What is Biodiversity?
❖ “Biodiversity” is a portmanteau of the words “biological diversity”. The term was coined in 1985 by Walter G. Rosen for the
“1986 National Forum on BioDiversity” held in Washington DC. Biodiversity includes all the different varieties of plants and
animals that live in different environments such as terrestrial, marine, and aquatic ecosystems. It is the variety of life, in all its
forms, and all its interactions. Such diversity ranges from different scales: (1) within species, (2) between species, and (3)
between and among ecosystems.
Different Views on Biodiversity
❖The term ‘biodiversity’ maybe defined in different ways depending on what sociological group is concerned. This includes
taxonomists, economists, agronomists and sociologists.
Sociological group
Views of Biodiversity
Biologists - The diversity of all living being
Farmers - Potential resources derived from soils, territories, and regions
Industry - Reservoir of genes useful in biotechnology; Set of exploitable biological resources (timber, fish, etc.)
General public - The landscapes and charismatic species threatened by extinction
The Concept of Ecological Niche
❖The “niche” is a concept in ecology that is usually considered to be the same as “habitat”. Strictly speaking, they are not the
same. Here are the two most important definitions from renowned ecologists:
❖ “Niche is the set of ecological conditions under which a species can exploit a source of energy effectively enough to be able
to reproduce and colonize further such sets of conditions.”
❖ “Niche is the role that the organism plays in the ecosystem: ‘the habitat is the ‘‘address’’ so to speak, and the niche is the
‘‘profession.”
Importance of Biodiversity
Why Biodiversity is Important
❖Besides its role in providing food, fiber, water, energy, medicines and other genetic materials, biodiversity also helps in
regulating climate, water quality, pollution, pollination, flooding, and storm surges. It has vital social value, providing wellbeing
when walking through forests or by rivers, or green spaces in cities
The following are the reasons why biodiversity matters to the economy and human health:
1. Biodiversity Ensures Health and Food Security.
The variety of plants and animals provide us with food. Hence, biodiversity supports food security and human nutrition. Every
country has its own unique plant-based products and crops such as wheat, corn, and rice.
2. Biodiversity Helps Fight Disease.
We get most of our medicines from plants. This means that every time a species goes extinct, we lose a potential new medicine.
Second, it has been observed that protected natural areas have lower instances of diseases such as Lyme disease and malaria.
About 70% of emerging infectious diseases come from wildlife while 60% of infectious diseases originate from animals.
3. Biodiversity Benefits Business.
Since we get our plant-based and animal-based products from biodiversity, businesses are affected by biodiversity loss.
Pharmaceuticals are mostly of natural origin while natural wonders (e.g. coral reefs, natural parks) are essential to food and
tourism.
4. Biodiversity Provides Livelihoods.
Globally, three out of four jobs depend on water while the agricultural sector employs over 60% of the world's working poor. In
India for example, forest ecosystems contribute only 7% to the country’s GDP but 57% of rural communities' livelihoods.
5. Biodiversity Protects Us.
Without biodiversity, earth will not be habitable. Biodiverse ecosystems protect us from natural disasters such as floods,
storms, provide us with safe drinking water, and regenerate our soils. Conserving our natural ecosystems also helps fight
climate change by absorbing large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere.
Environment, Biodiversity, and Human Health
Biodiversity and Human Health
❖Biodiversity can be considered as the foundation for human health because it supports and affects ecosystems where we get
for our food and water; helps in regulating climate and prevention of disease; provides recreational benefits and offers
aesthetic and spiritual enrichment. Biodiversity also contributes to creation of livelihoods, development of traditional and
modern medicines, and the economy in general
The human activities that disrupt ecosystems are:
1) Land use change;
3) and wildlife trade.
2) agricultural expansion,
Biodiversity Loss and Spread of Diseases
❖Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse is one of the top five risks in the World Economic Forum's 2020 Global Risks Report,
too. Biodiversity loss is not only an environmental issue as it also undermines the achievement of most of the UN sustainable
development goals. Sustainable Development Goal number 3 is “Good health and well-being” which aims to address the spread
of infectious diseases, and emerging challenges such as non-communicable disease. Biodiversity loss leads to only a few species
and these species will carry the diseases that are transmissible to humans. With landscape changes (i.e. natural to urban), the
populations of species that carry diseases also increases.
Environmental Changes that Contribute to Spread of Diseases
❖Land use changes caused by human activities destroy the buffer that separates humans and wildlife. When there is proximity
between humans and wildlife, so does the pathogens that they carry. Globalization, industrialization, and urbanization have
increased the spaces occupied by humans to the point of invading the natural environments occupied by wildlife. This resulted
in increased contact with wildlife
❖Zoonosis refers to diseases that come from animals and that can be passed to humans. The emergence and outbreak of
diseases which and affect human populations have been linked to changes in the environment