Biodiversity

Objectives

At the end of the session the students should be able to:

1. Show by definition the biodiversity and species.

2. Can give the benefits of biodiversity.

3. Show through discussion the Philippine biodiversity.

We all depend on biodiversity  to survive! 

Biodiversity – what is it?

• Variety of life in our natural  environment – from the smallest  micro-organism to the largest  mammals, including the  ecosystems where they live –  forests and mountains, rivers  and seas. 

• Variety within and between  species.

LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY

1. Genetic Diversity

-The genes are  responsible for the  uniqueness of every  living organism 

2. Species Diversity

- usually measured in terms of  the total number of species

- found in a particular area 

3. Ecosystem Diversity 

-self-sustaining collection  of organisms and habitat 

Biodiversity – The Web of Life

• Birds pick up seeds and drop them  on a rich soil enriched by ants,  microorganisms, etc. 

• The seeds grows into a variety of  trees, becoming a forest. 

• Forests and mountains provide  aquifer (source of fresh water)  and oxygen. 

• Man eats fruits from trees and  drops seeds. 

• Birds and other pollinators pick up  seeds again and the cycle  continues. 

What benefits do we  get from biodiversity?

1. BIODIVERSITY FEEDS THE WORLD 

• In the olden days, humans had over 10,000 species for food. 

• Today – About 30 crops provide our body’s energy requirements; 40  species of mammals and birds domesticated for food; 14 species  account for 90% of livestock production. 

2. Biodiversity provides  air and water

• Forests generate oxygen  that we breathe. 

• Forests and mountains  provide aquifers - sources  of water we drink. 

3. Biodiversity provides materials for clothing and shelter 

• Fiber, Timber, Bamboo, Anahaw, Rattan 

4. Biodiversity heals

• About 80 % of the world's  biodiversity resources with  medicinal values are in  forests. (The world loses  around 13 million hectares  of forest cover every year.) 

• Cone snail, living in corals, is  source of medicine for cancer  pain. (Around 88% of ASEAN’s corals are at risk.) 

5. Biodiversity brings income to millions

• Livelihood (selling fish, fruits and vegetables; furniture making and wood carving; pearl farming; livestock raising and selling) 

• Forestry, Agriculture and Fisheries 

• Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals 

• Ecotourism 

• Around 80 % of  ASEAN’s rural  poor’s income is  derived from  biodiversity. 

6. Biodiversity soothes

• Nature tripping, Mountain climbing, Bird watching, Enjoying the beach or verdant  forests, Comfort in nature by simply  looking at the green grass, Hearing the joyful chirping of  birds, Watching a puppy at play, Inspiration to artists for their masterpieces 

What services do we get from our ecosystems?

• Provisioning (production of food, air  water, including purification of air and water, etc.) 

• Regulating (stabilization of climate,  control of diseases, detoxification and decomposition of wastes, creation of drainage systems, etc.)

• Supporting (nutrient cycling, crop  pollination, soil fertilization,  prevention of soil erosion, etc.)

• Cultural (social, spiritual and  recreational benefits) 

Wetlands and Mangroves

• Provides outdoor recreation, education, and ecotourism 

• Provides timber and other  vegetation for human use 

• Maintains plant, animal,  and microbial biodiversity 

• Sequesters Carbon 

• Provides wildlife habitat 

• Provides fish and breeding grounds and nurseries 

Forest Ecosystems 

• Forest canopy and leaf litter  protect the soil surface from the  erosive power of rain

• Forests help maintain the water cycle and stabilize local climate. 

Biodiversity is Life. Biodiversity is our Life.

• It soothes 

• We get our food and water  from biodiversity 

• It cures us 

• It clothes us 

• It gives us shelter 

• It provides us livelihood 

How rich is our biodiversity?

PHILIPPINES 

Nature’s Superpower!

• Mt. Makiling contains more tree species than the whole  continental United States, which land area is 32 times bigger than the  Philippines. 

• The Philippines is SECOND in the world in terms of butterfly species endemicity. Of its 895 species, 352 are endemic. 

• FIFTH in the world in mammalian endemicity. Of its 183  species, 120 or 66% are endemic. 

• EIGHTH in the world in reptilian species endemicity. Of its 258  species, 170 or 66% are endemic. 

• There are 171 species  of amphibians in the  Philippines, 78% of these are endemics. 

• Philippine Eagle, the world’s largest eagle. 

• There 54 species of mangroves in the world and 40 species of  these are found in the Philippines. 

• 500 of the 800+ known coral species in the world is  found in our country. 

Philippine Biodiversity

The Philippines is one of the 18 megadiverse countries. Has more than 52, 177 described species, half of which are endemic found nowhere else in the world. 

We are in  great danger!

Hottest of the Hotspots 

• The Philippines is one of the 35 hotspots in the world. 

• On a per unit area basis, the Philippines is the top  megadiversity country and the hottest of the hotspots. 

Depletion of the Philippine biodiversity

• Mangrove forests 

149,000 hectares remain from the original 450,000 hectares in 1918. 

• Wetlands 

more than half of the country’s wetlands of international importance covering 14,000 sq. km. are threatened. 

• Forest 

In 1935, there were 17 million hectares of forests. Today, there are only six million hectares . 

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY 

• Climate Change

• Deforestation

• Invasive Alien Species

• Illegal Wildlife Trade

Humans: Both Problem and Solution to Biodiversity Loss 

As a problem, irresponsible human practices contribute to biodiversity loss. 

As a solution, humans have the knowledge, expertise and financial resources to conserve biodiversity.

What can youths and schools do to conserve  biodiversity? 

• Integrate biodiversity lessons in appropriate subjects. 

• Conduct school activities that will promote biodiversity conservation 

• Students to take the lead in their homes and communities: 

  • Conserve water and electricity 

  • Recycle / re-use clothes, paper, cans, glass and plastic bottles 

• Adopt simple lifestyles – consume less; produce less garbage 

• Dispose wastes properly 

• Eat together 

• Educate yourselves on which species of seafood are under  threat and avoid buying them 

• Buy products with less packaging; avoid use of plastic bags (or  re-use them) 

• Grow our own fruits and vegetables; eat less meat as meat  production requires more inputs and energy 

• When buying, choose appliances with high-energy efficiency  ratings / use fluorescent lamps 

Why plant trees? 

• A single mature tree can release enough  oxygen back into the atmosphere to  support 2 human beings.

• A single mature tree can absorb 4.5 kg (10  lbs) of air pollutants, including 1.8 kg (4  lbs) of ozone and 1.4 kg (3 lbs) of  particulates. 

• Trees store carbon and help slow human-  caused climate change. 

• Tree canopies and leaf litter protect the  soil surface from the erosive power or rain. 

Join the  GREEN  WAVE! 

www.greenwave.cbd.int

- The Green Wave is a global biodiversity 

campaign to  educate children and youth 

 about biodiversity.

- Each year, the Green Wave will contribute 

to worldwide  celebrations of the International

 Day for  Biological Diversity – 22 May.

- On 22 May, students around the world count

 down to 10:00 AM  local time, when they will

 water their tree in their respective  schoolyards,

 thereby creating a figurative “green wave” starting 

in  the far east and traveling west around the world.