ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION AND CONSERVATION

INDIVIDUAL REPORT

Center Name: The Third Assalam School

Center Number: QA118

REPORTED BY: SALEHA UMAR

Class:11-M1
Human activities negatively impact biodiversity to a level where it affects
living organisms and their environments:
Healthy ecosystems and developing biodiversity are the foundations of living organisms.
Biodiversity includes not only the world's species with their unique evolutionary histories, but
also genetic variability within and among populations of species and the distribution of species
across local habitats, ecosystems, landscapes, and whole continents or oceans.
Although extinctions and changes have always occurred on Earth, their current rate is
unprecedented. Significant direct threats to biodiversity include invasive species, pollution,
habitat loss and fragmentation, unsustainable resource use, and global climate change. The topic
I’ve chosen for my IGCSE Global Perspectives Component-1 individual report is Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Loss. The area I will be targeting under this topic will be "Have human activities
negatively impacted biodiversity to a level where it's affecting living organisms and their
environment".
I have selected this issue because, for a few years, biodiversity has grown more severely
worldwide, resulting in many consequences that directly affect the environment and other living
beings.

Human impact on biodiversity:

Consider biodiversity as playing a supporting role in daily life. It’s nature’s way of providing
clean air, water, food, resources, and even climate protection. But keep in mind that, at most,
only 20% of Earth's species have been classified by science.

Since then, scientists have estimated that there are about 8.7 million undiscovered species out of
which only about 1.2 million have been identified. Of that number, who knows how many
critical ecosystems living things have already gone extinct, or are critically endangered, before
their role is even clear?

Human dominance over the past century has resulted in rapid ecosystem change and a significant
loss of biodiversity worldwide. Because of this, some people now refer to the current era as the
"Anthropocene."

Causes and effects:

We, humans, are woven into biodiversity, when just a few strands are lost our well-being is
threatened, cut too many links and we risk unravelling it all. Human beings will always have
biodiversity both intentionally and involuntarily.
The main cause is excessive land use, which began with bigger food growth and production. The
volume and pace of this loss, as well as its implications, have been significant. Land use
pressures have pushed the majority of the world's land surface's local biodiversity stability
beyond suitable limits.
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Let’s consider the Miombo woodlands of southern Africa stretching from Mozambique to
Angola. By providing food and raw materials, the woodlands support more than 150 million
people, thereby promoting food security and eradicating poverty. If managed sustainably,
woodlands can protect against the effects of natural disasters and economic downturns, support
natural resources, and stop the degradation of the land.
In a similar vein, mangroves, which are only found in tropical coastal regions, offer ecosystem
services worth about US$1.6 billion annually.
However, their significance goes beyond the people they support; studies show that mangroves
are among the most significant carbon sinks on the globe, and they play a crucial role in the
global fight against climate change. Mangroves and Miombo forests are only two instances of
ecosystems' importance to our well-being. Biodiversity-rich ecosystems provide our basic needs,
give economic and livelihood possibilities, and provide areas for recreational, cultural, and
spiritual activities.
They regulate our living circumstances by eliminating pollution, pollinating crops, protecting us
from natural disasters and climate change, and providing us with safe drinking water and air to
breathe. They are required for the continuous existence of a diverse range of life on Earth.
Although we may take these benefits for granted, their loss would have serious consequences for
civilization's future.
 AFTER

BEFORE
Possible courses of actions:

Human impacts on biodiversity will always be a threat because there are few ways to steer clear
of the environmental damage we cause, but there is some way we could lessen the damage.
Restoring degraded forests and agricultural land has a significant economic payoff.
Allowing degraded forests to regenerate into natural forests, as well as supporting agriculture and
other techniques, might result in yearly economic gains of $35-40 billion over the next 15 years,
as well as a range of social and environmental advantages. This might be extremely
advantageous for governments and devastated lands.
Additionally, ensuring property rights contributes to environmental conservation. According to
studies, those who have secure property rights are better environmental stewards and natural
resource managers.
To revert this trend, governments will need to develop policies that improve tenure security in
forest areas – ensuring that environmentally sensitive land remains as forest – while also
allowing for the conversion of land use in non-environmentally sensitive areas to agriculture or
other production.

