BIODIVERSITY

A PPT BY DHIYANA , AWORRIN , ABHIRAMI MENON ,

RIDHA , FIDHA FATHIMA
 INTRODUCTION

• Biological diversity” means the variability among living organisms from all sources
including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are part. Biodiversity is not distributed evenly
on Earth; it is usually greater in the tropics as a result of the warm climate and
high primary productivity in the region near the equator. Biodiversity generally
tends to cluster in hotspots, and has been increasing through time, but will be
likely to slow in the future as a primary result of deforestation. It encompasses
the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life.
 BIODIVERSITY LOSS

Bio = Life Diversity = variety

Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth and the essential interdependence of all living things. Biodiversity is
essential for maintaining the ecological functions, including stabilizing of the water cycle, maintenance and
replenishment of soil fertility, pollination and cross-fertilization of crops and other vegetation, protection
against soil erosion and stability of food producing and other ecosystems. Conservation of biological
diversity leads to conservation of essential ecological diversity to preserve the continuity of food chains.
 Biodiversity is the variety of life
on earth and the essential
interdependence of all living
things. Biodiversity is essential
for maintaining the ecological
functions, including stabilizing of
the water cycle, maintenance and
replenishment of soil fertility,
pollination and cross-fertilization Some of the measures adopted
Bio = Life Diversity = variety for the conservation of
of crops and other vegetation,
protection against soil erosion biodiversity are as follows:
and stability of food producing
and other ecosystems.
Conservation of biological
diversity leads to conservation of
essential ecological diversity to
preserve the continuity of food
chains.
• 1. Legislation:
• Legislation that protects natural habitats by outlawing development, harvesting of natural
resources, or other human exploitation has a huge impact on maintaining natural biodiversity. The
concept of environmental protection is enshrined in the Indian constitution in articles 48a and
51a[g].
• - Environment Protection Act, 1986
• - Fisheries Act, 1897
• - Forest Act, 1927
• - Forest [Conservation] Act, 1980
• - Wildlife [Protection] Act 1972 and Wildlife [protection] Amendment Act 1991
• 2. In situ Conservation:
• Conserving the animals and plants in their natural habitats is known as in situ conservation.
• 3. Ex-situ Conservation:
• Ex-situ conservation of plants and animals protects them away from their natural habitat. This could
be in zoological parks and botanical gardens or through the forestry institutions and agricultural
research centers.
• 4. Recording indigenous knowledge:
• The local communities have vast knowledge about local flora and fauna which is very important for
biodiversity conservation.This is passed from generation to generation and is recorded and preserved.
• 5. Community participation in biodiversity conservation: No legal provisions can be effective unless
communities are involved in planning, management and monitoring conservation programmes
 TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY

• Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms on earth. There are three main types of biodiversity:

• Genetic Biodiversity: This refers to the variation in genes within a species. Genetic biodiversity is important
because it allows species to adapt to changing environments and helps prevent the negative effects of
inbreeding.
• Species Biodiversity: This refers to the number and variety of species in a particular ecosystem or on the entire
planet. Species biodiversity is important because it ensures that ecosystems are balanced and healthy, and can
provide important ecosystem services such as pollination, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling.
• Ecosystem Biodiversity: This refers to the variety of ecosystems and habitats on earth. Ecosystem biodiversity is
important because it supports species diversity and provides essential ecological services such as water
purification, soil formation, and climate regulation.
• Each of these types of biodiversity is interconnected, and the loss of one type can have negative impacts on the
others. Protecting and conserving biodiversity is important for the health of our planet and the well-being of all
living things.
 BIODIVERSITY LOSS

• Biodiversity is defined as a decrease in biological diversity within a species, ecosystems as a

whole. If there is a loss of species in a particular geographical area or loss in the number of
genetic variabilities it is often described as biodiversity loss. About three-fourth of the
human population resides in the Tropical regions which occupy only about one-fourth of the
total area of the world. The destruction of the Tropical regions has resulted in the loss of
natural habitats which is catastrophic for the whole biosphere. Natural calamities like forest
fires, droughts, floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, etc. cause damage to both flora and
fauna of the earth.
 C AUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS

• 1) HABITAT LOSS AND FRAGMENTATION:

• Tropical rainforest is the intense example of habitat loss. The habitat loss and
fragmentation have been through changes of land use, in particular, the
conversion of natural ecosystems to cropland, development of infrastructure
projects like rails and roadways, increasing urbanisation and mining activities.The
amazon rainforest which shelters millions of species are being cut and cleared for
agricultural purpose or for conversion of grasslands for raising cattle.
 C AUSES OF BIODIVERSITY

