july 23, 2008 | environmental science 1

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July 23, 2008 | Environmental Science 1

Reported by: Justin de Guzman and Inah Vinluan


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What isBIODIVERSITY? Shortened term for Biological Diversity.

Refers to a variation of life at all levels of biological

organization.

D ivers i t y in these definition includes diversitywithin a species and among species, andcomparative diversity among ecosystems. The number of species of plants, animals, and

microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these

species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as

deserts, rainforests and coral reefsare all part of a

biologically diverse earth.


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Evolution and MeaningBiodiversity is a neologism and portmanteauword, from biology and diversity.

Since 1986 the terms and the concept have achieved

widespread use among biologists, environmentalists, political

leaders, and concerned citizens worldwide.

It is generally used to equate to a concern for the naturalenvironment and nature conservation. This use has coincided

with the expansion of concern over extinction observed in the

last decades of the 20th century.


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Evolution and MeaningThe Science Division of The Nature Conservancy used the term

"natural diversity"in a 1975 study, "The Preservation of Natural

Diversity." The term biological diversity was used even beforethat by conservation scientists like Robert E. Jenkins and

Thomas Lovejoy. The word biodiversity itself may have been

coined by W.G. Rosen in 1985 while planning the National Forum

on Biological Diversity organized by the National Research

Council (NRC) which was to be held in 1986, and first appeared

in a publication in 1988 when entomologist E. O. Wilson used itas the title of the proceedings of that forum. The word

biodiversity was deemed more effective in terms of

communication than biological diversity.


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Why is BiodiversityImportant?At least 40 percentof the worlds economy and 80 percent

of the needs of the poorare derived from biological

resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, thegreater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic

development, and adaptive responses to such new

challenges as climate change.

The Convention about Life on Earth, Convention on Biodiversity web site.
http://www.biodiv.org/doc/publications/cbd-leaflet.asphttp://www.biodiv.org/doc/publications/cbd-leaflet.asp


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What does a HEALTHY Biodiversityoffer?E cos y s t em s e r v i ces ,such as

Protection of water resourcesSoils formation and protectionNutrient storage and recyclingPollution breakdown and absorption

Contribution to climate stabilityMaintenance of ecosystemsRecovery from unpredictable events


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B i o l og ica l r es ou r ces ,such as

FoodMedicinal resources and pharmaceutical drugsWood productsOrnamental plantsBreeding stocks, population reservoirsFuture resources

Diversity in genes, species and ecosystems

What does a HEALTHY Biodiversityoffer?


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What does a HEALTHY Biodiversityoffer?Soc ia l bene f i t s ,such as

Research, education and monitoringRecreation and tourismCultural values


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What does a HEALTHY Biodiversityoffer?. Biodiversity loss affects ecosystems, making them

more vulnerable to perturbations and less able to

supply humans with these valuable services. And so,

while we dominate this planet, we still need to

preserve the diversity in wildlife.


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Threats on BiologicalDiversityMassive Extinctions from HumanActivityA report from Environment New Service (August 2, 1999) says that

The current extinction rate is now approaching 1,000 times the

background rate and may climb to 10,000 times the background rate

during the next century, if present trends continue. At this rate, one-

third to two-thirds of all species of plants, animals, and otherorganisms would be lost during the second half of the next century, a

loss that would easily equal those of past extinctions.


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Threats on BiologicalDiversityFactors contributing to loss of biodiversity include:

Overpopulation and Pollution Habitat Destruction Invasive species Overexploitation (D e fo r es t a t ion and

Over f i sh ing ) Global Warming or Climate change.These factors, mostly driven by human activity, which stems from

overpopulation, produce a cumulative impact upon biodiversity.


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Threats on BiologicalDiversityHabitat Destruction Most of the species extinctions from 1000 AD to 2000 AD

are due to human activities, in particular destruction of plantand animal habitats.

While most of the species that are becoming extinct are

not food species, their biomass is converted into human

food when their habitat is transformed into pasture,

cropland, and orchards.

It is estimated that more than 40% of the Earth's biomass is tied up in

only the few species that represent humans, livestock and crops.


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Threats on BiologicalDiversityInvasive Species The rich diversity of unique species across manyparts of the world exist only because they areseparated by barriers, particularly large rivers, seas,oceans, mountains and deserts from other species ofother land masses, particularly the highly fecund,ultra-competitive, generalist "s uper - s pec i es . However humans have invented ships and airplanes,and now have the power to bring into contact speciesthat never have met in their evolutionary history.


