Current rates of species loss are estimated to be 1,000fold. This article throws light on the ten major causes for the loss of biodiversity, i. Pdf biodiversity losses and conservation responses in the. Understanding the causes of biodiversity loss and the policy assessment framework 11 list of tables table 2. That is what makes our country one of the 12 mega diversity countries of the world. Reduction in biodiversity can affect decomposition rates, vegetation biomass production and, in the marine environment, affect fish stocks. Biodiversity loss is as big a crisis as climate change.
The report, which is 1,500 pages long, provides an exhaustive expert analysis of what is known about the relationships between economic development and the loss of species figure 5. Raw counts may not be as ecologically relevant as relative or absolute abundances. This rapid deterioration, experienced at all scales from local to global, represents a significant and irreversible loss of our heritage and curtails options for future generations. The latter phenomenon can be temporary or permanent, depending on whether the environmental degradation that leads to the loss is reversible through ecological restoration ecological resilience or. He compared this loss rate with the likely longterm natural background extinction rate of vertebrates in nature, which one of his coauthors, anthony barnosky of uc berkeley recently put at two per 10,000 species per 100 years. Biodiversity factsheet center for sustainable systems. Many activities indispensable for human subsistence lead to biodiversity loss, and this trend is likely to continue in the future. European commission press release details page brussels, 9 february 2004 what is biodiversity loss. Rates of decline in biodiversity in this sixth mass extinction match or exceed rates of loss in the five previous mass extinction events in the fossil record. We report here that disturbed mangrove area showed a loss of 20% of benthic biodiversity, with the local extinction of four phyla cladocera, kynorincha, priapulida, tanaidacea, a loss. Human population growth means growing demands for space and food. Loss of suitable habitat is the major cause for declines in species populations. Biodiversity loss is a development issue biodiversity isnt just iconic and charismatic wildlife, it is the diversity of life, from genes and microorganisms to top predators and whole ecosystems. Biodiversity is more than an elephant, a herd of elephants, or the entire world population of elephants.
The main cause of the loss of biodiversity can be attributed to the influence of human beings on the worlds ecosystem fishing and hunting, changing the biogeochemical cycles, fish stocks are dwindling, forest loss is resulting in the loss of raw materials, land use change, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution. Biodiversity loss is a development issue a rapid reiew of eidence 4. Taking peru as a case study, this paper analyses causes and effects of biodiversity loss based on local expert knowledge in order to identify necessary policy adjustments for improved biodiversity. By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and planning processes and. Learn how serious these threats are in contributing to the loss of biodiversity in our planet. Loss of biological diversity national science foundation. The interaction of human population, food production, and. Biodiversity conservation provides substantial benefits to meet immediate human needs, such as clean, consistent water flows, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. Biodiversity course california academy of sciences. Some examples of recent extinctions include the three subspecies bali, javan, caspian of tiger. Biodiversity loss more than an environmental emergency. They provide clean air, fresh water, medicines and food security.
Global biodiversity assessment of the global environmental change 1995 has reported that species are now becoming extinct at 10,000 times the natural rate. Biodiversity loss is the extinction of species plant or animal worldwide, and also the local reduction or loss of species in a certain habitat. Mainstreaming biodiversity for sustainable development. Biodiversity underpins ecosystem function and the provision ofecosystem services. Light competition and biodiversity loss cause saturation. Rates of rainforest destruction vary considerably among geographic regions. The biodiversity of species and their rates of extinction. Loss of biodiversity is therefore shown to be not only an environmental issue, but also a developmental, economic, security, social and moral issue as well. Jul 25, 2019 when biodiversity loss is reported in the media, it is most often in the form of emotionally provoking stories about the plight of iconic species such as rhinos, polar bears, tigers, and elephants. The living planet report, wwf s flagship publication released every two years, is a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet. Stachowicz,11 reg watson12 humandominated marine ecosystems are experiencing accelerating loss of. We depend on the natural richness of our planet for the food, energy, raw materials, clean air and water that make life possible and drive our economies. The impact of food production on biodiversity affects every system of the planet.
