MANEESH P

DEPT: OF APPLIED

ECONOMICS

• The earth is the only planet in the solar system that support

life . Life on the earth exist on the biosphere, a narrow zone made

up of land, air and water expanding up to a few kilometer above

and below the earth s surface.

• The physical components of the environment include materials

such as rocks, soil, air and water.

• Long ago men lived with the environment without disturbing its

components. Human beings are dependent for their subsistence,

health, well being and enjoyment of life on fundamental biological

systems and processes.

• Humanity derive all of its food and many medicines and

industrial products from wild and domesticated components of

biological diversity.

•Now a days man has started extensively changing the

environment surroundings, thus transforming the

environment and consequently effecting the balance of

ecosystem, which is very essential for life on this

planet.

• Biodiversity is on the verge of ruin due to their ever

expanding needs. People need food, water and space to

live, air to breathe, and energy to drive their machines.

• Now we realize the importance of biodiversity and its

value and concentrate on various issues and

conservative strategy of biodiversity.

What do you think biodiversity means?

Bio =

Biodiversity

What does “Bio” mean?

Biodiversity

Diversity = Variety

What does “Diversity” mean?

• Biodiversity is the variety of life on

Earth and the essential

interdependence of all living things

• Scientists have identified more than 1.4 million

species. Tens of millions -- remain unknown

(www.thecatalogueoflife.org)

•The tremendous variety of life on Earth is made

possible by complex interactions among all living

things including micro- oganisms.

There are 3 components of

biodiversity 1. Diversity of genes

Chihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all the same species —but they're not the same because there is

variety in their genes.

Chihuahua Beagle

Rottweilers

2. Diversity of number of species

For example, monkeys, dragonflies, and

meadow beauties are all different species.

Saki Monkey Golden Skimmer Meadow Beauty

There are 3 components of

biodiversity

3. Variety of ecosystems

Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers are all Freshwater

Ecosystems.

Rocky coast, Sand Dune, Estuary, Salt Marsh ,

Coral Reef are all Marine Ecosystems.

There are 3 components of

biodiversity

ECOSYSTEM DEFINITION

“ A self-contained community of

microorganisms, animals and plants, that

interact with each other and with their

physical environment.”

e.g. a rock

pool

Benefits to humans

Direct use value = marketable commodities◦ Food

◦ Medicine

◦ Raw materials

◦ Recreational harvesting

◦ Ecotourism

Benefits to humans: food

About 3,000 species (ca. 1% of 300,000 total) of flowering plants have been used for food

About 200 species have been domesticated

Wild relatives source of genes for crop improvement in both plants and animals

Benefits to humans: medicine

Organisms as chemists

About 25% of all medical prescriptions in the India are based on plant or microbial products or on derivatives or on synthetic versions

Some medicinal products from animals (e.g., anticoagulant from leeches)

Benefits to humans: raw materials Industrial materials:◦ Timber◦ Fibers◦ Resins, gums◦ Perfumes ◦ Adhesives◦ Dyes◦ Oils, waxes, rubber◦ Agricultural chemicals

Benefits to humans: recreational harvesting Recreational harvesting:◦ Hunting

◦ Fishing

◦ Pets

◦ Ornamental

plants

Benefits to humans: ecotourism

By definition based on biodiversity

Growing portion of the tourism industry

•Affluent tourists pay good money to see wildlife, novel natural communities, and protected ecosystems.

Indirect Use Value

Indirect use value = services provided by biodiversity that are not normally given a market value (often regarded as free)

Include primarily ecosystem services: atmospheric, climatic and hydrological regulation; photosynthesis; nutrient cycling; pollination; pest control; soil formation and maintenance, etc.

Indirect Use Value

•Supported in many different religious or cultural traditions

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

• Major factors impacting biodiversity

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

1. HABITAT

DESTRUCTIONHabitat destruction has played a key role in extinctions,

especially related to tropical forest destruction. Factors

contributing to habitat loss

are: overconsumption, overpopulation, land use

change, deforestation,pollution (air pollution, water

pollution, soil contamination) and global warming or

climate change

2.

OVEREXPLOITATIO

N Overexploitation occurs when a resource is consumed at an unsustainable rate. This occurs on land in the form of overhunting, excessive logging, poor soil conservation in agriculture and the illegal wildlife trade.

About 25% of world fisheries are now overfished to the point where their current biomass is less than the level that maximizes their sustainable yield.[146]

The overkill hypothesis, a pattern of large animal extinctions connected with human migration patterns, can be used explain why megafaunal extinctions can occur within a relatively short time period.

Current Pattern of Global Endangerment

• What groups are in endangered?

Current Pattern of Global Endangerment

3. CLIMATE CHANGE Global warming – E.g. coral reefs

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide certainly affects plant morphology and is acidifying oceans, and temperature affects species ranges, penology, and weather, but the major impacts that have been predicted are still just potential impacts.

In 2004, an international collaborative study on four continents estimated that 10 percent of species would become extinct by 2050 because of global warming.

