BIODIVERSITY

AND A HEALTHY SOCIETY

 Unlocking Terms
Biodiversity: The range of variation found
among microorganisms, plants, fungi, and
animals. Also the richness of species of living
organisms.
Gene: A unit of inherited material. An
organism’s collection of genes determines what
it is, what it looks like, and often how it
behaves.
Organism: Any living thing
Species: A group of populations of similar
organisms that reproduce among themselves, but
do not naturally reproduce with any other kinds
of organisms
Population: A group of individuals belonging
to one species living
Community: Populations of organisms of
different species that interact with one
another.
Ecosystem: Any geographic area with all of
the living organisms present and the nonliving
parts of their physical environment. Involves
the movement and storage of energy and
matter through living things and activities.
ECOSYSTEM

POPULATION

Short for biological diversity.
Biodiversity includes all organisms,
species, and populations; the genetic
What is variation among these; and all their
complex assemblages of
Biodiversity? communities and ecosystems.
It also refers to the interrelatedness
of genes, species, and ecosystems
and their interactions with the
environment.
Usually three levels of biodiversity
are discussed—genetic, species, and
ecosystem diversity.
• Genetic diversity is all the
different genes contained in
all individual plants,
animals, fungi, and
microorganisms. It occurs
within a species as well as
between species.
• Species diversity is all the
differences within and between
populations of species, as well
as between different species.
• Ecosystem diversity is all the
different habitats, biological
communities, and ecological
processes, as well as variation
within individual ecosystems.
 Biodiversity refers to the
What is Biodiversity? variety of living species on
Earth, including plants,
animals, bacteria, and fungi.

While Earth’s biodiversity is

so rich that many species have
yet to be discovered, many
species are being threatened
with extinction due to human
activities, putting the Earth’s
magnificent biodiversity at
risk.

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/
biodiversity/
SCIENTISTS HAVE ESTIMATED THAT
THERE ARE AROUND 8.7 MILLION
SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS
IN EXISTENCE.

HOWEVER, ONLY AROUND 1.2

MILLION SPECIES HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED AND DESCRIBED SO FAR,
MOST OF WHICH ARE INSECTS.

THIS MEANS THAT MILLIONS

OF OTHER ORGANISMS
REMAIN A COMPLETE
MYSTERY.
Some areas in the world, such as areas
of Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, the
southwestern United States, and
Madagascar, have more biodiversity
than others.

Areas with extremely high levels of

biodiversity are called hotspots.
Endemic species—species that are only
found in one particular location—are
also found in hotspots.
All of the Earth’s species work together to
survive and maintain their ecosystems.

For example, the grass in pastures feeds

cattle. Cattle then produce manure that
returns nutrients to the soil, which helps to
grow more grass.
This manure can also be used to fertilize
cropland. Many species provide important
benefits to humans, including food, clothing,
and medicine.
Much of the Earth’s biodiversity, however,
is in jeopardy due to human consumption
and other activities that disturb and even
destroy ecosystems.

Pollution, climate change, and population

growth are all threats to biodiversity. These
threats have caused an unprecedented rise in
the rate of species extinction.

Some scientists estimate that half of all

species on Earth will be wiped out within the
next century.

Conservation efforts are necessary to

preserve biodiversity and protect endangered
species and their habitats.
 •Economic—biodiversity provides humans with raw materials for
consumption and production. Many livelihoods, such as those of farmers,
fishers and timber workers, are dependent on biodiversity.

•Ecological life support—biodiversity provides functioning ecosystems

that supply oxygen, clean air and water, pollination of plants, pest
control, wastewater treatment and many ecosystem services.

Why is •Recreation—many recreational pursuits rely on our unique biodiversity,

such as birdwatching, hiking, camping and fishing. Our tourism industry

Biodiversity also depends on biodiversity.

Important? •Cultural—the Australian culture is closely connected to biodiversity

through the expression of identity, through spirituality and through
aesthetic appreciation. Indigenous Australians have strong connections
and obligations to biodiversity arising from spiritual beliefs about animals
and plants.