From the time when humans first occupied earth and began to hunt animals, gather food and chop wood, they have had an impact on biodiversity. We tested how strongly economic inequality is related to. Biodiversity and human health, launched today in brussels at. The main question i want to pose in this paper is whether current rates of biodiversity loss are efficient. Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is a term that refers to the number of genes, species, individual organisms within a given species, and biological communities within a defined geographic area, ranging from the smallest ecosystem to the global. Land conversion for crop and animal agriculture is the chief driver of habitat loss, which, along with direct killing, continues to be the leading threat to biodiversity 48, 52, 69. To assess progress towards that target, it adopted a framework to guide action and identified indicators to assess the status and trends of biodiversity. Species extinction is a natural part of earths history. Drivers of biodiversity loss the main threats to biodiversity are one or more of the following. Research of long term trends in the fossil record suggests that natural speed limits constrain how quickly biodiversity can rebound after waves of extinction. However, this richness of diversity also means that knowledge of species is lowest, and there is a high potential for biodiversity loss. Despite this agreement, evidence gathered in 2010 indicated that biodiversity loss at the global scale was continuing, often at increasing rates 98.
May 30, 2014 different visualizations of species biodiversity. The results showed that anpp increased linearly with n addition rates in 2015, while converted to a saturation response with n addition rates in. Why do you think this has been the case and, given increasing public concern after last years report by the intergovernmental panel on climate change ipcc and widespread public protests this year, do you. No sound scientific basis currently exists for assessing global performance against this target. Decision vi9 provides an initial step to address this goal by establishing the cbd global strategy for plant conservation. Evidence of some of these failures is borne out by the examination of forest, marine. Biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate which poses a risk to the provision of ecosystem services. Areas with high rates of biodiversity are also better able to survive and thrive in the face of unexpected ecological challenges. The incidence of lyme disease or west nile virus wnv in humans have been linked to the loss of biodiversity among the animal host.
Development, wetland filling, and other activities reduce the total amount of habitat. Urbanization, habitat and biodiversity decline expected endemic loss im 24. The rate at which different plant species are used for medicinal purposes without replacement has also contributed to the loss. Species diversity is confronted with rates of extinction that far exceed the background rate found in the typical fossil record. Apr 21, 2017 research suggests that the scale of human population and the current pace of its growth contribute substantially to the loss of biological diversity. For example, fish stocks are dwindling, forest loss is resulting in the loss of many species, land and other resources are being misused, leading to various long terms costs. Nearly 45,000 species of plants and twice as many of animals have been recorded from india. A variety of global studies exist that identify main drivers of biodiversity loss and tropical deforestation, such as demographic change, consumption patterns, public policies, macroeconomic. The convention on biological diversity cbd and five other biodiversity. It implies that it is reasonable to apply conventional economic tests to biodiversity loss, and many regard such an approach with repugnance. This global biodiversity crisis is hitting the poorest people first and hardest, because. Impact of mangrove forests degradation on biodiversity and.
Yet, surprisingly little is known about the extent to which socioeconomic factors exacerbate or ameliorate our impacts on biological diversity. One such factor, economic inequality, has been shown to affect public health, and has been linked to environmental problems in general. Overall, rates of resource collapse increased and recovery potential, stability, and water quality decreased exponentially with declining diversity. In 1988, british environmentalist norman myers developed a conservation concept to identify areas rich in species and at significant risk for species loss. Nov, 2018 however, a lot of manmade activities impose huge impacts on biodiversity. During the long period 3 billion years since the origin and diversification of life on earth, there were five episodes of mass extinction of species. Biodiversity losses and ecosystem function in freshwaters. Globally, freshwaters are experiencing declines in biodiversity at rates greater than those in terrestrial systemsextinction rates for wellstudied north american freshwater animals are estimated to be as high as 4% per decade, five times greater than species losses in terrestrial systems, and rates for lessstudied regions and faunas may be as high or higher dudgeon et al. Biodiversity loss, also called loss of biodiversity, a decrease in biodiversity within a species, an ecosystem, a given geographic area, or earth as a whole. The living planet report 2018 is the twelfth edition of the report and provides the scientific evidence to what nature has been telling us repeatedly. Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part. Although technological change and unequal consumption inextricably mingle with demographic impacts on the environment, the needs of all human beingsespecially for foodimply that projected population growth will undermine protection of the. Threats to biodiversity 6 major loss of biodiversity. The preservation, conservation, and restoration of biodiversity should be a high global priority.
