BIODIVERSITY & CONSERVATION

BIODIVERSITY

BIODIVERSITY IS SHORT FOR “BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY”

WHAT IS BIODOIVERSITY?
Biodiversity is the variety of animals and plants found on this planet including
geographic locations in which they are found in.

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how

small, all have an important role to play.
The fewer animals we have, the fewer humans we will have.

That's why biodiversity is important. The wide variety of species on Earth, whether
they're plants, animals or microscopic organisms, are vital to keep the world's many
ecosystems healthy, balanced and thriving

The Variety of Species is not evenly distributed throughout the planet because of
many important factors such as life supporting ecosystems.

Scientists study 3 main types of Biodiversity and these are, Species Diversity,
Genetics Diversity and Ecosystems Diversity

3 FUNDAMENTAL LEVELS OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

1. SPECIES DIVERSITY
- the number of different species and the relative abundance of each
species in a biological community.
- The number of species that live in a certain location is called species
richness. If you were to measure the species richness of a forest, you
might find 20 bird species, 50 plant species, and 10 mammal species.
- Abundance is the number of individuals of each species. For example,
there might be 100 mountain beavers that live in a forest.

Importance of Species Diversity

There are numerous reasons why species diversity is essential. Each species has a
role in the ecosystem. For example, bees are primary pollinators. Imagine what
would happen if bees went extinct. Fruits and vegetables could be next, and
subsequently the animals that feed off them - this chain links all the way to humans.

-It is said that there are over 1.7 Million named species and new kinds of
others that are being discovered all the time.
 2. GENETICS DIVERSITY
Genetics Diversity – means that genes within a species vary, just as all kinds
of dogs belong in the same species but there are many breeds that have
different genes for different traits.

- It serves as a way for populations to adapt in changing environments.

- It plays an important role in the survival and adaptability of a species. When
a population's habitat changes, the population may have to adapt to survive;
the ability of the population to adapt to the changing environment will
determine their ability to cope with an environmental challenge.

3. ECOSYSTEMS DIVERSITY
- It deals with the variations in ecosystems within a geographical location
and its overall impact on plant, animal, human existence in the
environment.

SUMMARY:
SPECIES DIVERSITY – Diversity among species in an ecosystem.
GENETIC DIVERSITY – Diversity of genes within a species.
ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY – Diversity of a habitat in a given unit area.

THREATS THAT CAUSE LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

Loss of Biodiversity is the ongoing extinction of species worldwide, and also the
local reduction or loss of species in a certain habitat or ecological niche or biome.

Climate change
Changes in climate throughout our planet's history have, of course, altered life on
Earth in the long run — ecosystems have come and gone and species routinely go
extinct.

But rapid, manmade climate change speeds up the process, without affording
ecosystems and species the time to adapt.

Deforestation and Habitat Loss

Deforestation is a direct cause of extinction and loss of biodiversity. An estimated 18
million acres of forest are lost each year, due in part to logging and other human
practices, destroying the ecosystems on which many species depend.

Tropical rainforests in particular, such as the Amazon, hold a high percentage of the
world's known species, yet the regions themselves are in decline due to humans.

Overexploitation
Overhunting, overfishing and over-harvesting contribute greatly to the loss of
biodiversity, killing off numerous species over the past several hundred years.
Poaching and other forms of hunting for profit increase the risk of extinction; the
extinction of an apex predator — or, a predator at the top of a food chain — can
result in catastrophic consequences for ecosystems.

Introduction of exotic species and genetically modified organisms

Species originating from a particular area, introduced into new natural

environments can lead to different forms of imbalance in the ecological equilibrium
The introduction of non-native species into an ecosystem can threaten endemic
wildlife (either as predators or competing for resources),

Pollution
From the burning of fossil fuels (releasing dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere
and, in some cases, depleting ozone levels) to dumping 19 billion pounds of
plastic into the ocean every year, pollution completely disrupts the Earth's
ecosystems. While it may not necessarily cause extinction, pollutants do have the
potential to influents species' habits.

VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY

The sheer variety of species and habitats on the planet is vast. This is of vital
importance because it underpins the functioning of the ecosystems on which we
depend for water and food, health and recreation.

The importance of biodiversity is often undervalued even though it helps humanity.

 regulating the chemistry of the atmosphere and water supply;

 recycling nutrients crucial to the maintenance of the earth’s soil fertility;
 providing ecological services such as the mass pollination of the world’s food
crops; and
 supplying genetic variants for crop development and the creation of new
medicines.
Where elements of biodiversity are lost, ecosystems become less resilient to sudden
pressures such as disease and climatic extremes.

