VALUES OF

BIODIVERSITY
MARILYN C. LAQUINDANUM

What is the value of

BIODIVERSITY ?

Values are subjective

When I am hungry a date palm

gives me food. When my belly is
full, behold the tree is beautiful..
Bedouin Proverb-

Values of Biodiversity
The role of biodiversity in providing
ecosystem services is twofold.
Firstly, biodiversity is directly used as
a source for food, fiber, fuel and other
extractable resources.
Secondly, biodiversity plays an
important role in ecosystem
processes providing the regulating,
cultural and supporting services.

Values of Biodiversity
The ENVIRONMENTAL
VALUE of biodiversity can be
found by examining each
ecosystem process and
identifying the ecosystem
services that result.

Values of Biodiversity
In wetlands the vegetation
captures water- carried
sediment and the soil
organisms break down a range
of nutrients and pollutants
washed into the area.(These processes
provide the ecosystem service of purifying water)

Values of Biodiversity

Forest regulate the amount of

carbon dioxide in the air by
releasing oxygen as a by-product
during photosynthesis, and control
rainfall and soil erosion

Values of Biodiversity
ECONOMIC VALUE
The economic potential of
biodiversity is immense in terms of
food, medicinal, ethical and social
values. Biodiversity forms the
major resource for different
industries, which govern the world
economy.

Values of Biodiversity
The salient features regarding the economical
potential of biodiversity are given below:

1. The major fuel sources of the world

including wood and fossil fuels have
their origin due to biodiversity.
2. It is the source of food for all
animals and humans.

Values of Biodiversity
3. Many important chemicals have
their origin from the diverse flora
and fauna, used in various
industries.
4. Diverse group of animals are used
for medical research during the
testing of new drugs.

Values of Biodiversity
INSTRUMENTAL VALUE
The usefulness of a species to us in
providing economic or ecological
services
Can be USE and Non-Use Value

Use Value
- economic
benefits/
potential
benefits in the
form of
economic
goods and
services,
ecological
services,
recreation and
scientific

Ecotouris
m, food,
lumber,
drugs and
genetic
informatio
n

Non Use value

No actual capital is
required.
Intrinsic value/ Existence
value
Satisfaction of knowing it
exists, even though you will
never see it or use it.

Values of Biodiversity
Aesthetic
Value
appreci

ate
nature
for its
beauty.

Bequest value
People will protect natural capital so
that it can be used by future
generations

Values of Biodiversity
Ethical and Moral Value
Ethical values related to
biodiversity conservation are
based on the importance of
protecting all forms of life.
All forms of life have the right to
exist on earth. Man is only a
small part of the Earths great
family of species.

Values of Biodiversity
Dont plants and animals have an
equal right to live and exist on our
planet which is like an inhabited
spaceship?
Morality and ethics teach us to
preserve all forms of life and not to
harm any organism unnecessarily.

Threats to
Philippine
Biodiversity

Threats to Biodiversity

INCREASING HUMAN POPULATION

With the countrys annual population growth
rate of 2.04%, poverty, landlessness and
absence of secure tenure rights over
secondary forest areas or logged-over areas
have become attractive for conversion into
agricultural land and settlements

Threats to
Biodiversity
INDISCRIMINATE
LOGGING
- literally changes
the forest
landscape.

The damage to the

countrys forest areas
and biodiversity
therein is exemplified
by a 2.1 % annual
lost in forest cover
during the period
2000-2005.

(which is considered
the second fastest in
Southeast Asia next to
Myanmar and 7th
fastest in the world.

Threats to
Biodiversity
INDISCRIMINATE
MINING
OPERATIONS
Threaten
ecological
sustainability.

The threat is
compounded by the fact
that most of the
countrys priority
conservation areas sit on
top of huge mineral
reserves.
Thus there are many
areas of significant
biodiversity with
overlapping tenurial
instruments, and with
conflicting land uses and
management objectives.

Threats to Biodiversity
OVER- HARVESTING OF
RESOURCES such as medicinal
and ornamental plants and wild
animals for trade and domestic use
has contributed to habitat
degradation and dramatic reductions
in species population.

Threats to Biodiversity
INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT
Such as major industries, road
networks, irrigation , water
resources, power and energy
projects affect biodiversity.

Threats to Biodiversity
POLLUTION

Threats to Biodiversity

Dr ag p
pict ur t
e o
op
pllac eh
iccon to
oa
o lde r o
add
or cliick
k

Coral Reefs cover 1% of the

worlds oceans
25% of all marine species live in
coral reefs. And even more
species use coral reefs as well,
mostly as a nursery for larvae.
Mostly commercially fished
species have a connection to
coral reefs

Coral Reefs can only survive in oceans

with clear water and few nutrients at
the ideal temperature and depth.

Coral reefs and Pollution

Pollution mostly from fertilizers or
sewage causes increase of
nutrients
More nutrients cause increase of
algae growth
This decreases the oxygen and
turbidity
The photosynthetic Zooxanthelle
cannot get enough light and coral
dies

Threats to Biodiversity
INVASIVE SPECIES
non-native to the ecosystem whose introduction
causes economic or environmental harm or harm to
human health
Implicated in the extinction of many species
Introduced by human involvement primarily
(ex., soil with a population of native insects to
another country)
Also introduced by nature
(ex., flood carries microbial to another ecosystem)

Threats to Biodiversity
Invasive species often push out native
species.
mice (Australia)
Introduced to Australia from Europe
(stowaways on cargo ships)
Cost farmers millions of dollars in lost crops.
Lack of predators to keep the population
stable.

Threats to Biodiversity
kudzu (southeastern United States)

Introduced from southeast Asia (ornamental house

plant)
Spread too quickly. Chokes out native species. Now
classified as a problematic weed species.

The most major threats to biodiversity:

Human Disregard and Carelessness
Population Growth: Estimated based
on expected human population
growth forecast a 7% increase in
number of threatened species by
2020, and a 14% increase by 2050!

So, what can we do???

Conservation methods can help
protect and restore ecosystems.

Thank You!