• 2) OVER EXPLOITATION –
• Population explosion adds to the over exploitation of available resources,
extinction of many species such as passenger pigeon and stellers sea cow were
due to population explosion. Marine population threatened the sustained
existence of certain commercially important species. Over-hunting or poaching of
species, overfishing and overharvesting of plant products can quickly lead to a
decline in biodiversity. Changing consumption patterns of humans is often cited
as the key reason for this unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.
 C AUSES OF BIODIVERSITY

• 3) ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION –
• The accumulation of Pollution such phosphorus and nitrogen largely from excess
fertilizers running off farmland, harmful chemicals firm urban and suburban runoff,
industrial effluents etc. which are discharged into the natural water bodies. For
example, oil spill off the port of Ennore in Chennai in 2017.
 C AUSES OF BIODIVERSITY

• 4) GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE –

• Climate change is projected to become a progressively more significant threat to
biodiversity in the coming decades.Already, changes in the flowering and
migration patterns as well as in the distribution of various species have been
observed throughout the world.These changes have altered food chains and
created mismatches within ecosystems where different species have evolved
synchronised inter-dependence.
 IMPACTS OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS

1. Ecosystem collapse: Biodiversity loss can lead to the collapse of ecosystems.

Ecosystems are interdependent and rely on a variety of species to function. When
species go extinct or are significantly reduced in numbers, it can throw off the balance
of the ecosystem and cause a domino effect of species loss.
2. Reduced ecosystem services: Ecosystems provide us with many services, such as air and
water purification, soil formation, and nutrient cycling. Biodiversity loss can reduce
these services, which can have significant impacts on human health and wellbeing.
3. Decreased food security: Biodiversity loss can also impact food security. Many people
rely on wild food for their nutrition, and the loss of biodiversity can reduce the
availability of these foods. Additionally, many crops rely on pollinators, and the loss of
pollinators can reduce crop yields.
 IMPACTS OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS

4. Climate change: Biodiversity loss can also contribute to climate change. Forests,
for example, are important carbon sinks, and deforestation can release significant
amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.
5. Economic impacts:Biodiversity loss can have significant economic impacts. Many
industries rely on natural resources and ecosystem services, and the loss of
biodiversity can disrupt these industries and lead to economic losses. Additionally,
the loss of biodiversity can impact tourism, which is a significant source of income
for many regions.
 CONSERVATION EFFORTS

1 Protected areas:
The creation and management of protected areas such as national parks, wildlife
sanctuaries, and reserves can help to preserve biodiversity.These areas provide a
safe haven for wildlife and plants to thrive without the threat of human activity.
2 Habitat restoration: Restoration of damaged habitats can also help in conserving
biodiversity.This can include reforestation, wetland restoration, and restoration of
coral reefs.
3 Sustainable use of resources: Sustainable use of resources such as timber,
fisheries, and water can help to preserve biodiversity.This can be achieved through
measures such as sustainable harvesting and regulation of resource use.
 CONSERVATION EFFORTS

4 Education and awareness: Educating the public about the importance of biodiversity
and its conservation can help to raise awareness and encourage action to
protect biodiversity.
5 International agreements: International agreements such as the Convention on
Biological Diversity and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change aim to address
biodiversity loss and climate change on a global scale.
6 In-situ conservation: In-situ conservation involves the conservation of species
and ecosystems within their natural habitats.This can be achieved through
measures such as habitat protection, species reintroduction, and conservation
breeding programs. 7.
Ex-situ conservation: Ex-situ conservation involves the conservation of species outside
of their natural habitats.This can be achieved through measures such as captive
breeding programs, seed banks, and botanical gardens.
 CONCLUSION

1. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the variety of species,
ecosystems, and genetic diversity.
2. Biodiversity loss refers to the decline in the variety and abundance of species and
ecosystems due to human activities such as deforestation, habitat destruction, pollution,
and climate change.
3. Biodiversity loss has many negative impacts, including the loss of ecosystem services
such as clean air and water, reduced food security, and increased risk of disease
outbreaks.
4. Conservation efforts to protect biodiversity include the establishment of protected
areas, habitat restoration, captive breeding programs, and the implementation of
sustainable development practices.
 CONCLUSION

5. Biodiversity conservation is important for maintaining a healthy and functioning planet,

as well as for the benefit of human well-being and the economy.
6. Collaboration and education are key in promoting biodiversity conservation efforts
and encouraging individuals to take action to protect the natural world.
• THANK YOU.