ● Biodiversity is a major factor that contributes to sustainable food production for human
beings.

● A society or a population must have access to a sufficient variety of nutritious food as it

is a determinant off their health as human beings.

NUTRITION AND BIODIVERSITY

The ecosystem, with food production as an ecosystem service. Nutritional composition

between foods and among varieties/cultivars/breeds of the same food can differ dramatically, affecting
micronutrient availability in the diet.

Intensified and enhanced food production through irrigation, use of fertilizer, plant protection
(insecticides), or the introduction of crop varieties affects biodiversity and thus impact global nutritional
status and human health.

HEALTH, BIOLOGY, and BIODIVERSITY

Biology Biodiversity
Health
(Environment)

The diagram above shows almost all living organisms are dependent to their
environment to live and reproduce. Basic needs of living organisms such as air, water, food, and
habitat are provided by its government. The evolution of human beings was due to the
improved access to these basic needs. Advances in agriculture, sanitation water treatment, and
hygiene have had a far greater impact on human health.
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and many other illnesses.
● These hazards can be physical, such as pollution, toxic chemicals, and food contaminants, or
they can be social, such as dangerous work, poor housing conditions, urban sprawl, and
poverty.
● Unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation and hygiene can lead to infectious diseases, such as
diarrhea, cholera, meningitis, and gastritis.
The interrelation between human health and biological diversity considerable and
complex. With the current biodiversity loss at unprecedented rates, the delicate
balance between human health and biological diversity at risk.
Environment-related illnesses:
Some human illnesses that are found to be related with its environment include
Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
 asthma, diabetes, obesity, occupational injuries, dysentery, arthritis, malaria, and
depression.
A society or a population must have access to a sufficient variety of nutritious
food as it is a determinant of their health as human beings.
❖ According to experts, climate change could also have a serious impact on
human health and could deteriorate farming systems and reduce
nutrients in some foods.
❖ Relationships between human health and the environment raise many
ethical, social, and legal dilemmas by forcing people to choose among
competing values.
❖ Many of the issues at the intersection of health and the environment
have to do with managing benefits and risks. For example, pesticides
play an important role in increasing crop yields, but they can also pose
hazards to human health and the environment.
SUMMARY:
For us, it may seem impossible to value species singly or in a detailed manner. But we have to
consider the entire Planet Earth as a single unit. It is said that a loss of single-celled species or a family
of wild grass can have adverse effects in the entire biosphere.
When biodiversity is seen in macro level may seem to be still vast and rich, yet if we look at it in
micro level, per species, we have lost too much. Eventually, in the near future, this biodiversity loss
will have a great negative effect especially to us humans. “The value of biodiversity is the value of
everything” (Rainforest Conservation Fund, n.d.).
REFERENCES:
Convention on Biological Diversity, (2010). “United Nations COHAB Initiative: Biodiversity and
Global Health.” Accessed July 31, 2017. https://www.cbd.int/doc/health/cohab-policy-
briefl-en.pdf.

Inquirer.net. (2006). “Living Planet report: WWF paints dire picture for survival of the species.”
Accessed July 31, 2017. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/841255/living-planet-wwf-paints-
dire-picture-for-survival-of-the-species.

Rainforest Conservation Fund. (2017). “Consequences of biodiversity loss.” Accessed Juy 31,
2017. http://www.rainforestcpnservation.org/rainforest-primer/2-biodiversity/g-recent-
losses -in-biodiversity/4-consequences--of-biodiversity-loss/.
Villaggio Globale. (2009). (n.d.). “Biodiversity is the Life Insurance of Life Itself.” Accessed July
2, 2017. http://vglobale.it/complimentari/8913-biodiversity-is-the-life-insurance-of-life-
itself.html.ncer, heart disease, such
as air, water, food, and habitat are
provided by its environment. The evolution of human beings was due to
the improved access to these basic needs. Advances in agriculture,
sanitation, water treatment, and hygiene have had a far greater impact
on human organisms such as air, water, food, and habitat are provided
b