BIODIVERSITY

& HEALTH

MRS TEMBO L.K

 Objectives
• Define biodiversity
• Define health
• Explain the importance of biodiversity to man
• Describe how biodiversity is linked to overall human
health
• Explain the importance of biodiversity to health
 To begin with…….
Answer the following questions
based on your previous knowledge
• What is Biodiversity?

• Why is biodiversity important?

• What is Health?

• So, how then does human life depend on

biodiversity?
 Linking biodiversity and
health
• Human health ultimately depends
on ecosystem products and
services e.g fresh water, food.
• And these are requisites for good
human health.

• There is a growing concern about

health consequences of
biodiversity loss and change.
• Direct drivers of biodiversity loss include
land-use change, habitat loss,
overexploitation, pollution and climate change.

• Most of these drivers affect human health

directly and through their impacts on
biodiversity.
 Determinants of health
and biodiversity
• The social, economic and behavioural
aspects of human health interact
with the environment and the critical
elements of biodiversity.
• Environmental determinants of
health include: air quality, food
security, water security, etc.
• They are all adversely affected by
the reduced ability of degraded
ecosystems to adapt to impacts of
climate change, air pollution, natural
disasters or water scarcity.
• Detrimental changes to biodiversity and the resulting
risks and burden of human health problems are
inequitably distributed in specific social-ecological
settings.

• Different socioeconomic groups will have different

experiences of material conditions, psychosocial
support and behavioural options which make them
more or less vulnerable to poor health.
• Developing countries such as
Zambia, are more reliant on
biodiversity and ecosystem
services than developed
countries.
• Health systems are also less
prepared to protect the
health of populations which
leads to greater negative
health impacts of
biodiversity change.
• E.g. in Zambia, we rely so
much on fish caught from
our fisheries as one of our
primary sources of animal
protein.
 Water, biodiversity &
human health
The demand for water by industry,
agriculture, mining, energy generation
and human consumption worsen the
pressures on water quality and quantity.

Agricultural runoff's and mining wastes

that find their way into lakes, rivers,
etc. lead to eutrophication.

This results in impaired water quality,

leading to ecosystem degradation, social
and economic costs and pose a major
threat to human health.
• Contaminated water may still have fish in them, and
these contaminants can reach human populations
through fish consumption.

• Some of the toxins, such as mercury, lead and copper

can affect brain development even at low doses of
exposure.

• Unsafe water can also lead to a number of

waterborne diseases.
Air quality, Biodiversity &
Human health
• All around the world, air pollution is a significant
problem in cities.

• Emissions from industries, domestic use of fossil

fuels, exhaust fumes from vehicles, etc. all impact
the air quality.

• Trees help improve the air quality, but they are cut
down to make way for ‘major’ developments.

• Human health effects range from nausea and

difficulty in breathing, skin irritations, pulmonary and
cardiovascular systems, to cancer.
 How do you think trees
can improve air quality???
 Food security,
Biodiversity & Human
health
• The human population world over continues to grow
and this means more food is needed for the
population!
• An adequate supply of safe and nutritious food is one
of the cornerstones of human health.

• Increased food production has consequences on

biodiversity. [How is it so??]
• In order to have adequate average levels of nutrient
intake, high biodiversity levels need to be maintained.
• Some wild fruits and herbs are rich in nutrients, but are
cleared out to make room for growing just one type of
crop!!!!

• Increased use of fertilizers and pesticides has a

hazardous effect on the environment as well as on human
health!
• It adversely affects plant and animal species, leading to
loss of biodiversity.
• Sustainable agriculture is what is needed!!!

• It will provide sustainable diets with low

environmental impacts, contributing to food and
nutrition security and a healthy life for present and
future generations!!
 What about Infectious
diseases???
• What is an infectious disease?
• Give three examples of infectious diseases.

• How then does biodiversity loss affect human health

with respect to Infectious diseases??
• Deforestation, logging, mining and urban development
are some of the human- caused drivers of infectious
disease emergence and spread!

• E.g. studies have shown that deforestation has led

to a proliferation of Anopheles darlingi and
Anopheles gambiae, mosquito species that are
HIGHLY effective at transmitting malaria,
replacing other less effective Anopheles species
that were present before the forests were cut
down!
• Changes in biodiversity (e.g. habitat fragmentation)
also increase the risk of cross-species transmission
of pathogens which can result in Zoonotic diseases.

• ****Give four examples of zoonotic diseases.****

• Reduced microbial biodiversity
in the human gut is responsible
too for increased incidences of
immunoregulatory disorders
and autoimmune diseases.

• The biodiversity of microbiota

is restricted by the modern
lifestyle, diet and
contemporary medicines.

• Reduced gut microbial

biodiversity is often associated
with poor control of
inflammation.
• Traditional medicines help promote microbial
biodiversity, unlike their contemporary counterparts.

• Medicinal plants are supplied through collection from

wild populations and cultivation.
• There is a growing global need for natural products.
• Biomedical research relies on plant, animals and
microbes to understand human physiology and treat
human diseases.
 Mental health &
Biodiversity
• Contact with nature
promotes physical
activity, contributes to
overall well being and is
associated with positive
mental health benefits.

• *Discuss with your

friends how
biodiversity can impact
your mental health*
Effects of Climate Change
on Health
• **Think on this: What is Climate change? What is
the difference between Climate change and global
warming?.**

• Climate change and biodiversity loss are

interconnected.
• Direct impact: increase in the number of waves,
droughts, floods, cyclones and wildfires
• Indirect impacts: change in infectious disease vector
distribution and air pollution interacting with heat
waves.
• Tertiary effects: health impacts of large-scale
famine, forced migration and human conflict