Biodiversity course take a virtual expedition with us to investigate the amazing diversity of life on this planet. Over the last two centuries, human population growth, overexploitation of natural resources and environmental degradation have resulted. Biodiversity and conservation although india h as only 2. The current rate of rainforest loss is debated, with different estimates ranging from around 60 000 km2.
C the 8 species assessed as threatened with a high risk of extinction by birdlife international for the red list of threatened species of the international union for conservation of nature. Impacts of biodiversity loss on ocean ecosystem services boris worm,1 edward b. Biodiversity the variety of life on earth is being lost at increasing and alarming. Biodiversity encompasses the number, variety and variability of plants, animals and other organisms, including humans. Enough is already known of the distribution and drivers of biodiversity loss to indicate the scale of the problem and. In this free and downloadable biodiversity lesson plan, students will be introduced to biodiversity, and the impact it plays in creating a healthy ecosystem. Loss of biodiversity and extinctions global issues. B the 4964 species with smaller than the median geographical range size. Biodiversity loss list of high impact articles ppts. We specifically explored four possible mechanisms, light limitation, biodiversity loss, soil acidification, and ammonium toxicity, underlying the saturation response of anpp to increasing n addition. The convention of biological diversity provides a global legal framework for action on biodiversity it is a key instrument to promote sustainable development and tackle the global loss of biodiversity. Chinas progress toward the significant reduction of the rate. Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity nature.
The loss of biodiversity is dangerous and its consequences are immediate. There is growing concern about the health consequences. Development professionals need to engage, because the current rate of loss poses a severe threat to key development priorities such as health and hunger, as shown in the explainer box. Loss of biodiversity is therefore shown to be not only an. The effects of climate change on biodiversity in the united. Hence, the rapid extinction rates mean that it could take a long time for nature to recover. Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society. Learn what biodiversity is, why its important, where its found, how it comes into existence, how you study it, why its threatened, and how it can be protected. Global biodiversity outlook 2 is an output of the convention as a whole, and the.
May 03, 2019 loss of biodiversity the iucn red list 2004 documents the extinction of 784 species in the last 500 years. By 2021, awareness programs targeting all the population of the country will be implemented, making sure that at least 75% of citizens are aware of the values of biodiversity, its protection and sustainable uses. Some 12% of bird species, 23% of mammals, 25% of conifers, and 32% of amphibians are currently threatened with extinction, and similarly alarming threats of extinction may. Although some loss of biodiversity is normal, the current rate of extinction is unprecedented being up to 1,000 times higher than natural background rates.
Current negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystems will undermine progress towards 80 % 35 out of 44 of the assessed targets of the sustainable development goals, related to poverty, hunger. Regardless of which estimate one adheresto,ratesofrainforestlossarealarminglyhigh. The estimate for the total number of species of eukaryotic organisms possible lies in the 515 million. Impacts of biodiversity loss on ocean ecosystem services.
Biodiversity generates goods and services for the most basic human needs such as food, shelter. In december 20, its second plenary session approved a program to begin a global assessment in 2015. The main cause of the loss of biodiversity can be attributed to the influence of human beings on the worlds ecosystem, in fact human beings have deeply altered the environment, and have modified the territory, exploiting the species directly, for example by fishing and hunting, changing the biogeochemical cycles and transferring species from one area to. Impacts of deforestation on the loss of biodiversity zambrut.
