THE BIODIVERSITY PRESERVATION PROBLEM üWhy Is

THE BIODIVERSITY PRESERVATION PROBLEM

üWhy Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares? üLoss of Biodiversity and Extinctions üNature and Animal Conservation üDeclining Number of Tigers üDeclining Number of Rhinos üClimate change impacts on biodiversity in the Arctic ü üCoral Reefs: Ecosystems of Environmental and Human Value üAddressing Biodiversity Loss üBiosafety Protocol 1999

The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth. Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to recognize this as being integral to any approach. Almost all cultures have in some way or form recognized the importance that nature, and its biological diversity has had upon them and the need to maintain it.

Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares? q A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops q Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms q Healthy ecosystems can better withstand recover from a variety of disasters.

Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions It has long been feared that human activity is causing massive extinctions. Despite increased efforts at conservation, it has not been enough and biodiversity losses continue. The costs associated with deteriorating or vanishing ecosystems will be high. However, sustainable development and consumption would help avert ecological problems.

In different parts of the world, species face different levels and types of threats. But overall patterns show a downward trend in most cases. As explained in the UN’s 3 rd Global Biodiversity Outlook, the rate of biodiversity loss has not been reduced because the 5 principle pressures on biodiversity are persistent, even intensifying: ØHabitat loss and degradation ØClimate change ØExcessive nutrient load and other forms of pollution ØOver-exploitation and unsustainable use ØInvasive alien species

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains the Red List to assess the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties, and even selected subpopulations on a global scale. Threat status of comprehensively assessed species by IUCN. Source: IUCN, compiled by Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) Global Biodiversity Outlook 3, May 2010 p. 28 (visit for larger image)

Nature and Animal Conservation Preserving species and their habitats is important for ecosystems to self-sustain themselves. Yet, the pressures to destroy habitat for logging, illegal hunting, and other challenges are making conservation a struggle.

Declining Number of Tigers Take for example the continued declining numbers of tigers, the largest of the big cats. The population of tigers is believed to have declined by 95 percent in the last century. Tigers continue to face challenges imposed by poaching, retributive killings and habitat loss. Tiger bone is also in high demand for traditional medicines in China and some other parts of the world, often based on mistaken beliefs, or weak evidence for their effectiveness.

Tiger populations have declined over the past century © Tiger. Homes. org , December 30, 2006

Declining Number of Rhinos Although almost all species of rhinos have been recognized as critically endangered for many years, the conservation organization, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) noted in 2009 that rhino poaching worldwide is poised to hit a 15 -year-high driven by Asian demand for horns

Declining Number of Lions And another iconic animal, the lion, is also dwindling in numbers. The BBC reports (October 2003) that fewer than 20, 000 lions now survive in Africa, compared to 200, 000 in the early 1980 s

Climate change impacts on biodiversity in the Arctic In the Arctic, it is not just a reduction in the extent of sea ice, but its thickness and age. Less icmeaning more rapid melting. The rapid reduction e means less reflective surface exceeds even scientific forecasts The polar bear depends on sea ice. (Image source)

Note, the ice in the Arctic does thaw and refreeze each year, but it is that pattern which has changed a lot in recent years as shown by this graph: The extent of floating sea ice in the Arctic Ocean, as measured at its annual minimum in September, showed a steady decline between 1980 and 2009. Source: National Snow and Ice Data Center, graph compiled by Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) Global Biodiversity Outlook 3, May 2010

When talking about the impacts of climate change, we mostly hear about changes to land the planet’s surface or atmosphere. However, most of the warming is going into the oceans where a lot of ecosystem changes are also occurring:

Indeed, as this chart also shows, the warming in the oceans has been occurring for quite some time: The implications of this is further explained with Inter Press Service’s freezer analogy: The world’s northern freezer is on rapid defrost as large volumes of warm water are pouring into the Arctic Ocean, speeding the melt of sea ice.

Increasing oceanic dead zones Fertilizer and sewage run-off cause huge growth of plankton. However, these then quickly die and are consumed by bacteria that deplete waters of oxygen. For example, the Gulf of Mexico has a 22, 000 square kilometer dead zone every spring due to run-off from the Mississippi River.

Coral Reefs: Ecosystems of Environmental and Human Value Coral reefs cover an area of over 280, 000 km 2 and support thousands of species in what many describe as the rainforests of the seas. Coral reefs benefit the environment and people in numerous ways. For example, they • Protect shores from the impact of waves and from storms; • Provide benefits to humans in the form of food and medicine; • Provide economic benefits to local communities from tourism.

Coral Reefs Are Dying Around the World Threatened coral richness (number of species), IUCN Red List of Threatened Specie , accessed February 13, 2010

coral bleaching Global trends in the extent and severity of mass bleaching. The extent and severity of mass coral bleaching events have increased worldwide over the last decade. Prior to 1998 mass coral bleaching had been recorded in most of the main coral reef regions, but many reef systems had not experienced the effects of severe bleaching. Since 1998 coral bleaching has become a common phenomenon around the world. Every region has now experienced severe bleaching, with many areas suffering significant bleaching-induced mortality. Source: Paul Marshall and Heidi Schuttenberg, A Reef Manager’s Guide to Coral Bleaching, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, November 30, 2006

Addressing Biodiversity Loss At the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (the Earth Summit), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was born. 192 countries, plus the EU, are now Parties to that convention. In April 2002, the Parties to the Convention committed to significantly reduce the loss of biodiversity loss by 2010.

Most indicators of the state of biodiversity show negative trends, with no significant reduction in the rate of decline Summary of available biodiversity indicators. Graphs compiled by Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) Global Biodiversity Outlook 3, May 2010, (which has further details)

An example of the positive efforts has been the growth in protected areas in recent years, including more protected marine areas: The extent of nationally designated protected areas, 1970 to 2008 has generally increased. Source: UNEP-WCMC, graph compiled by Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) Global Biodiversity Outlook 3, May 2010

Biosafety Protocol 1999 The February 1999 Biodiversity Protocol meeting in Colombia broke down because USA, not even a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to which the protocol is meant to be part of, and five other countries of the "Miami Group" felt that their business interests were threatened

Biosafety Protocol 2000 A Biosafety Protocol meeting was hosted in Montreal, Canada January 24, 2000 to January 28, 2000. Compared to the fiasco of 1999, in 2000, there was a somewhat successful treaty to regulate the international transport and release of genetically modified organisms to protect natural biological diversity.