Endangered food security:

Food is one of a person's most important needs. Imagine a world without coffee, cereal, or any
other means of preventing hunger. Or perhaps a world without the plants that are used to produce
contemporary medicines or crops like cotton.
If we don't address the biodiversity crisis closely related to food security, we could all find
ourselves in an apocalyptic situation. This suggests a direct connection between food security
and biodiversity.
This suggests a direct connection between food security and biodiversity. However, the loss of
biodiversity is being accelerated by our industrial, agricultural, and farming practices.
While many people think that using pesticides, fertilisers, genetically modified crops, intensive
farming methods, or farming on increasingly larger plots of land can help increase food
production and ensure food security, biodiversity actually plays a much more significant role.

Landrace and farmer's varieties are decreasing at a rate that is unusual. As a result, diets
throughout the world are becoming to resemble one another, which may undermine the need of
diversified, nutrient-rich diets for human health.
Farming amplification has negative consequences because it reduces biodiversity, lowering the
number of plants, animals, and microbes required for pollination, water purification, and soil
fertility.
Small-scale farmers are critical to global food security since they produce one-third of the food
consumed worldwide, and around 80% of the food in Africa and Asia.
Hunger has increased in recent years, with an estimated 828 million people being hungry by
2021. Small-scale food producers are also more likely to integrate, create, and sustain varied
agricultural ecosystems.

Possible courses of action:

To prevent the loss of biodiversity for food and agriculture, it is critical to manage, use, and
preserve it in a more sustainable manner. This represents a shift toward more biodiversity-
friendly production practices, such as favoring a broader range of crop and livestock species,
preserving interconnected habitats for pollinators and natural pest enemies, implementing
sustainable soil management practices, and using fewer pesticides and fertilizers.
Biodiversity offers genetic resources for plants, animals, and microbes, hence enhancing food
production and agricultural productivity. Biodiversity offers vital ecological activities such as
soil fertilization, nutrient recycling, pest and disease regulation, erosion management, and
pollination of many crops and trees.
To reverse biodiversity loss and its impact on food security, as well as to transition to a
biodiversity-friendly food system, all stakeholders, including governments, farmers, food firms,
and consumers, must demonstrate the will and collective commitment. Everyone has a vital job
to perform.
To preserve biodiversity, enrich the landscape, and improve the quality of water, air, and soil,
agricultural producers require training and support, as well as a supportive legislative climate
that supports and rewards sustainable production techniques as soon as possible. Other strong
motivations and reasons opposing this shift must be phased out.
As consumers, we have the choice of purchasing food produced using biodiversity-friendly
techniques such as organic farming or sustainable fisheries, as well as crop types and livestock
breeds that are specific to an area. Growing flowers that attract local bee species in our gardens
and yards can help to restore insect populations.
To put it another, our ability to grow and create food is directly linked to biodiversity. As a
result, protecting biodiversity and carefully exploiting our resources is critical to ensuring our
species' existence while also preserving our planet's unique characteristics.

Evaluation of sources:
I will be evaluating some of the sources I have utilized in this report, UN, AMNH and IFAD.
The United Nations is a reputable source since it is a worldwide organization recognized by the
vast majority of the world's 193 countries. While the essay may be out of date, its thoughts and
ideas might still give useful background and perspective on the topic of food security and
biodiversity. Furthermore, the previous deputy secretary, Louise Fréchette, is a respected lady
who worked for the UN for eight years.
Former UN deputy secretary Louise Fréchette has had a successful career outside of the
organization. She held high-ranking posts in the Canadian government, including deputy
minister of defense and associate deputy minister of international affairs, and served as Canada's
ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Fréchette has long advocated for globalization
and the importance of international collaboration in tackling global concerns.
AMNH, or the American Museum of National History, presented information about biodiversity
and its threat to the environment. It's another reliable source because it's a well-known museum
that is the world's largest and focuses on human civilizations and other disciplines It summarizes
the key challenges to biodiversity and ecosystems with equal reason, including some "good
news" to balance the positives and problems.
Relief Web just published an article discussing the ongoing degradation of biodiversity and its
effects on food security. The article outlines an urgent warning given by the International Fund
for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a United Nations-affiliated institution. Relief Web is a
reliable source of humanitarian information, as it is given by the United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the negative effects of human activities on biodiversity worldwide cannot be
overstated; biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are major threats to human well-being,
and these threats are inextricably linked to food security.
The loss of biodiversity is a serious concern because its consequences are far-reaching, affecting
not only the health and well-being of various life forms and their ecosystems but also the long-
term sustainability of food production.
Unsustainable food production techniques can also contribute to biodiversity loss by destroying
natural ecosystems and limiting biodiversity. Indeed, disadvantaged groups, particularly those in
developing nations, bear the brunt of the impacts of this dilemma, and food insecurity persists.
Conservation techniques are crucial to properly tackling this issue, and natural resources must be
exploited in a sustainable way. To maintain biodiversity and ensure the long-term health of our
food systems for future generations, we must work together and coordinate our efforts. Only
through such efforts will we be able to maintain the biodiversity that supports life on our planet
and ensure a better future for everybody.

