Overview of Biodiversity

Study Notes

This topic covers the values of biodiversity, current threats, and efforts to sustain biodiversity.

Biodiversity supports various ecosystem services:
- Provisioning: Products obtained from ecosystems (e.g., food, timber).
- Regulating: Benefits from regulating services (e.g., climate regulation, pollination).
- Cultural: Non-material benefits (e.g., aesthetic value, spiritual significance).
- Supporting: Services necessary for the production of other ecosystem services.

Involves conserving ecosystems and natural habitats, maintaining viable populations of species in their natural surroundings, and covering genetic variability.
Aims to preserve species and ecosystems in their natural habitats.
Includes conservation, management, and rehabilitation of habitats.
Focuses on selected/target individual species in natural habitats/ecosystems through conservation or management.

Involves the conservation of biological diversity components (seed, clone, live saplings, pollen, or DNA) outside their natural habitat.
This makes it easier for scientists to access, study, distribute, and use plant resources.
Examples of ex situ conservation strategies in Malaysia include arboreta, field gene banks, seed gene banks, captive breeding centres, rehabilitation centres, and turtle sanctuaries.

Key challenges include land development, pollution, poaching, climate change, and invasive alien species.

Climate Change: Increased global temperatures impacting seasons, sea levels, and glaciers.
Habitat Loss & Degradation: Habitat loss from natural events (e.g., natural calamities, geological events) or human activities (e.g., deforestation, man-induced climate change).
Pollution: Water, air, and land pollution threaten all life forms.
Invasive Species: Introduced species negatively impacting native species.
Overexploitation: Over-harvesting species at rates exceeding their natural capacity to sustain themselves.
Other Potential Threats: Epidemics and infectious diseases in wildlife.

Strict laws and regulations exist regarding protected plants and wildlife in Sarawak (Malaysia).
Penalties for illegal acts include fines and imprisonment.
Penalties vary depending on the type of protected plant/animal.
Reporting violations and seeking clarifications are possible channels.

Policy statement emphasizes the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in Malaysia.
This includes the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from resource use.
Five key goals are established:
- Goal 1: Empower and engage stakeholders in biodiversity conservation
- Goal 2: Reduce direct and indirect pressures on biodiversity
- Goal 3: Safeguard key ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity
- Goal 4: Safely use biodiversity and equitably share benefits
- Goal 5: Improve capacity, knowledge, and skills for biodiversity conservation

Aims to improve understanding and public awareness of invasive alien species (IAS).
Conduct risk assessment of introduced exotic species before release.
Strengthen quarantine inspection and enforcement at entry points and international borders.