4. HUMAN

OVERPOPULATION From 1950 to 2011, world population

increased from 2.5 billion to 7 billion and is forecast to reach a plateau of more than 9 billion during the 21st century

.Population Growth: Estimated based on

expected human population growth forecast a 7% increase in number of threatened species by 2020, and a 14% increase by 2050

Pollution’s effect on

Biodiversity

•Transport, industry, construction, extraction, power

generation and agro forestry all contribute pollutants to

the air, land and water. These chemicals can directly

affect biodiversity or lead to chemical imbalances in the

environment that ultimately kill individuals, species and

habitat

•Nitrogen and phosphorous are important nutrients for

plant growth, but when they concentrate in water

systems after being applied as agricultural fertilizers,

they can cause “dead zones” that are uninhabitable for

fish and other wildlife. Also, carbon dioxide is a “natural”

component of the atmosphere, but is considered a

pollutant when emitted by human industrial activities.

•The demand for international market effect the status of

biodiversity

• for example: extensive area of agricultural land have

been planted with monocultures of bananas,

Sugar cane or pulp trees, to produce commodities on a

large scale for export in order to expand the economy.

•Increasing demand for prawn and shrimp in the global

market create investment in shrimp farming. Shrimp

farming is practiced in brackish water. However , it uses

precious fresh water resources. At the same time , the

infrastructure for commercial farming pollutes the water.

As a result , mangroves, an important habitat for fish ,

have been destroyed.

Deforestation, clearance or clearing is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use.

Decline in biodiversity Extinction of species

Loss of habitats

Destruction of genetic variation

A study in Rondônia, Brazil, has shown that deforestation also removes the microbial community which is involved in the recycling of nutrients, the production of clean water and the removal of pollutants.

It has been estimated that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation, which equates to 50,000 species a year.

Approximately 1 species per year from mammals and birds which extrapolates to approximately 23,000 species per year for all species. Predictions have been made that more than 40% of the animal and plant species in Southeast Asia could be wiped out in the 21st century.

• Materialistic life style

• Demand for food, land, excessive

-consumption of minerals and

other non renewable resource.

BIODIVERSITY IN INDIA

Thar desert - The climate and vegetation

in this area

is a contrast to the Himalayan region.

Western Ghats - One of the two

biodiversity hotspots in India.

Sunder bans - The largest mangrove

forest in India.

Chilika - This wetland area is protected

under the Ramsar convention.

Himalayas - This majestic range of

mountains is the home of a diverse range

of flora and fauna. Eastern Himalayas is

one of the two biodiversity hotspots in

India.

09/5749

25/521

72/458

88/390

244/18664

03/231

IS THE BIODIVERSITY OF INDIA UNDER THREAT?

• 10% of India’s plant species are under

threat.

• More than 150 medicinal plants have

disappeared in recent decades.

• About 10% of flowering plants,20% of

mammals and 5% of the birds are

threatened.

Current Pattern of Global Endangerment

• Increased vulnerability of species extinction

• Ecological imbalance

• Reduced sources of food, structural materials, medicinal and genetic resources

• Cost increase to the society

IMPACT OF LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

Viewpoints: Biodiversity

Norman

Myers

Peter

Kareiva

“If we could safeguard

biodiversity hotspots, we

could reduce the number of

extinct species by at least

one-third. However, global

warming will shift temperature

bands and vegetation

communities, so these areas

would still be vulnerable.”

“Parks are a valuable

strategy for conservation, but

they are not the most

important strategy.

Conservation cannot just be

about setting aside nature in

parks but rather must

address working landscapes

and human use of biological

resources.”

WHICH ROAD WILL WE TAKE WHICH ROAD WILL WE TAKE WHICH ROAD WILL WE TAKE

TO PROTECT OUR TO PROTECT OUR TO PROTECT OUR

ENVIROMENT?ENVIROMENT?ENVIROMENT?

WHERE WILL IT LED TO ?

THE WORLD WITHOUT

BIODIVERSITY

So, what can we do???• Conservation methods can help protect and restore ecosystems.

CONSERVATION

MUST HAVE

• COMMITMENT

• PASSION

• RESPECT FOR ENVIROMENT AND

NATURE

• There are several ways that people can

help protect the environment.

– control population growth

– develop sustainable technology

– change practices

– protect and maintain ecosystems

CONSERVATION

C0NCLUSION Bio diversity may sound like an

abstract concept, but in reality it

touches almost every aspect of our life.

The earth has an enormous variety of

plants and animals, both domesticated

and wild, as also wide array of habitats

and ecosystem.

Diversity meets food, medicinal,

clothing, shelter, spiritual and

recreational needs.

• Human Disregard and Carelessness

QUESTION: Review

Which is NOT a benefit of biodiversity to

humans?

a. Economic benefits through ecotourism

b. New potential sources of food

c. New potential sources of drugs

d. Ecosystem services

e. All of the above are benefits of biodiversity.

QUESTION: Viewpoints

Are parks and protected areas the best strategy

for protecting biodiversity?

a. Yes; it is absolutely necessary to preserve

untrammeled habitat for species to persist.

b. No; parks won’t matter because climate

change will force the biota out of them.

c. No; it is more effective to work with local

people and give them economic incentives

to conserve nature.

Both parks and other strategies are

necessary.