•Scientific—biodiversity represents a wealth of systematic ecological

data that help us to understand the natural world and its origins.
 Why is Biodiversity Important?

• A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops

• Healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.

• Biodiversity provides biological resources, such as food, medicinal resources and

pharmaceutical drugs, wood products, ornamental plants, breeding stocks
Why is Biodiversity Important?
While there might be
survival of the fittest
Greater species within a given species,
diversity ensures Species depend on each species depends
natural sustainability each other. on the services
for all life forms. provided by other
species to ensure
survival.

It is a type of Ex. The Nitrogen

cooperation based on Cycle shows the
mutual survival and is relationship between
often what a balanced soil, plants, bacteria
ecosystem refers to. and other life forms.
 As an example, consider all the species of animals and organisms involved in a simple field
used in agriculture.
Crop byproducts feed cattle
Cattle waste feeds the soil that nourish the crops
Why is Crops, as well as yielding grain also yield straw
Straw provides organic matter and fodder
Biodiversity Crops are therefore food sources for humans and animals

Important? Soil organisms also benefit from crops

Bacteria feed on the cellulose fibers of straw that farmers return to the soil
Amoebas feed on bacteria making lignite fibers available for uptake by plants
Algae provide organic matter and serve as natural nitrogen fixers
Rodents that bore under the fields aerate the soil and improve its water-holding capacity
Spiders, centipedes and insects grind organic matter from the surface soil and leave behind
enriched droppings.
Earthworms contribute to soil fertility
Biodiversity boosts
They provide aerage, drainage and maintain soil structure.
ecosystem productivity
The earthworm is like a natural tractor, fertilizer factory and dam, combined!
where each species, no
matter how small, all have
Industrial-farming techniques would deprive these diverse species of food sources and instead
an important role to play. assault them with chemicals, destroying the rich biodiversity in the soil and with it the basis
for the renewal of the soil fertility
Bees are crucial for agriculture.
Bees provide enormous benefits for humankind
as another example.
As reported by CNN (May 5, 2000), One third
of all our food—fruits and vegetables—would
not exist without pollinators visiting flowers.
But honeybees, the primary species that
fertilizes food-producing plants, have suffered
dramatic declines in recent years, mostly from
afflictions introduced by humans like farming
practices (such as pesticides, large monoculture
cropping, etc)..
Bees are vital to biodiversity. There are
130,000 plants for example for which bees are
essential to pollination, from melons to
pumpkins, raspberries and all kind of fruit trees
— as well as animal fodder — like clover.
Interdependent Marine Ecosystem
It noted how a few decades ago, some fishermen
campaigned for killing whales because they were
threatening the fish supply and thus jobs.
A chain of events eventually came full circle and led to
a loss of jobs:
The massive reduction in the local whale population
meant killer whales in the region (usually preying on
younger whales) moved to other animals such as seals;
As seal numbers declined, the killer whales targeted
otters;
As otter numbers were decimated, the urchins and
other targets of otters flourished;
These decimated the kelp forests where many fish
larvae grew in relative protection;
The exposed fish larvae were easy pickings for a
variety of sea life;
Fishermen’s livelihoods were destroyed.
Large carnivores are essential for healthy ecosystems
Three quarters of the world’s big carnivores are in decline. A study in the journal Science,
notes that these large animals — such as lions, leopards, wolves and bears — are in
decline, due to declining habitats and persecution by humans..

As the study notes, human actions cannot fully replace the role of large carnivores
because these large carnivores are an intrinsic part of an ecosystem’s biodiversity.
.

As a simple example, the loss of a large carnivore may mean in the short term the
herbivores they prey on may increase in numbers but this can also result in a
deterioration of the environment as the herbivores can graze more, largely unchecked.
Human intervention to perform the same services would be more costly.
Interdependency vs Human Intervention
•Nature can often be surprisingly resilient, often without
the need for human interventions. For example, a
documentary aired on the BBC in the 1990s described
two national parks in Africa where elephant populations
had grown quite large within those artificial boundaries.

•The usual way to deal with this was to cull the

population to try and keep the ecosystem in balance.
Without this, elephants were stripping vegetation bare,
affecting other animals, too.

