AEC: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: THEORY INTO PRACTICE

VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY

★ Introduction

The great variety of life on earth has provided for man's needs over thousands of years.
This diversity of living creatures forms a support sys- tem which has been used by each
civilization for its growth and development. Those that used this "bounty of nature"
carefully and sustainably survived. Those that overused or misused it dis- integrated.

'Biological diversity' or biodiversity is that part of nature which includes the differences
in genes among the individuals of a species, the variety and richness of all the plant and
animal species at different scales in space, locally, in a region, in the country and the
world, and various types of ecosystems, both terrestrial and aquatic, within a defined
area.
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Biological diversity deals with the degree of nature's variety in the biosphere. This
variety can be observed at three levels; the genetic variabil- ity within a species, the
variety of species within a community, and the organization of species in an area into
distinctive plant and animal com- munities constitutes ecosystem diversity.

Biodiversity provides a variety of environmental services from its species and

ecosystems that are essential at the global, regional and local levels. Biodiversity is
essential for preserving ecological processes, such as fixing and recycling of nutrients,
soil formation, circulation and cleansing of air and water, global life support,
maintaining the water balance within ecosystems, watershed protection, maintaining
stream and river flows throughout the year, erosion control and local flood reduction.
Food, clothing, housing, energy, medicines are all resources that are directly or
indirectly linked to the biological variety present in the biosphere.

Biodiversity is a valuable natural resource for the survival of mankind. Man has
domesticated a number of economically important plants and animal species. Old
traditional varieties and the mid relatives of domesticated plants and animals constitute
a vital genetic resource for us. Many plants and animals including wildlife are of very
important for human being. They can be used directly or indirectly to have
consumptives, productive, social, ethical, aesthetic & options values i.e. in terms of
money.

Consumptive value:
Most of the developing countries obtain fuel wood from forests. Still more than 1500
million people cook their food by burning wood. About 1000 million cubic meter wood
is used for fuel across the globe. This imposes heavy pressure on forests. Hunting of wild
life, use of grass with some commercially important plants as fodder are only comptive.
Various tribal societies fully depend on forests (biodiversity) for their habitation and
livelihood. They used tubers, roots, fruits, seeds and meat of wild animals as their food.

Productive Value:

Bamboos, grasses, canes, essential oils, tanning material, dyes, gums, resin, drugs,
spices, poisons, insecticides, soap substitutes, rudraksha, lac, honey wax, tusser, Mahua
Seeds, Mahua flower and other seeds are forest products, they have their high
commercial values. In addition to these, various herbs and animal body parts are sold in
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the commercial market, both at national and international levels. Some benefits like,
water quality, recreation, education, scientific research, regulation of climate etc. are
indirect values to biodiversity that provide economic advantages to the people without
consumption of the resource.

★ Social Values

The social value of biodiversity includes cultural and spiritual values that have long
influenced the existence of human societies.

Many of the beliefs, rituals and customs have passed on through a number of
generations and is an indication of how ancient people were closely interwoven with
their surrounding environment. The religious texts of all religions emphasize the need
for humans to value the environment, to protect, preserve and sustain it. In almost every
religion, there are rituals involving animal and plant worship and also glorification of
animals and animal related deities.

The religious, spiritual and cultural importance of biodiversity is particularly visible in

India, where many plants and animals have ritual significance.Plants and trees like Tulsi
(Ocimum sanctum), Pipal (Ficusrelegiosa), Banyan (Ficusbenghalensis), Khejdi
(Prosopis cineraria) Neem (Azadirachtaindica), Sandalwood (Santalum album) etc. are
of immense religious importance to a number of religions.
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Flowers that are considered auspicious and offered in temples include Lotus to Goddess
Lakshmi, Hibiscus offered to goddess Kali.

A number of animal species are considered sacred on account of their association with
different deities. Some animal species are considered as vehicles (or vahanas) of deities
and are hence revered. Important among these are the chariot of horses for Sun God,
swan for Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswati, elephant for Lord Indra, owl for Goddess
Lakshmi, the bull for Lord Siva, eagle for Lord Vishnu, the rat for Lord Ganesh and the
lion for Goddess Durga.

