Transcript Diapositive 1

Cairo University
Economics and political science
Presented by: Asaad Tolba Abdel-Halim
Biodiversity and its value,
Ecosystem Change,
Human well being
Biodiversity, which
plays a critical role in
overall sustainable
development and
poverty eradication, is
essential to our planet,
human well-being and
to the livelihood and
cultural integrity of
people
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the extraordinary
variety of living creatures and
ecological communities growing
and interacting with each other all
over the world. It is the richness
and complexity of species and
ecosystems
throughout
the
planet - continually acquiring and
honing the adaptations necessary
for survival under constantly
changing conditions.
Types of biological diversity
Genetic diversity refers to the
variations between individuals of a
species — characteristics passed
down from parents to their offspring.
Species diversity refers to the
variety of different living things
Ecosystem diversity refers to the great variety of
environments produced by the interplay of the living
(animals and plants) and non-living world (earth forms,
soil, rocks and water).
Biodiversity
Value
Ecological Values: All living creatures are
supported by the interactions among organisms and
ecosystems. Loss of biodiversity makes ecosystems
less stable, more vulnerable to extreme events, and
weakens its natural cycles.
Economic Values: A biologically diverse natural environment provides
humans with the necessities of life and forms the basis for the economy.
Everything we buy and sell originates from the natural world.
Cultural Values: Most people feel connected to nature, often for reasons
hard to explain. Some feel a strong spiritual bond that may be rooted in our
common biological ancestory. Others are inspired by its beauty. Human
cultures around the world profoundly reflect our visceral attachment to the
natural world. Thus cultural diversity is linked to Earth’s biodiversity.
Ecological Values
Energy cycle: Plants and photosynthetic
bacteria transform energy from the sun
into stored chemical energy (foundation for
virtually all food webs)
Water cycle: Forests moderate water
flows by catching, holding and
recycling rainwater. Plants release
absorbed rainwater into the air
through the loss of water through
their leaves (transpiration). Wetlands
and estuaries purify water and
control flooding
Ecological Values
Carbon and oxygen cycles: Carbon
dioxide
in
the
atmosphere
is
generated by animal respiration, plant
decay and the burning of fossil fuels
Nitrogen cycle: Nitrogen is needed by all
living organisms, and it makes up a
large
component
of
Earth’s
atmosphere. In its natural atmospheric
form, nitrogen is not directly accessible
to most organisms, so it needs to be
converted, primarily by bacteria living
on the roots of certain plants. Their
daily
activities
help
ecosystems
functioning. In turn, these ecosystems
support life. Healthy ecosystems are
more stable and more adaptable to any
change, such as extreme events like
drought or floods which can alter entire
ecosystems
Economic value
Nature provides the raw materials we need for
survival, and forms the basis for the global
economy
Everything we use in our daily lives was originally
derived from the natural world
Scientists have identified and named about 270,000
species of plants. Tropical rain forests support
some of Earth’s highest levels of biodiversity. At
least 1,650 known tropical forest plants have the
potential to be grown as vegetable crops
Nature is also the source for many medicines such as
aspirin, heart stimulants, antibiotics, anti-malarial
and cancer fighting compounds
Climate
regulation,
water
purification,
soil
regeneration, nutrient cycling, waste recirculation,
crop pollination and production of timber, fodder,
and biomass are provided by our living
environment for free.
Cultural value
From aboriginal creation myths and other
ancient religions to the work of
generations of artists, poets, musicians
and storytellers, nature has been the
foundation of human cultural identities,
spiritual
practices
and
creative
expression throughout the ages
"The co-evolution of culture, life forms, and habitats has conserved
the biological diversity of this planet. Cultural diversity and
biological diversity go hand in hand."
Earth is home to an estimated 10 to 20 million
species, but only a fraction is known and
scientifically classified. The interdependence
among organisms and their environments creates
and sustains the conditions needed for survival by
all living creatures.
Biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate, at
levels from genes and species to ecological
communities. Some ecologists predict that 50 per
cent of all mammals and birds will be extinct within
the next century. Biologists believe the loss of these
resources threaten the functioning of natural
systems and the overall well-being of human
society.
There is considerable pressure from
human activity on nature and
biodiversity. Action is necessary to
counteract pressures arising notably
from pollution, the introduction of nonnative species, potential risks from
releasing genetically modified
organisms and the way in which the
land and sea are exploited.
Human Impact - Europe and the Near East.
The assessment and modelling of
current impact on wilderness show
that there are few areas in Europe
proper that have seen little human
impact - it is all broken up by roads
thus lowering the value of habitats
primarily for big mammals. Areas
with wilderness qualities can be
found in the Arctic and further East
The main threats to biodiversity
In many European countries, half of the
known vertebrate species are threatened and
more than one-third of Europe's bird species
are in decline
Millenium Ecosystem
Assessment
The United Nations is the most comprehensive evaluation
of human impacts on biodiversity
It
also examines the dangers that
damage poses to human society.
environmental
Percentage of birds, mammals, fishes and plants/ Total number of species
disappearing
(after Pimms et al., 1995 in Chapin et al., 2000)
Over the past 50 years, humans have
changed ecosystems more rapidly
and extensively than in any
comparable period of time in human
history
– Humans have increased the
species extinction rate by as
much as 1,000 times over
background rates typical over
the planet’s history
– 10–30% of mammal, bird, and
amphibian species are
currently threatened with
extinction
The role of biodiversity in global change
significant and largely irreversible
changes to species diversity
The distribution of species on
Earth
is
becoming
more
homogenous
The population size or range (or
both) of the majority of species
across a range of taxonomic
groups is declining
Growth in Number of Marine
Species Introductions in North
America and Europe
Regional climate change
Deforestation generally
leads to decreased
rainfall. Since forest
existence depends on
rainfall, forest loss can
result in a feedback,
accelerating the rate
of decline in rainfall
Direct drivers growing in intensity
Most direct drivers
of degradation in
ecosystem remain
constant
or
are
growing in intensity
in most ecosystems
Changes in direct drivers
Habitat transformation:
– Further 10–20% of
grassland and
forestland is projected
to be converted by 2050
Overexploitation,
overfishing:
– Pressures continue to
grow in all scenarios
Invasive alien species:
– Spread continues to
increase
SCENARIOS
Different answers of 2100 to
the causes of biodiversity
change
T – Tropical forets
G - grasslands
M - mediterranean
D - deserts
N – Northern temperate forests
B – boreal forests
A - arctic
Scenario 1: there is no interaction
between causes
scenario 2: Factors with the
highest impact affect biodiversity
changes
(after Chapin et al., 2000)
Changes in direct drivers:
Climate Change
Observed recent impacts of climate
changes on ecosystems:
– Changes in species
distributions
– Changes in population sizes
– Changes in the timing of
reproduction or migration
events
– Increase in the frequency of
pest and disease outbreaks
The outcomes depend entirely on
what we decide to do in the next
few decades
A Best case Scenario: If we work together locally/globally and have a ecological focus, the likely temperature increase is
projected to be +1.8. Because projecting the climate is difficult to do, each scenario has a lower and upper limit, in this
case (+1.1 to +2.9°C)
B Worst case Scenario: If we don’t do much and just go about our business as usual, the likely temperature increase is
+4C, with a lower limit of +2.4 and an upper limit of +6.4°C.
Interrelationship between ecosystem services,
aspects of human well-being and human health
The wellbeing of all
people, everywhere in the
world. The causal links
between
environmental
change and human health
are complex because
they are often indirect,
displaced in space and
time, and dependent on a
number
of
modifying
forces
Protecting the planet in the next Millenium
Thank you for
your kind
attention