•A scientist pleaded with park management not to cull

and let nature take its course. Being against prevailing
thought, they would not agree. In the end they agreed to
let one park have its elephants culled, while the other
would be left alone.

•A few years later, they found the park with the culled
population had remained in poor condition. The park
where things were left alone has naturally regenerated;
the large elephant populations eventually reduced in
number as they undermined their own resource base.
The natural pace at which this happened allowed
vegetation to grow back. Other wildlife grew in numbers
and the ecosystem was generally back in balance.
 The Philippines is one of 18 mega-biodiverse countries of the world, containing two-
thirds of the earth’s biodiversity and between 70% and 80% of the world’s plant and
animal species.

The Philippines ranks fifth in the number of plant species and maintains 5% of the
world’s flora.

Species endemism is very high, covering at least 25 genera of plants and 49% of
terrestrial wildlife, while the country ranks fourth in bird endemism.

The Philippines is also one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots with at least 700
threatened species, thus making it one of the top global conservation areas.

The national list of threatened faunal species was established in 2004 and includes 42
species of land mammals, 127 species of birds, 24 species of reptiles and 14 species of
amphibians.

In terms of fishes, the Philippines counts at least 3,214 species, of which about 121 are
Biodiversity in endemic and 76 threatened.

the Philippines In 2007, an administrative order issued by the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources established a national list of threatened plant species, indicating that 99
species were critically endangered, 187 were endangered, 176 vulnerable as well as 64
other threatened species.
Biodiversity in the
Philippines
•The unique biodiversity is supported by a large
variety of ecosystems, landscapes and habitats,
most of which are also greatly threatened by
human activities.

•According to the FAO definition, the

Philippines has 7.2 million ha of forest
ecosystems, comprising approximately 24% of
the total land area.

•It is however estimated that, between 2000 and

2005, the Philippines lost 2.1% of its forest
cover annually, representing the second fastest
rate of deforestation in Southeast Asia (second to
Myanmar) and seventh in the world.

•The Philippines is part of the center of diversity

of rice, coconut, mung bean, taro and yam, as
well as the center of origin and diversity of
bananas in Southeast Asia. Yet this agricultural
biodiversity is nowadays experiencing general
decline, as is the land area devoted to these
activities.
 Threats to Biodiversity
Species are becoming extinct at the fastest rate known in geological history
and most of these extinctions have been tied to human activity.

•The over-exploitation (over-hunting,

over-fishing, or over-collecting) of a
species or population can lead to its
demise.

• Human-generated pollution and

contamination can affect all levels of
biodiversity.

• Global climate change can alter

environmental conditions. Species and
populations may be lost if they are unable
to adapt to new conditions or relocate.
 Threats to Biodiversity
• Habitat loss and destruction, usually as a direct result of
human activity and population growth, is a major force
in the loss of species, populations, and ecosystems.

•Alterations in ecosystem composition, such as the loss or

decline of a species, can lead to a loss of biodiversity.

•For example, efforts to eliminate coyotes in the canyons of

southern California are linked to decreases in song bird
populations in the area. As coyote populations were reduced,
the populations of their prey, primarily raccoons, increased.
Since raccoons eat bird eggs, fewer coyotes led to more
raccoons eating more eggs, resulting in fewer song birds.

•The introduction of exotic (non-native) species can disrupt

entire ecosystems and impact populations of native plants or
animals. These invaders can adversely affect native species
by eating them, infecting them, competing with them, or
mating with them.
 Threats to Biodiversity

•In the forest ecosystem, the primary causes of

forest loss are commercial exploitation and
population growth (including lifestyle and
consumption patterns) and the introduction of
invasive alien species.