Furthermore, the life of the indigenous tribes and local communities in many parts of
the world, especially in developing nations, still revolves around the forests and other
ecosystems where they dwell.

In India, we have the Bishnoi community as the best example for their intense
connection and devotion to nature and towards its protection. Thus biodiversity has
always helped communities in finding a spiritual solace in nature and has kept societies
united through the cultural and spiritual value it provides.

One major benefit of such traditional beliefs and rituals is that it has led to preservation
of biodiversity in different parts of the world by local communities. An example of such
preservation is the case of sacred groves

★ Economic Value
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The economic potential of biodiversity is immense in terms of food, fodder, medicinal,

ethical and social values. Biodiversity forms the major resource for different industries,
which govern the world economy.

The salient features regarding the economic potential of biodiversity are given below:

1. The major fuel sources of the world including wood and fossil fuels have their origin
due to biodiversity.

2. It is the source of food for all animals and humans.

3. Many important chemicals have their origin from the diverse flora and fauna, used in
various industries.

4. Diverse group of animals are used for medical research during the testing of new
drugs.
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5. It is also a source of employment and income for several groups.

Biodiversity supports the emerging green and blue economy, which focuses on
sustainable and resource-efficient practices. This includes sectors such as renewable
energy, sustainable fisheries, sustainable forestry, and eco-friendly technologies. These
industries can create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and promote environmental
sustainability.

Biodiversity-rich areas are often popular tourist destinations, attracting visitors and
generating significant economic activity. Ecotourism, wildlife viewing, nature-based
activities, and adventure sports all contribute to local economies by creating jobs and
generating revenue through accommodation, transportation, guiding services, and
associated businesses.

Biodiversity plays a crucial role in agricultural systems. Pollination by insects, birds, and
bats contributes to crop production, estimated to be worth billions of dollars annually.
Genetic diversity within crops and livestock is also essential for developing resilient and
productive agricultural systems. Additionally, wild plants and animals provide sources
of food, medicine, and other valuable products.

★ Ecological Value
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Perhaps the most significant, yet underrated value of biodiversity is related to the
ecological services that it provides.

These refer to the various processes occurring in an ecosystem that is being

contributed, maintained and regulated by biodiversity or the biotic component.

Moreover these processes or ecosystem services are extremely vital for the very
existence of human society. Ecological services can be generally divided into the
following categories:

1.Regulation and Stabilisation: These include services like climate regulation,

mitigation of storms and floods, erosion control, pest and disease control,
regulation of rainfall and underground water recharge.

2.Purification and Detoxification: These services comprise of filtration, purification

and detoxification of air, water and soils.

3.Cycling Processes: These include basic ecosystem processes like nutrient cycling,
soil formation, nitrogen fixation, carbon sequestration etc.
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4.Habitat maintenance and interactions: Vegetation supports all the fauna in this
world, which in turn are useful to us in myriad ways. Biodiversity is also a
storehouse of genetic material that are essential for human sustenance. A number
of native insects, birds and other animals help in pollination of agricultural crops,
forest trees and native flowering plants through their interactions with flora.

Despite their critical importance, ecological services are many times overlooked in
policy decisions as they are not considered to be of much monetary value when
compared with the consumptive and economic value of biodiversity.
However, it is now being realized that ecological services are much more valuable
than economic services. Studies have shown that ecological functions provide an
economic value of US $10.37106 annually.

environmental value / ecological values of biodiversity can be found by examining

each ecosystem process and identifying the ecosystem services that result. For
instance, in wetlands the vegetation captures water- carried sediment and the soil
organisms break down a range of nutrients and pollutants washed into the area.

These processes provide the ecosystem service of purifying water. Wetlands also
act as spawning and nursery grounds for some fish and provide a refuge for
animals in times of drought. Some ecosystem services are easy to overlook until the
underlying process is impaired.

★ Aesthetic Value
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The aesthetic value of biodiversity can be easily understood by us when we

experience the beauty of nature.

The appreciation of the aesthetic aspect of biodiversity is reflected in the trouble

people take to maintain their home gardens, and the number of people throughout
the world who visit national parks, botanical and zoological gardens, aquaria and
places where one can experience natural landscapes or view diverse species.

