Lesson 14: Biodiversity and Habitat Preservation

Amy DurayEVPP 490 003

March 29, 2010

What is Biodiversity?

The Convention on Biological Diversity defines biodiversity as including all plants, animals, microorganisms, the ecosystems of which they are part, and the diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems (CBD, 1993).

Biodiversity at Risk

• Rate of extinctions today 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than earlier points in history – 100 times higher than geologic baseline rate

• Since 1800, dramatic increases in extinction rates

• Anthropogenic versus natural causes

Understanding Biodiversity

• Key Terms:– Biodiversity Hotspots– Natural Capital

• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services– Provisioning Services (food, fuel, fiber)– Supporting Services (nutrient cycling, soil creation)– Regulating Services (pollination, flood control)– Cultural Services (spiritual, aesthetic benefits, identity)

• Biodiversity and Human Values• Biodiversity at the Genetic Level

Biodiversity and the Poor

• Livelihood Security• Agriculture and biodiversity– Intensification– Extensification

• Energy• Human health– Wild foods– Disease

• Culture – non-material well-being

Biodiversity in SE Asia

Drivers of Biodiversity Loss

•Population growth•Economics (Affluence and Poverty)•Globalization •Poorly conceived government policies•Market forces that undervalue biodiversity•Scientific and technological changes

Pressures

• Habitat conversion• Invasive alien species• Overexploitation• Climate Change• Pollution

State and Trends

• Declining almost uniformly throughout Asia– Likely to persist due to anthropogenic pressures– A study of Southeast Asia suggests that the region

could lose 13–42% of regional populations of all species by 2100 (Sodhi, 2008).

Impacts(1) Ecosystem Services -- services that people depend upon on a daily basis

provided by the environment. (See Table 5.2 – page 172 GEO-4)– water purification and filtration– plants and animals provide food and materials for shelter– medicines are derived from natural sources– regulation of weather patterns– pollination of plants and flowers– breakdown of waste products

(2) Species Interaction: There is a complex relationship between different species that we often do not fully understand. This relationship means that loss of one species could lead to the loss of other species that depend upon it.

(3) Loss of total genetic diversity (4) Opening of new niches which can be invaded by invasive species or diseases.

Responses

• Global agreements: Convention on Biological Diversity, CITES, Ramsar, World Heritage Convention

• Increasing protections for species and ecosystems• Increasing public awareness• National and Regional policies to protect biodiversity

and the environment• Market mechanisms to create incentives to protect

biodiversity• Research to identify species, impacts of activities, and

synergies between species

China• Primary Driver: Population Growth• Pressures:

– Overconsumption of plants and animals– Habitat destruction– Overexploitation– Invasive species– Pollution– Overuse of Lands

• State and Trends: 27% of China’s species are currently threatened or endangered.

• Responses:– CBD Party and National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan– 2,349 protected zones, 27 wetlands of importance– Reforestation efforts– Licensing for fishing in Marine areas

Japan• Pressures:

– Land conversion to urban/industrial uses– Overfishing and bi-catch

• State-and-Trends: At least 90,000 species inhabit Japan and its ocean areas. It is thought that around 30% of reptile and amphibian species, 20% of mammal, brackish and freshwater fish, 20 % of vascular plants and 10% of Japan’s birds are highly threatened (CBD, 2009)

• Responses:– Japan is party to the CBD– Restore 2,100 ha of lost march and tideland.– Promotes environmentally conscious agriculture– Employing methods to reduce accidental catches of seabirds– Establishment of a Forest Tree Breeding Center to preserve 32,000 forest tree

genetic samples– Japan’s Natural Parks Law: 14.2% of Japan’s total land is protected.

South Korea

• Primary Driver: Economic development• Pressures:

– Overexploitation– Land Conversion– Pollution

• State-and-Trends: 221 threatened species including 22 mammals, 61 birds, and 18 fish.

• Responses:– CBD Party – National policies banning trade, exportation and

production using endangered species– In 2006, enacted the National Trust Act on Cultural Heritage and

Natural Environment Assets

Mongolia

• Drivers and Pressures: desertification, climate change, overexploitation, poor forestry and logging practices, pollution, over grazing, poaching, unsustainable harvests, loss of habitat, mining and cultivation (CBD, 2009).

• State-and-Trends: Currently, there are sixty-seven species of threatened vertebrates.

• Responses:– Since 1990, 8% of the country has been placed in protected

status. – As a party to the CBD, Mongolia intends to establish a protected

area system, implement population control policies, and improve research, education and monitoring.

Southeast Asia Biodiversity (1 of 4)

• Drivers:– Population growth and poverty– Global economic demand

• Pressures:– Deforestation– Agricultural land conversion– Overexploitation (Bushmeat and trade animals)– Peat swamp conversion– Climate change, nitrogen deposition, invasive species, and

atmospheric CO2 change (can exacerbate other pressures)

Southeast Asian Biodiversity (2 of 4)

• State-and-trends: This region is home to one of the highest concentrations of endemic species in the world (Sodhi et al., 2004). – Three plant species and eight animal species have been listed as extinct by

the IUCN. – “living dead” species – those that still exist but are doomed for extinction

because they have been isolated due to habitat fragmentation.– Wildlife is being extracted from forests at six times the sustainable rate

(Sodhi et al., 2004). – Over 60% of the world’s tropical peat forests are found in this region. They

are home to many diverse endemic species. Loss of these ecosystems are endangering many species including orangutans.

– Oil palm covers over 13 million ha, primarily in SE Asia (Bruhl et al., 2009).

Southeast Asian Biodiversity (3 of 4)

• Impacts:– Reduced ecosystem services such as seed dispersal,

nutrient cycling and pollination – this could lead to reduced forest regeneration in disturbed areas (Sodhi, T. Lee, Koh, & Brook, 2009)..

– Increase in catastrophic forest fires.– Increasing human vulnerability to natural disasters -

Asian tsunami’s impact was probably worse due to loss of mangroves.

– Decreased carbon sequestration and increasing CO2 releases from peat fires.

Southeast Asian Biodiversity (4 of 4)

• Responses:– Regional: ASEAN Center for Biodiversity– National examples:• Malaysia: committed at 1992 Rio Summit to maintain

50% of forest cover• Indonesia: Community-based forestry efforts• Philippines: Verde Island sanctuary

– Local:• Public awareness• Biodiversity education in public schools

Conclusion

• Appropriate solutions?