BIODIVERSITY

What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is short for

biological diversity and can be defined as the variety of all life forms on Earth the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, and the ecosystems of which they are a part

What are the three levels of biodiversity?

1.

Genetic diversity: the total genetic information (inheritable characteristics) contained in the genes of all species Species diversity: the variety and number of species that appear in a particular location or region
Ecosystem diversity: the variety of habitats, natural environments or biological communities in a given region

2.
3.

Why is biodiversity important for planet?

1.

Diversity of plant life regulates the greenhouse effect and the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere Agricultural production is dependent on different species of insect and birds that pollinate numerous crops we eat as food Stability of ecosystems around the world require a diversity of species to maintain their richness

2.

3.

How is biodiversity lost?

1.

Destruction of an ecosystem directly eliminates the various species of plants and animals that lived there, and the disappearance of one species has an effect on all those around it.
Introduction of a new species of plant or animal into an area can pose a serious threat to other species in the area because the new species might attack or outcompete the original species

2.

DEFORESTATION

What is deforestation?
Deforestation is

the clearing of the Earths forests on a massive scale, often resulting in damage to the quality of the land

How much forest have we lost?

Deforestation varies around the globe, with the

developing world seeing huge expanses of forest cleared every year

Africa is experiencing deforestation at twice the global rate
Brazil has the highest amount of forest removed each year Canada has less than 0.5 percent of worlds deforestation

What is the link to cultural diversity?

As more and more countries expand into forested areas,

the Aboriginal peoples who live in these forests have come under threat
Expansion into these areas reduces living space and their

resource base; exposure to the outside world erodes their lifestyles and cultures
As different aboriginal groups are exterminated, a

country loses its cultural diversity (i.e. Brazil)

What are three global consequences?

As mentioned above, one of the consequences of

deforestation is a loss of cultural diversity

Deforestation also upsets the delicate ecological

balance that exists in any given ecosystem

Deforestation increases global warming through

removal of massive carbon sinks and through the process of deforestation (burning) itself

DESERTIFICATION

What is desertification?
Desertification is

the process by which a productive dryland area is degraded to the point that it becomes unproductive desert land

How much of the world is desert?

Desertification threatens close to 900 million people,

and that number is expected to rise to over 1.2 billion

More than 100 countries and every continent in the

world is affected by desertification

Nearly 3.5 billion hectares of the worlds pasture lands,

croplands and irrigated land are at risk of desertification

What events lead to desertification?

There are a number of human activities that lead to

desertification, the four most common being:

Over-cultivation 2. Overgrazing 3. Deforestation 4. Inappropriate irrigation techniques
1.

What are the consequences?

As more and more land changes to infertile desert, the

people who live there are forced to seek new places to grow food
These people are subject to malnutrition and starvation

until the decision to move is made

As these people move into neighbouring countries, they

tax the resources of the new country, often leading to civil unrest

How does desertification affect planet?

Greater expanses of desert can contribute to weather

changes by raising temperatures and lowering humidity levels

Reduced vegetation cover and declining soil quality

contribute to greenhouse gas emissions

Once the plants and birds have left an area that has

experienced desertification, the biodiversity is affected as well

CONCLUSION