•Loss of biodiversity in the agricultural

ecosystem is a direct consequence of habitat
destruction via conversion of agricultural land to
other uses; the possible negative impacts of
biotechnology; natural calamities or extreme
weather events associated with climate change;
introduction of invasive alien species, pests and
diseases; and inherent institutional problems of
Threats to biodiversity government agencies responsible for conserving
differ from one agrobiodiversity.
ecosystem to another.
 Threats to Biodiversity
Threats to biodiversity
differ from one
ecosystem to another.
•Yet the observed decline is also the
indirect result of the increased
demand for food, land and other
agro-based resources; pursuit of
economic growth through intensive
agriculture, export-oriented policies
and the promotion of extractive
industries, such as mining, that are
potentially damaging to the
environment; and lifestyle change of
farmers brought about by
urbanization.
•Major threats to inland water
biodiversity, as well as marine and
coastal environments, include
chemical pollution and
eutrophication, fisheries operations,
habitat alteration, invasion of alien
species and global climate change.
 What is Biodiversity
Conservation ?

Biodiversity conservation is the

protection and management of
biodiversity to obtain resources
for sustainable development.

Biodiversity is being lost due to the loss of habitat, over-exploitation of resources, climatic changes,
pollution, invasive exotic species, diseases, hunting, etc. Since it provides us with several economic and
ethical benefits and adds aesthetic value, it is very important to conserve biodiversity.
Biodiversity and its Conservation Methods

Biodiversity refers to the variability of

life on earth.

It can be conserved in the following

ways:

 In-situ Conservation
 Ex-situ Conservation
In-situ Conservation

•In-situ conservation of
biodiversity is the conservation of
species within their natural habitat
by creating protected areas such
as national parks, wildlife
sanctuaries and biosphere
reserves.
 Biodiversity and its
Conservation Methods

National Parks
•These are small reserves maintained by the government. Its
boundaries are well demarcated and human activities such as grazing,
forestry, habitat and cultivation are prohibited.

Wildlife Sanctuaries
•These are the regions where only wild animals are found. Human
activities such as timber harvesting, cultivation, collection of woods
and other forest products are allowed here as long as they do not
interfere with the conservation project. Also, tourists visit these
places for recreation.

Biosphere Reserves
•Biosphere reserves are multi-purpose protected areas where the
wildlife, traditional lifestyle of the inhabitants and domesticated
plants and animals are protected. Tourist and research activities are
permitted here.
Advantages of In-situ Conservation:

• It is a cost-effective and a convenient

method of conserving biodiversity.

• A large number of living organisms can be

conserved simultaneously.

• Since the organisms are in a natural

ecosystem, they can evolve better and can
easily adjust to different environmental
conditions.
•Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity
involves the breeding and
maintenance of endangered species in
artificial ecosystems such as zoos,
nurseries, botanical gardens, gene
banks, etc.

•There is less competition for food,

water and space among the
organisms.
 Ex-situ Conservation

Advantages of Ex-situ Conservation:

• The animals are provided with a longer

time and breeding activity.

• The species bred in captivity can be

reintroduced in the wild.

• Genetic techniques can be used for the

preservation of endangered species.
 Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation
All the varieties of food,
Strategies for All the economically
timber plants, livestock, Unique ecosystems
important organisms
Biodiversity microbes and
should be identified and
should be preserved
Conservation agricultural animals first.
conserved.
should be conserved.

Poaching and hunting The reserves and The levels of pollutants

The resources should be
of wild animals should protected areas should should be reduced in the
utilized efficiently.
be prevented. be developed carefully. environment.

The useful and

Public awareness should
endangered species of
Environmental laws be created regarding
Deforestation should be plants and animals
should be followed biodiversity
strictly prohibited. should be conserved in
strictly. conservation and its
their nature as well as
importance.
artificial habitats.
 FAQs
•What do you understand by biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of plants and
animals found on earth. It measures the variations
at ecosystem, species and genetic level.
•What is meant by biodiversity conservation?
Biodiversity conservation means protection,
conservation and management of the biodiversity
in order to obtain sustainable benefits for future
generations.
• How can we conserve biodiversity?
Biodiversity can be conserved by:
Preventing the cutting of trees.
Putting a ban on hunting of animals.
Efficient utilization of natural resources.
Protected areas should be developed for animals where
no human activities are allowed.
• Why is it important to conserve biodiversity?
Biodiversity conservation is important because
biodiversity provides certain services and resources that
are essential for life on earth. Biodiversity also provides
social benefits.