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Threats on BiologicalDiversityInvasive Species The widespread introduction of exotic species byhumans is a potent threat to biodiversity. When exoticspecies are introduced to ecosystems and establishself-sustaining populations, the endemic species inthat ecosystem, that have not evolved to cope withthe exotic species, may not survive. The exoticorganisms may be either predators, parasites, orsimply aggressive species that deprive indigenousspecies of nutrients, water and light.


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Threats on BiologicalDiversityInvasive Species If humans continue to combine species from differentecoregions, there is the potential that the world'secosystems will end up dominated by relatively a few,aggressive, cosmopolitan "s uper - s pec i es .


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Threats on BiologicalDiversityOverexploitation

. Overfishing -- D w i nd l ing F i s h S t ocks Industrialized fishing has contributed importantlyto mass extinction due to repeatedly failed attemptsat limiting the fishing. A new global study concludes that 90 percent of alllarge fishes have disappeared from the worldsoceans in the past half century, the devastatingresult of industrial fishing. The study took 10 years tocomplete and was published in the internationaljournal Nature.


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Threats on BiologicalDiversityOverexploitation (Overfishing -- Dwindling Fish Stocks) Another cause for extensive fish extinction is thedestruction of coral reefs. This is caused by acombination of causes, including warming of oceans,damage from fishing tools and a harmful infection ofcoral organisms promoted by ocean pollution. A research article in the journal, S c i ence , warnedcommercial fish and seafood species may all crashby 2048.


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Threats on BiologicalDiversityOverexploitation

b. Deforestation A report from the World Commission on Forestsand Sustainable Development suggests that theforests of the world have been exploited to thepoint of crisis and that major changes in globalforest management strategies would be needed toavoid the devastation. What also makes this a problem is that many ofthe endangered species are only found in smallareas of land, often within the borders of a singlecountry. New species of animals and plants are stillbeing discovered.


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Threats on BiologicalDiversityIn Papua New Guinea, 44 new species of animals were discovered

recently in the forests. Logging may affect these animals' habitats,

though. The loss of rainforests around the world, where many species of

life are found could be lost.

Brazil which is estimated to have around 55,000 species of flora,

amounting to some 22% of the worlds total and India which has about46,000 and some 81,000 animal species (amounting to some 8% of the

worlds biodiversity), are also under various pressures, from corporate

globalization and deforestation.

So too are many otherbiodiverse regions, such as Indonesia, parts of

Africa, and other tropical regions.

Overexploitation (D e fo r es t a t i on )


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HindrancesHuman Dimension - Governance, Awareness andPolitical Will

Rising poverty, increasing populations,alienation from the land Poor capacity for management and lack ofresources Lack of Political Will, and Oceans Governanceunds Humans have generally expanded and developedtheir territory throughout history. An activeapproach is the only way to halt the expansion butthis often requires funds or wise stewardship.Currently the United States EnvironmentalProtection Agency has an annual budget of $7.3billion (2007).


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HindrancesPreservation of invertebrate and plant species

Biodiversity is most well known to the public asa loss of animals with a backbone, when in factthere exist 20 times that number of insects andfive times as many flowering plants. While many ofthese species may be highly valuable to the humanrace for the above reasons, the vast majority areoften completely unknown to anyone butspecialists. In fact it is often estimated that lessthan half and perhaps less than two-thirds of earthorganisms have even been identified.


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W h a t w e c a n d o ? . . .As individuals, we all have an essential part to p layin promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainableuse. We can demand action from all levels ofgovernment. Moreover, in our everyday choices, we allcan have direct positive impacts on biodiversity andthe state of our planets ecosystems, for instance bysupporting sustainable consumption and wastereduction.


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ReferencesGreen Facts. Facts on Heal and the Environment. Scientific Facts on

Biodiversity (A Global Outlook) Last Modified: June 11, 2008.

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/global-biodiversity-outlook/

index.htm#il1

Shah, Anup. Global Issues. Biodiversity. Last Modified: June 14, 2008

http://www.globalissues.org/Env Issues/Biodiversity.asp

United Nations System-Wide Earthwatch. Biodiversity Assessment

1996-2007. http://earthwatch.unep.net/emergingissues/biodiversity/assessment.php

Wikipedia. Biodiversity. Last Modified: July 2, 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/Biodiversity

july 23, 2008 | environmental science 1

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