BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

• It refers to the variety of life on Earth.

• It makes up the ecological balance that maintains and sustains all life
forms including human life.
• It refers to the sum and variability of species in a given area.
• The contracted term biodiversity by W.G. Rosen in 1985 is defined by
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as
• the variability among living organisms from all sources including
inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes
diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.
• People benefit from biodiversity in various aspects like economic,
scientific, and even moral and spiritual life.
• Unfortunately, technological developments destroy the environment
resulting in the loss of biodiversity.
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
• The continuing construction of structures in reserved areas and conversion of
land for leisure activities and pasture have caused massive displacement of
endemic species in certain locales.
• The new structures may generate revenue for the local government but the
loss as a consequence of the destruction of their habitat could mean their
extinction.
• An example is the 175-hectare of wetland ecosystem, Las Pinas-Paranaque
Critical Habitat Eco-tourism Area (LPPCHEA) in the Southern part of Manila
Bay.
• It covers a 36-hectare mangrove forest comprising endemic tress.
• It also serves as a sanctuary to 82 species of wild bird (both migratory and
resident), which includes the Recurvirostra avosetta (Pied Avocet), Luscinia
calliope (Siberian Rubythroat), the endemic Hypsipetes philippinus (Philippine
bulbul), the endangered Egretta eulophotes (Chinese Egret), and the endemic
yet vulnerable Anas luzonca (Philippine Duck).
• LPPCHEA is the only known breeding area of ducks in the NCR.
• Unfortunately, this nature reserve is part of the planned reclamation project.
LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
Biological diversity has 3 levels: species diversity, genetic diversity, and
ecosystem diversity
• Species diversity
• It refers to the variety of different species within an area.
• For instance, a forest has more species diversity compared to the same
area of coconut plantation.
• It can be broken down further into:
• species richness (the number of species that live in a certain area)
• species abundance (the number of individuals of each species)
• species evenness (the even distribution of organisms in a place)
• Genetic diversity
• Within the same species, the variability among the individuals is
considered in terms of genetic diversity.
• One example is in the species of humans. Each person is distinct from
another human being, even identical twins are not exactly the same as
revealed by genetic researchers worldwide.
LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
Biological diversity has 3 levels: species diversity, genetic diversity, and
ecosystem diversity
• Ecosystem diversity
• It refers to the different types of communities of organisms interacting
with their physical environment.
• This last level of biodiversity includes all ecosystems whether managed
or unmanaged.
• It can be classified into two major kinds:
• Aquatic ecosystems
• They include coral reefs, mangrove forests, and estuaries.
• Terrestrial ecosystems
• They include deserts, forests, and grasslands.
BENEFITS OF BIODIVERSITY
The change in inherited characteristics of a population from generation to
generation is the result of mutation, natural selection, migration, and genetic drift.
Biodiversity provides us with:
• Natural Resources (e.g., food and water)
• Natural Services (e.g., cleaning air, purifying water, nutrient cycling, carbon
sequestration, pest regulation, buffers against flooding, pollination)
• Aesthetic and recreational benefits: Natural landscapes in undisturbed places
provide a means to get away from man-made structures and which can also
serve as ecotourism spots.
PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY
• The Philippines, one of the 18 mega-biodiverse countries in the world, is
considered a “biodiversity superstar”.
• It is believed that the degree of endemism in its many islands is high.
• Some plants that are endemic to the Philippines are:
• Nepenthes copelandii (Copeland’s Pitcher Plant)
• It is a plant species native in Mindanao.
• It grows in Mount Apo and Mount Pasian in Davao.
• Cinnamomum cebuense (the Cebu Cinnamon tree)
• It is a species of cinnamon endemic to Cebu Island but several trees
are found also in the neighboring island of Camotes and Siquijor.
• A few of the animals that are endemic to the Philippines are:
• Sardinella tawilis
• It is the only freshwater sardine found only in Lake Tall.
• The Philippine dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx melanurus)
• It is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family
• Samar Squirrel (Sundasciurus samarensis)
• It is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family.
PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY
• Unfortunately, the country is also considered a biodiversity hotspot.
• This is because the Philippines continues to experience an alarming rate
of destruction of its natural resources brought about by overpopulation,
deforestation, land degradation, climate change, and pollution.
• The largest mammal in the Philippines, the Bubalus mindorensis, commonly
known as the Tamaraw, is a dwarf buffalo that lives only in the open areas of
the dense forests in Mindoro Island where they graze.