There are compelling arguments for the maintenance of biological diversity for its
aesthetic appeal, but this too has limited force, as aesthetic value is subjective and
may differ between individuals and societies.

Accordingly, one could justify discarding some organisms that are not visible or are
not of aesthetic value. Further, genetic diversity does not have an aesthetic appeal.
Thus, aesthetic criteria can be applied only to some species and the ecosystem
aspects of biodiversity. Even so, regardless of individual aesthetic judgements, it is
undoubtedly the case that humans very strongly favor variety in food, clothing,
construction and art.
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This need is particularly evident in the human perception of the natural world, and
biological diversity is held to be highly desirable. This is not a mere notion, but a
need that is very deeply felt, and a fundamental part of the spiritual life of many
people around the world.

Biodiversity is a direct source of pleasure and aesthetic satisfaction – its

contribution to quality of life, outdoor recreation and scenic enjoyment.

They provide opportunities for recreational activities such as hiking, canoeing, bird
watching, river rafting, rock climbing, trekking, parasailing, bird watching and
nature photography.

The designing of thousands of new horticultural species, wildlife conservation,

landscape luxury, national parks, zoological and botanical gardens, snake,
crocodile, butterfly parks, and biotechnologically manipulated novel curios species
added to the existing aesthetics.

Research has shown that proximity to being near natural surroundings relieves
work stress, while people who worked in closed environments and were
surrounded by only artificial structures experienced greater work stress and ill
health. For example, the importance of a natural area to people living in cities is
perhaps why the Sanjay National Park on the outskirts of Mumbai receives a
colossal traffic of 1.5 million tourists every year.

★ Ethical Value
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The world today faces a serious ethical challenge in protecting and preserving
Earth’s biodiversity. Ethical values related to biodiversity conservation highlights the
importance of protecting all forms of life, since every species and individual has the
right to exist on earth no organism should be harmed unnecessarily.

The most fundamental ethical principle to follow here is ‘to live and let others live’.
Today, human beings are too much focussed on themselves, using and exploiting
the natural resources for our own betterment and development, resulting in
irreversible loss of biodiversity.

Another ethical principle concerning biodiversity is that every species on this earth
has an ‘intrinsic value to the ecosystem’. However, we human beings are more
concerned today with the instrumental value of biodiversity, that is, we try to assess
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how a particular species is of importance to mankind and are more interested in

propagating and preserving only those species.

The challenge for humanity is to move from a predominantly anthropocentric

(human oriented) perspective to a more eco-centric (ecosystem oriented)
perspective, and try to reach a balance between the two, in order to counter the
current environmental crisis. Achieving this balance also forms the basis for the
much endorsed global sustainable development efforts.

Ethical values also include human rights. This is especially important when we take
into consideration the millions of indigenous tribes and local communities living in
biodiversity rich areas across the world.

These indigenous people face exploitation and injustice when their forest areas are
destroyed due to activities like deforestation, animal poaching, commercial forestry,
pollution and mining.

They are not given sufficient compensation for their land being used and any
monetary benefits generated from the products obtained from these biodiversity
rich areas are not equitably shared with them. Many of these people are not
allowed any kind of ownership to their ancestral lands. As a result, these
communities feel violated and isolated. Taken as a whole, this results in more
damage to biodiversity and considerably lowers the success of conservation efforts.
The challenge today is to ensure that these communities, their traditions and
knowledge are valued as indispensable in biodiversity protection and preservation.

★ Informational Value
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Biodiversity conservation is not only important for its intrinsic value but also
because it provides valuable information and benefits in various ways:

1.Scientific Understanding:
Biodiversity conservation allows scientists to study different species and
ecosystems, leading to a deeper understanding of life processes, evolution,
ecological interactions, and the functioning of ecosystems.

2.Medical Discoveries:
Many pharmaceuticals and medical treatments have been developed from
compounds found in diverse plant and animal species. Conserving biodiversity
preserves potential sources of future medicines.

3.Genetic Resources:
Biodiversity provides a vast genetic pool that can be tapped for crop improvement,
disease resistance, and genetic diversity in breeding programs, which are essential
for food security.
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