BIODIVERSITY IN THE PHILIPPINES

-As citizens of this country, we need to be well aware of our biodiversity status

1. A great number of rare and exotic animals exist only in the country. The
country’s surrounding waters reportedly have the highest level of
biodiversity in the world. But this distinction was soon over swallowed by
the fact that the Philippines has been dubbed as the “hottest of the hotspots”
by no less that the Conservation International.
2. (1) 640 of the country’s 52,177 species were listed a threatened.
(2) The country is home to about 9,000 species of flora
(3) It hosts 165 species of mammals, 121 of which can be found only in this
part of the world. However, these are critically endangered.
3. There are also 332 species of reptiles and amphibians living in the country,
215 of them are endemic to the archipelago.
(5) It is said that less than 14 of the 114 total species of snakes in the country
are poisonous.
(6)Several species of frogs and other reptiles remain to be documented.
Several species were believed to have vanished without being studied.
4. In 1953, Albert Herre identified 2,117 species of fish in Philippine waters.
These included 330 species of endemic freshwater fish.
About 500 of the 800 known coral reef species in the world are found in
Philippine waters.
5. The country also has the highest concentration of birds and butterflies in the
world. There are some 86 species of birds and 895 species of butterflies in
the country. About 352 species of butterflies are endemic to the Philippines.

STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE PHILIPPINES

6. Many of these biological wonders are now in danger. The main culprit is
human's indiscriminate use of the country's natural resources, resulting in an
unabated denudation of the Philippine rainforests In the last 500 years, the
Philippines saw the destruction of over 93 percent of its original forest cover.
Only about 5 percent of the country's 27,000 square kilometers of coral reefs
were in excellent condition.
7. A study by the Philippine Congress said that 123,000 hectares of the
country's forest cover are lost every year. The study added that by 2036,
there would be no forest left in the Philippines, unless reforestation is
started. In January 2003, a study by the Green Tropics International (GTI)
claimed that the Philippines would need P30 trillion to reforest country's
denuded mountains in over 85 years.
 ISSUES OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE PHILIPPINES

More than 50% of Old-growth forests lost

It is estimated that more than half of the Philippines’ old-growth forests have been
lost to agriculture, slash-and-burn farming, forest fires and illegal logging.
Compounded by a growing rural population and poor land management,
deforestation poses a serious threat to agriculture, livelihoods and ecosystem
functions such as fresh water and erosion prevention.

300,000 Hectares of Mangrove Degraded

Mangrove cover in the Philippines has declined by 43% between 1918 and 2000
due to coastal development, conversion for aquaculture and clearing for firewood.
This loss has left coastal communities vulnerable, as mangroves act as both storm
buffers and nurseries for fish.

More than 640 Species listed threatened or greater

The Philippines is a source of wildlife and wildlife products, and a transit point for
trafficking — which is on the rise. Driven by both national and international trade,
the loss of certain crucial species is already altering the natural balance of
ecosystems, reducing their productivity for those livelihoods that depend upon
them — drawing more and more Filipinos into the criminal world.

CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE PHILIPPNES

Some Projects to Help Conserve and Protect Are:

The government, local communities, and some organizations in the Philippines are
working to protect the country’s natural assets – forests, mangroves and seas – for
the long-term benefit of generations of Filipinos and people around the world.

* Species Conservation Programme by the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation

Foundation

* Breeding Conservation Centers by the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation

Foundation

* Mount Mantalingahan: Working Towards Zero Net Forest Loss by the

Conservation International Philippines
- it encourages indigenous communities to protect their natural assets and seeks to
protect the mountain in perpetuity.

* Green-Gray: A Shield Against Climate Change by the Conservation international

Philippines
- a project to plant mangroves along coastlines that helps reduce strong ocean
waves that pass through.
 WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?

With small daily actions also we can do something important to preserve

biodiversity.

 Don’t buy animals and rare plants or objects produced with tortoise shells,
ivory, exotic feathers, shark teeth, fur, coral and shells: often their
indiscriminate catching threatens the entire ecosystem where they live.
 Avoid killing organisms with no reason: sport fishing isn’t better than
hunting!
 Try to avoid all any energy waste: don’t forget that using energy means
producing carbon dioxide that has an impact on climate change and therefore
on the survival of many organisms.
 Move preferably on foot, by bike and public transport: in this way you will
contribute to a cleaner air and will have the oppurtunity and time to observe
better the living beings that live close to you.

 When it’s possible, favour recycled products: don’t forget that trees are cut
down to produce paper!
 Don’t feed wild animals as you could alter the delicate balance of the food
chain and involuntarily cause their death. Surely it’s exciting looking at a fish
as it’s eating bread gut from your hands but these animals will never find this
type of food in nature as it swells them and often causes mortal diseases.
 Always remember that in every natural environment where you might be,
from forest to sea, we are always guests and as such we should respect all life
forms, including those which seem most insignificant: for this reason, don’t
collect flowers that are surely nicer in a meadow than in a vase in your house
waiting to die!
 Try to communicate to everyone close to you respect and love for nature but
also everything you have learnt on this issue: we love more easily what we
know and it’s easier to protect what we love!