Reflection:
As I think back on the process of writing my personal report on biodiversity, I become more and
more aware of how important it is to act to address the issue and aspects surrounding it. My
research has convinced me that both our choices and our actions have a significant influence
both positive and negative on the planet and environment and the resources we depend on.
Biodiversity is more valuable than possible it’s interconnected in many ways one thing leading to
another. We must realise that value to ensure the preservation of all kinds of life around us,
humanity ought to stick to the ethical and moral worth of biodiversity.
We cannot have the healthy ecosystems that we depend on to give us the oxygen we breathe and
the food we consume without a diverse variety of animals, plants, and microbes. People also
appreciate nature in and of itself.
Through this report, I have learned several additional skills which have undeniably aided in
writing this report and helped with other subjects like evaluating my sources have made me
realise how crucial it is to find facts and information that is up to date and authentic. I have also
learnt how to structure majority of key points in a report.
References:
“Biodiversity: Everything You Need to Know.” EcoWatch, 24 May 2021,
www.ecowatch.com/understanding-biodiversity-2653049258.html.
Council, National Research, et al. Perspectives on Biodiversity: Valuing Its Role in an
Everchanging World. National Academies Press, 1999.
“Dwindling Biodiversity Threatens Food Security.” Welthungerhilfe.de - Für Eine Welt Ohne
Hunger Und Armut, www.welthungerhilfe.org/news/latest-articles/2021/the-loss-of-biodiversity-
threatens-world-food-security.
EcoWatch. “5 Ways to Make Food Production and Land Use More Earth-Friendly - EcoWatch.”
EcoWatch, 6 Oct. 2021, www.ecowatch.com/5-ways-to-make-food-production-and-land-use-
more-earth-friendly-2607835045.html.
Greentumble, and Greentumble. “The Link Between Biodiversity and Food Security |
Greentumble.” Greentumble, Dec. 2020, greentumble.com/the-connection-between-biodiversity-
and-food-security.
“IFAD at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15.” IFAD,
www.ifad.org/en/web/latest/-/ifad-at-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-cop15?
p_l_back_url=%2Fen%2Fweb%2Flatest%2Fevents.
Kablooeymonsters. “2. How Does Land Use Impact the Ecosystem Services Biodiversity
Provides?” Biodiversity Intactness for Africa, Aug. 2021, bii4africa.org/biodiversity-ecosystems-
and-human-well-being.
MAINTAINING BIODIVERSITY FOR FOOD SECURITY MUST BE GLOBAL PRIORITY, SAYS
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL IN WORLD FOOD DAY REMARKS | UN Press. 18 Oct.
2004, press.un.org/en/2004/dsgsm237.doc.htm.
National Academies Press (US). “What Is Biodiversity?” Perspectives on Biodiversity - NCBI
Bookshelf, 1999, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224405.
“No Biodiversity, No Farmers, No Food Security - World.” ReliefWeb, 7 Dec. 2022,
reliefweb.int/report/world/no-biodiversity-no-farmers-no-food-security.
TED-Ed. “Why Is Biodiversity so Important? - Kim Preshoff.” YouTube, 20 Apr. 2015,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK_vRtHJZu4.
“What Is Biodiversity? Why Is It Important? | AMNH.” American Museum of Natural History,
www.amnh.org/research/center-for-biodiversity-conservation/what-is-biodiversity.