BIODIVERSITY AND HEALTH SOCIETY

Group 3

I. BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM

- 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
organism.
- 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)
- Understanding biodiversity within the concept of ecosystem needs a thorough
study on the relationship of the biotic (the living organisms) and the abiotic (the
nonliving organisms).
- Interdisciplinary approach is needed to study the ecosystem.
- Biodiversity plays a major role in this natural dynamic
- Therefore, we, as human inhabitants of the ecosystem, must preserve and
conserve the biodiversity of all creatures.
- In simple terms, it is true that people will always depend on biodiversity on the
wholeness of our being and in our everyday lives.
- Somehow, there are ways and processes in the ecosystem that are not apparent nor
appreciated by us, human beings

II. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

1. Biodiversity ensures health and food security.
2. Biodiversity helps fight disease
3. Biodiversity benefits business
4. Biodiversity provides livelihoods.
5. Biodiversity protects us.

III. BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM

- 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
organism.
- 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)
- Understanding biodiversity within the concept of ecosystem needs a thorough
study on the relationship of the biotic (the living organisms) and the abiotic (the
nonliving organisms).
- Interdisciplinary approach is needed to study the ecosystem.
- Biodiversity plays a major role in this natural dynamic
- Therefore, we, as human inhabitants of the ecosystem, must preserve and
conserve the biodiversity of all creatures.
- In simple terms, it is true that people will always depend on biodiversity on the
wholeness of our being and in our everyday lives.
- Somehow, there are ways and processes in the ecosystem that are not apparent nor
appreciated by us, human beings

IV. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

1. Biodiversity ensures health and food security.
2. Biodiversity helps fight disease
3. Biodiversity benefits business
4. Biodiversity provides livelihoods.
5. Biodiversity protects us.
V. CHANGES IN BIODIVERSITY
- Alterations in any system could bring varied effects.
Example: Humans inhabiting the forest
Global biodiversity change is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.
Direct pressures on biodiversity change are habitat change, overexploitation, exotic
species, pollution, and climate change. And the underlying causes are demographic
growth and resources use and review existing scenario projections.

VI. THREATS IN BIODIVERSITY

1. Habitat Loss and Destruction
- Process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species,
thereby reducing biodiversity and species abundance. It also leads to biodiversity loss.
2. Alterations in Ecosystems Composition
- Can occur whenever an action changes the species composition of an area. It impacts the
ecosystems such as habitat loss, which may lead to extinction of certain species.
3. Over-exploitation
- Can lead to resource depletion and put a number of threatened and endangered species at
risk of extinction.
4. Pollution and Contamination
- Leads to irreversible changes and loss of many species. Example, pollutants such as
sulfur can lead to excess levels of acids in lakes and streams, and damage trees and forest
soils.
5. Global Climate Change

VII. CONSEQUENCES IN BIODIVERSITY LOSS

- Biodiversity loss can have significant direct human health impacts, if ecosystem services
are no longer adequate to meet social needs. Indirectly, changes in ecosystem services
affects livelihoods, income, and local migration, and on occasion, may even cause or
exacerbate political conflict.
- “The Earth will retain it’s most striking feature, its biodiversity, only if Humana have the
prescience to do so. This will occur, it seems, only if we realize the extent to which we
use biodiversity.” – Tilman

VIII. NUTRITIONAL IMPACT OF BIODIVERSITY

- Biodiversity affects:
1. Food production and genetic resources
• biodiversity supports the functioning of the ecosystem that provides food
production and other services for human well-being. It also provides genetic
resources for all crops, livestock, and marine species harvested for food
2. Food availability, quality, and diversity
• biodiversity influences the availability and quality of the food, as well as the
diversity and balance of nutrients in the diet, that are essential for human
health.
3. Food discovery and development
• biodiversity provides rice source of natural chemicals and genes that are used
to create new foods, medicines, and bioactive compound. It also provides a
source of innovation and adaptation for food production systems.
4. Food security and health
• biodiversity helps protect against food insecurity, malnutrition, and diet-
related diseases by enhancing food system resilience and adaptation to
environment and socio-economic changes. It also contributes to the prevention
and treatment of diseases through its role in ecosystem health.

IX. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIODIVERSITY AND HEALTH SOCIETY

Biodiversity ensures food security and nutrition. It gives us a wide range of crops,
livestock, and marine species that are adapted to different environments and climates. It
supports the development of medicines and pharmaceuticals. Many of the drugs we use today
are derived from natural compounds found in plants, animals, and microorganisms.
 Biodiversity regulates ecosystem services that affect human health; it provide us clean air,
water, soil, and climate. They help prevent and control diseases, such as malaria and Lyme
disease, by regulating the population of diseases vectors and hosts. Biodiversity enhances
economic opportunities and well-being, such as supporting agriculture, forestry, fisheries,
tourism, and biotechnology.

X. HEALTH, BIOLOGY, AND BIODIVERSITY

People depend on biodiversity in their daily lives, in wats that are not always apparent or
appreciated. Human health ultimately depends upon ecosystem, products and services (such as
availability of freshwater, food, and fuel sources) which are requisite for good human health
and productive livelihoods.
Biodiversity loss can have significant direct human health impacts if ecosystem services
are no longer adequate to meet social needs. Indirectly, changes in ecosystem services affects
livelihoods, income, local migration, and, on occasion, may even cause or exacerbate political
conflict.

XI. ENVIRONMENT-RELATED DISEASES

1. Emphysema
- Long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants (such as car exhaust and fumes from
heating fuel)
2. Skin diseases such as dermatitis and skin cancer
3. Heart disease
- Environmental hazards (such as pollution and excessive heat) can contribute to heart
disease and stroke
4. Waterborne Diseases
- Caused by recreational or drinking polluted or contaminated water