• A century ago the population numbered 10,000 individuals; today there are
less than 200 remaining.
• Habitat destruction and hunting have reduced their population size.
• Areca ipot is a small stocky tree with a deep orange fruit.
• Its nuts are used by natives for betel-chewing.
• Its status is threatened due to over collection for ornamental purposes.
THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY
• When the natural environment is disturbed by human actions, diversity tends
to decline.
• The loss of diversity across the globe is quite glaring.
• According to a report by the UN Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform
on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), there is a sharp decline in
biodiversity in every region of the world.
• The loss of biodiversity is threatening the ability of people in many nations to
find adequate food and clean water.
• At present, the major global threats to biodiversity are:
• Climate Change
• Global warming is exposing different species to extreme
environmental condition.
• Many species like corals are vulnerable to increase in sea
temperature.
• As the corals suffer damages due to bleaching, ecosystems in coral
reefs will surely loss several species.
THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY
• At present, the major global threats to biodiversity are:
• Habitat Loss or Destruction
• Deforestation, quarrying, and mining are just some activities that
directly threaten biodiversity.
• 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.
• Pithecophaga jefferyi, commonly known as the Philippine Monkey-
Eating Eagle, the second largest eagle in the world, which serves as
an ecological barometer of a healthy and sustainable ecosystem, has
been declared critically endangered in 2016 because of loss of
habitat due to extensive deforestation.
THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY
• At present, the major global threats to biodiversity are:
• Overexploitation of Resources
• 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 of
some species.
• For instance, Hawksbill marine turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) are being
poached for their priced shell which is being used in making jewelry and hair
ornaments.
• Because of this, they also face a high risk of extinction since 2008.
• Invasive alien species (IAS)
• The introduction of non-native or exotic species, accidentally or deliberately,
into an ecosystem can threaten endemic wildlife either as predators or
competitor for resources, affect human and upset economies.
• The “janitor fish” or the South American sucker mouth catfish is a freshwater
fish, originally introduced as an aquarium fish to help clean the algae in
aquaria, over proliferated the Marikina River which damaged the embankment
of the sand river.
THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY
• At present, the major global threats to biodiversity are:
• Pollution
• The biosphere is continuously being harmed by chemicals that are being
released and deposited into the atmospheric, terrestrial, and marine systems.
• From the burning of fossil fuels to dumpling 19 billion pounds of plastic into
the ocean every year, pollution completely disturbs the Earth’s ecosystems.
• While it may not necessarily cause extinction, pollutants do have the potential
to destroy species’ habitats and therefore has negative effects on biodiversity.
• Sadly, the Philippines is considered as the third largest source of plastic
wastes in the ocean.
LAW ON BIODIVERSITY
• Every nation, developing or developed, is facing continuing loss of degradation of
biodiversity.
• One of the efforts done by nation leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit was the signing
of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• It is a multilateral treaty with the following key features:
• Conservation of biodiversity with emphasis on in-situ conservation of ecosystems,
such as natural habitats and species in the natural adaptive environment. But not to
exclude ex-situ conservation, which means conservation outside natural habitats
such as botanical gardens, seedling banks, and zoos.
• Sustainable use of components of biodiversity in promoting development
practices. That is, the use of natural resources in such as way as to meet the
demands of the present but without compromising the needs of the future
generations.
• Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of genetic
resources especially to prevent the exploitation of ecologically-rich countries by
economically-rich countries.
CONCLUSION
• The protection of the natural habitat for the different species must start with initiatives of
the government.
• The laws and regulations particularly on land conversion can prevent further destruction
of the natural habitat of endemic species.
• The protection of the ecosystems where the endemic species are naturally found
permits diversity to emerge and thrive.
• However, for most part, this is a challenge to individual members of the society to show
greater concern for the protection of the natural habitat of endemic species not for its
own sake but for a more practical reason for survival.
• The ecosystem is integral to survival not only of the endangered species but of the
whole planet, the habitat of the human species.
• The concern may develop from mere admiration of he beautiful environment and grows
towards an active participation to protect the rich and bio-diverse ecosystem.
• Protecting the birds in LPPCHEA, by extension we are also choosing to protect
LPPCHEA itself and the other species (plants and animals) that live alongside with these
birds.
• So the next time we want to protect a species, protect its ecosystem first, then
everything will follow and fall into place.