This is a presentation prepared by my graduate students of Natural Resources Management, Biodiversity Conservation subject, at Nepal Engineering College of Pokhara University. All "students" are highly experienced foresters with 10-20 years of experience, so the material is firmly grounded in Nepali practice!

1. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
Vijaya Raj SubediVijaya Raj Subedi
Kamal GautamKamal Gautam
Yam Nath PokhrelYam Nath Pokhrel
Thal Bahadur TamangThal Bahadur Tamang
Yadav SigdelYadav Sigdel
Satya Narayan ShahSatya Narayan Shah

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
• Introduction/definition
of biodiversity
• Type/level of
biodiversity
• Importance of
biodiversity
• Threats to biodiversity
• Summary
Local people hunting wild bee

3. Introduction/definition/concept
• Biodiversity (biological
diversity) is the total
variety of life on Earth.
• Refers to heterogeneity,
variability, unevenness
• Includes diversity
within species, between
species and of
ecosystems.

4. TYPE/LEVEL OF BIODIVERSITY
Genetic diversity
Refers variability in the
genetic constitution of
different individuals
within a species
Species Diversity refers to the
frequency and variety of species
(wild or domesticated) within a
geographical area.
Estimated # of species- 5 to 30
million in the world
Ecosystem Diversity refers
to different ecosystems
-Offers variety of habitats.
-118 ecosystems in Nepal.

5. SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEMS IN NEPAL
Searching for nectar

6. IMPORTANCE OF
BIODIVERSITY
• Socio-economic value
– Food value
– Medicinal value (40% of modern
medicine from plant or animal)
– Future use value
– Energy
– Source (Propagation and raw material)
• Cultural value
– Religious (Pond, Religious trees,
animals, plants, mountains worshiped)
• Ecological and aesthetic value
– Environment
– Ecosystem balance
– Hydrological cycle
– Landscape and scenic beauty
Muktinath temple
Use of wet lands in Nepal
Wild horses

7. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY-ECOSYSTEM LOSS

8. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY-SPECIES LOSS

9. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY-GENETIC RESOURCES
LOSS
• Small population and
inbreeding
• Lack of corridor and
connectivity

10. SUMMARY
• Biodiversity (biological diversity) is the total variety of life on earth. It
refers variation among living things.
• The variation is considered at three levels: i) gene (genetic diversity),
ii) Species (species diversity) and iii) Ecosystem (ecosystem diversity)
• Biodiversity is important because it has
– Socio-economic value
– Cultural value
– Ecological and aesthetic value
• The following factors are threatening (contribution to loss)
biodiversity:
– Conversion of forests and wet lands into agriculture
– Illegal felling, grazing and grass cutting
– Haphazard fire
– Soil erosion
– Pollution and environmental degradation
– Poaching and hunting
– Over use
– Introduction of exotic varieties
– Habitat loss
– Predation, competition and other impacts of alien species
– Hybridization with alien species
– Small population and inbreeding
– Lack of corridor and connectivity

11. REFERENCES
• Nepal Biodiversity
Strategy 2002
• Encarta 2006
• Ecology by Miller
THANKS!