The bes field ha s resulted in few er synthes es than has the bef fiel d, in. Understanding the causes of biodiversity loss and the policy assessment framework 15 for marine ecosystems on the other hand, overexploitation has been the single most influential driver of biodiversity loss in the past, followed by habitat change. Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is a term that refers to the number of genes, species, individual organisms within a given species, and biological communities within a defined geographic area, ranging from the smallest ecosystem to. The year 2010 has long been seen as an end goal, a time when we could look back and say, yes, weve done it that biodiversity, life on earth, is no longer threatened. Scientists estimate that current extinction rates exceed those of prehistoric mass extinctions.
According to the millennium ecosystem assessment mea 2005a, the main sources of biodiversity loss are land use changes usually associated directly or indirectly with increasing populations, e. According to the millennium ecosystem assessment mea. A loss of biodiversity can make an ecosystem less able to withstand stress and change and may lead to poor quality habitats and declining wildlife populations. Jan 19, 2014 the loss of biodiversity is increasing. Motivated by continued biodiversity loss and its farreaching impacts on human wellbeing, in april 2002 the parties to the convention on biological diversity cbd pledged to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss, a target also endorsed later that year by the united nations world summit on. Accelerated loss of biodiversity is likely to continue unless the main drivers of change, which include climate change, land use change as well as increasing demands on ecosystems, are mitigated substantially. Consensus statement one there is now unequivocal evidence that biodiversity loss reduces the efficiency by which ecological communities capture biologically essential resources, produce biomass, decompose and recycle biologically.
However, over the past 100 years, humans have increased the extinction rate by at least 100 times compared to the natural rate, leading to a net loss of biodiversity. The current rate of global diversity loss is estimated to be 100 to times higher than the naturally occurring background extinction rate and expected to still grow in the upcoming years locally bounded loss rates can be measured using species richness and its variation over time. The current rate of rainforest loss is debated, with different estimates ranging from around 60 000 km2 achard et al. Human activity is causing high rates of biodiversity loss. In 2002, governments set 2010 as a deadline to achieve a significant reductionin the rate of loss of biodiversity for reducing poverty. Biodiversity loss therefore threatens the provision of goods and services provided by ecosystems. Global biodiversity outlook 3 official video, convention on biological diversity, unep, may 2010. Below, we discuss six of the major threats to biodiversity. Study on understanding the causes of biodiversity loss and. Biodiversity worldwide is being lost, and in some areas at an accelerating rate pimm et al. This loss of biodiversity reportedly poses as serious, and urgent, a threat to humans as climate change but it has been less discussed. Loss of biodiversity results in the loss of natural capital that supplies ecosystem goods and services.
This is not an uncontroversial way to look at the problem. Measuring biodiversity for conservation royal society. Healthy communities rely on wellfunctioning ecosystems. This loss is a direct result of human activity and constitutes a direct threat to human wellbeing in all regions of the world. While the biodiversity is contracting, there is a great danger of emerging and reemerging of infectious agents which threatens global health. A great deal has been written on the causes and consequences of the biodiversity loss witnessed in recent years. Biodiversity loss affects global disease ecology bioscience. Loss of biodiversity also means loss of genetic diversity and loss of ecosystems. Plant or structural diversity and habitat complexity can influence the composition, abundance, and distribution of animals that play important roles in the transmission cycles of some human diseases. Biodiversity loss can also have a direct effect on zoonotic disease transmission. Case studies on coastal ecosystems and biodiversity loss. Pdf the biodiversity of species and their rates of. Diversity loss has an effect as great as, or greater than, the effects of herbivory, fire, drought, nitrogen addition, elevated co 2, and other drivers of environmental change. Study on understanding the causes of biodiversity loss and the.