This document discusses biodiversity and the threats posed by global change. It defines biodiversity as the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems, and notes that biodiversity loss is a major issue, with most extinctions being tied to human activities. Global change, which includes climate change, pollution, and other impacts, is threatening biodiversity by causing habitat loss, introducing invasive species, and altering ecosystem composition. Maintaining biodiversity is important as it provides essential ecosystem services like soil formation, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation that benefit humans.

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• INTRODUCTION
• BIODIVERSITY
• BIODIVERSITY LOSS
• GLOBAL CHANGE
• FUNCTIONAL ROLE OF BIODIVERSITY
• CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION
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Biodiversity
Refers to the interrelatedness of genes,
species and ecosystems and their
interactions with the environment.
Also includes all organisms, species and
populations and the genetic variation among
these, all their complex assemblages of
communities and ecosystems.

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BIODIVERSITY LOSS
The loss of
biodiversity is a
significant issue for
scientists and
policy-makers.
As species are
becoming extinct at
a faster rate known
in geological history,
Most of these
extinctions have
been tied to human
activity resulting in
global change.

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BIODIVERSITY LOSS
The diversity of life
enriches the quality of
our lives in ways that are
not easy to quantify.
Biodiversity is
intrinsically valuable
important for our
emotional, psychological
and spiritual well-being.
Some consider that it is
an important human
responsibility to be
stewards for the rest of
the world’s living
organisms.

6. GLOBAL CHANGE
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THE TERM GLOBAL CHANGE ENCOMPASSES:

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In the last 250 years, global change has
caused climate change, widespread species
extinctions, fish-stock collapse, desertification,
ocean acidification, ozone depletion, pollution,
and other large-scale shifts.
Humans have always altered their
environment. The relatively small
human population had little impact,
not until the start of industrial
revolution and over-population.

10. Figure 1: Human Over Population
Source: World Health Organization, 2010.
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Man’s
Contribution
Habitat loss and destruction
Alterations in ecosystem composition
Introduction of exotic (non-native) species
Over-exploitation
Human-generated pollution and contamination
Global climate change

12. Deforestation
Increased
global
warming Water
dredging etc.
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The advent of increase in
Industrial Revolution coupled
with rise in technology has
contributed immensely to:

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Destruction of forests, adds
almost six billion tons of
carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere each year.
Preventing this stored
carbon from escaping is
important for the carbon
balance.
Trees and forests help alleviate
these changes by removing
carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere and converting it
during photosynthesis.
Seventy percent of the world’s
plants and animals live in forests
and are losing their habitats to
deforestation, according to
National Geographic.

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Figure 2a and b: Deforestation of forest trees
Source: Fidel et al., 2009.

15. FIGURE 3A AND B: INCREASE IN CO2 GAS OVER THE YEARS
SOURCE: Doney et al., 2009.
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Healthy
biodiversity
provides a
number of
natural services
such as:
Soil formation and protection
Nutrient storage and recycling
Pollution breakdown and absorption
Contribute to climate sustainability
Maintenance of ecosystem

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Contribution of
biodiversity to
biological
resources
include:
Food
Medicinal resources and
pharmaceutical drugs
Wood Products
Diversity in genes, species and
ecosystem

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Contribution of
biodiversity to
social benefit
resources
include:
Research, Education and Monitoring
Recreation and Tourism
Cultural Values

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The various drivers of environmental global
change, namely changes in land use, climate
and biochemical cycle, or the spread of invasive
species, can have major impact on the
biological diversity of different ecosystem,
including the forests (Sala et al, 2000).
Therefore, biodiversity loss has prompted
concerns that the functioning of ecosystem
and the services that humans derive from
the environment may be compromised.