Gr.

7 – BIODIVERSITY AND A HEALTHY SOCIETY

MALLARI, IVIE SHELLEY U.
VIERNES, JOHN MILFRED C.
ARNALDO, JESSIE JAMES

Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life present in an ecosystem. Biodiversity is

important on how society benefits from it. There are three different types of biodiversity:
genetic, specific, and ecological diversity.

1. Genetic diversity – refers to the variations among organisms of the same species. The
variations are usually down from parents to offspring.

2. Species diversity – refers to the variety of species within a particular region. Species diversity
is influenced by the environmental conditions in the region.

3. Ecological diversity – refers to the network of different species in an ecosystem and the
interaction of these species. The variations of climatic and altitudinal conditions along with
varied ecological habitats are the reasons for the richness in biodiversity of a particular region
on earth.

Society benefits greatly from the richness of biodiversity since humans can source from
nature biological resources such as food, medicine, energy, and more. Biodiversity in natural
ecosystems can also regulate climate, flood, pollination, water and air quality, water storage,
decomposition of wastes, among others.

HEALTH AND MEDICINE

Since 2600 BC, people have been using plants to treat illness, hence the practice of
herbal medicine. Herbal medicines were also used in healing rituals and in the treatment of
injuries resulting from wars or accidents.

FOOD
Food is the basic need for human to survive. During the Stone Age, people replied only
on hunting and foraging to get food. They depended on what the ecosystem could readily
provide them.

Farmers and fishermen rely on healthy ecosystems for their livelihood. The benefits of
biodiversity are needed for the growth of many important crops. Agrobiodiversity is the result
of careful selection and innovate development by farmers etc.

ENERGY
People rely on energy provided by ecosystems to do the necessary activities in order to
survive. In the Stone Age, heat energy from fire was used mainly for survival against harsh cold
environments, for cooking, and for communication.

Wind energy was also used to navigate through bodies of water. During the 1700s to
1800s, at the time of the Industrial Revolution, biomass as a primary source of energy was
replaced with coal and the British discovered that by burning.
WATER STORAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL
The earliest recorded civilizations were situated near rivers or lakes which made their
livelihoods dependent on water. With increasing demand for portable and drinkable water
along with the discovery of groundwater 2,000 years ago, wells began to be used in the Middle
East.

Biodiversity in forests plays an unquestionably crucial role in water resources. Forests

provide natural filtration and storage systems to provide fresh water. The roots and leaves of
trees create conditions that promote the infiltration of rainwater.

AIR AND WATER TREATMENT

Some of the gases considered as criteria pollutants like NOx and O3, in moderate
amounts, contribute to a healthy ecosystem and balanced biodiversity. However, due to
excessive concentrations of these gases, the capacity of the environment to clean itself and to
be resilient is diminished.

BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM

 It is defined as the vast variety of life forms in the entire earth. It encompasses all kinds of life
forms, from the single-celled organisms to the largest multi-celled organisms.
 Its definition is in the structural and functional perspective and not as individual.

Biodiversity - is the source of the essential goods and ecological services that constitute the source of
life for all and it has direct consumptive value in food, agriculture, medicine, and in industry. (Villaggio
Globale, 2009)

CHANGES IN BIODIVERSITY
 Alteration in any system could bring varied effects.
 A change in biodiversity could have erratic effects not only in wildlife or marine life but also in
human beings.
 We can clearly infer that when our ecosystem is not well taken care of, biodiversity encounter
changes that may impact human health on such different levels.

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
Major threats identified by United Nations’ Environment Programme (WHO, n.d.)
 Habitat loss and destruction
 Alteration in ecosystem composition.
 Over-exploitation
 Pollution and contamination
 Global climate change