Extinction - Biodiversity

Biodiversity Loss

A direct cause of extinction

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the variation of taxonomic life forms for a given biome or ecosystem.
Boosts Ecosystem productivity
Measure of the health of a biological system

Flowers

Benefits of Biodiversity

Food and drink- there is an estimated 80,000 edible plant species

Medicines- approximately 40% of all prescribed medicines have plant compounds

Industrial materials

Ecological services- such as the water filtering capabilities of a wetland ecosystem

Leisurely, cultural, and aesthetic values

Causes of Biodiversity Loss

Pollution

Loss of tropical forest

Spread of urban areas

Warfare

Large dam construction

Road building

Tourism

Loss of traditional lifestyles

Elephant

Polar Bears

Consequenses of Biodiversity Loss

Loss of food

Decrease in biomass

Collapse of food web

Loss of keystone species

Reduction of ecosystem efficiency and community productivity

Loss of medicinal supplies

Increased vulnerability of species to disease and predation

Effects on Crop Production

Monoculture of crops lets the yield become susceptible to pests or viruses

75% of crop varieties are extinct

Due to the spread of modern agriculture

Crops

Corn

Tropical Forest Cutting : A major source of biodiversity loss

Cover 13% of Earth

Home to 50% of all known plant and animal species

FAO reports 15.4 million hectares are destroyed annually

Tropical Forest

The Convention on Biological Diversity

Mission Statement:

“The objectives of this convention are the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.”

Since it was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, 189 countries have signed and implemented it. The United States signed it in 1993 but has yet to put it into action still today.

2010 Biodiversity Target

Members adopted a plan to significantly reduce the present rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level by the year 2010.

Click here to visit the Convention on Biological Diversity Website