Biodiversity Indicators PDF

Biodiversity Indicators -Biodiversity Indicators are statistical measures of biodiversity which help scientists, managers and politicians understand the condition of biodiversity and the factors that affect it. When governments adopted the 2010 Biodiversity Target ‘in 2002, Biodiversity Indicators w...

Biodiversity Indicators -Biodiversity Indicators are statistical measures of biodiversity which help scientists, managers and politicians understand the condition of biodiversity and the factors that affect it. When governments adopted the 2010 Biodiversity Target ‘in 2002, Biodiversity Indicators were developed as a way of measuring progress towards the targets. Standardized measures make it easier to monitor, compare and communicate changes in the health and diversity of nature over time such as changes in the size and distribution of populations of species, habitats and interactions between communities of species and the environment. -The Biodiversity Indicators allow managers and politicians to see if their decisions are conserving biodiversity or leading to its degradation and loss. -Without this knowledge it is not possible to know if the actions being taken are working and should continue or if different approaches need to be tried. -Therefore, Biodiversity Indicators can help to ensure that effort and resources are allocated efficiently. -The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity includes 20 time-bound, measurable targets to be met by the year 2020 (Aichi Biodiversity Targets). Biodiversity indicators are the primary mechanism for monitoring progress towards the Strategic Plan and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. -The IUCN Species Programme contributes directly to these indicators – at the global level, through indicators linked to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Key Biodiversity Areas, and at the national level, through disaggregation of global indicators of progress towards the Targets, at both the national and regional levels. -Three examples of global Biodiversity Indicators include: - The IUCN Red List Index, - The Living Planet Index - The Global Wild Bird Index. The Red List Index The Red List Index (RLI) provides a clearer view of real trends within different taxonomic groups, and for biodiversity as a whole. Currently, the RLI is available for four taxonomic groups only (those in which all species have been assessed at least twice): birds, mammals, amphibians, and corals. The RLI clearly demonstrates that the status of these major groups is still declining. -The uses changes in threat categories, such as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable, to measure changes in the overall risk of a group of species becoming extinct. -The Living Planet Index and the Global Wild Bird Index are population-based indicators that combine data from individual populations of many species to create a single index. - New indicators are being developed that will add more information to the current indexes such as following the commercial demand for species and the spread of invasive species. -Biodiversity Indicators showed that the 2010 Biodiversity Target‘ was not met -In 2010, the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, which includes the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets, was adopted in Nagoya, Japan. -Achieving these 20 new targets is critical and the 15 Biodiversity Indicators are essential for measuring if our conservation actions are working at both national and global level. Human Impact on Biodiversity: -Many individuals do not think about the damage they are causing on biodiversity. -However, it is important as humans to realize the impact we have on biodiversity because without it, there would be no human existence. - If no changes are made in the ways humans use resources on earth, there will continue to be a degradation of biodiversity until human lives can no longer be sustained. - Humans affect biodiversity by their population numbers, use of land, and their lifestyles, causing damage to habitats for species. - It is important for humans to realize how their actions affect biodiversity and the importance of maintaining what biodiversity is left on the earth. - Through proper education, and by demanding that governments make decisions to preserve biodiversity, the human population will be able to sustain life on earth longer. The relevance of zoogeography and human Impact -There is no doubt that human civilization has had a negative impact on biodiversity, particularly since the industrial revolution. -Overfishing and hunting, the destruction of habitats through agriculture and urban sprawl, the use of pesticides and herbicides, and the release of other toxic compounds into the environment have all taken their toll, particularly on vertebrates. -The World Conservation Union (IUCN; Gland, Switzerland) now includes more than 16,000 entries in its Red List of Threatened Species: 5,624 vertebrates, 2,101 invertebrates and 8,390 plants (IUCN, 2006). -The number of documented extinctions since 1500 AD is now 784 species and the IUCN estimates that extinction rates are now 50 to 500 times higher than previous rates calculated from the fossil record (Baillie et al, 2004). -But it's not all bad news: - Many animal and plant species have adapted to the new stresses, food sources, predators and threats in urban and suburban environments, where they thrive in close proximity to humans. Their success provides researchers with valuable—and sometimes unexpected—insights into evolutionary and selective processes. - Because these adaptations have had to be 17 rapid, cities are, in some respects, ideal laboratories for studying natural selection. -The study of adaptation to human habitats also yields vital information for conservation efforts and helps to soften the environmental impact of business parks, housing, roads and waterways. In fact, these types of construction can even enhance biodiversity and encourage species to colonize urban areas by creating ecological corridors and networks to circumvent obstacles, thereby providing access to favorable habitats. -Small mammals, for example, can cross major roads and railways by using dedicated pathways that are constructed within existing tunnels or bridges. -Furthermore, urbanization does not preclude the development of teeming habitats; rather than being confined to remote areas and wildlife parks, they can be found in densely populated areas, according to Robbert Snep, from the Research School for Socio Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment (SENSE), a joint venture of eight Dutch universities. ―In some cases, business parks are of value for biodiversity, he said, referring to a recent study of 25 such sites around the Netherlands, in which 90 bird species were identified, including 18 that are listed as endangered by national bodies or the IUCN (Snep et al, 2006). Biodiversity definition and Why It Is Important -Biodiversity is the term that is given to describe the variety of life on earth and the natural patterns it forms. -It is the result of evolution, natural processes, and human influence (Secretariat, 2000) -Biodiversity involves diversity of genes within a species, of species within ecosystems, and of ecosystems in the biosphere (Frequently, 2005). -Biodiversity is not determined by only one factor, but rather many factors that differ spatially and temporally (Climate, 2005). -Although many humans may not realize how important biodiversity is to them, it is clear that without it humans would not be able to exist. - Each day humans use 40,000 species, most of which go totally unnoticed (Eldredge, 2000). - Even though only a minority of humans realize it, biodiversity provides humans with food, water, oxygen, energy, detoxification of waste, stabilization of earth ‘s climate, medicine, opportunities for recreation and tourism, and many 19 more things (Secretariat, 2000). Simply put, there would be no population of humans without biodiversity. Extinction of Species -The most obvious indicator of biodiversity is the number of species on the planet. Currently there are 1.75 million species that have been identified; however, some speculate that there are at least 10 million living species on earth (Eldredge, 2000). -To look at the loss of biodiversity, the number of extinctions of species should be examined. Rates of extinction are currently up to 40,000 species per year (that‘s 100 per day or 4 per hour) (Wood, 2000). -This rate is 50 -100 times the natural rate of extinction and is expected to increase in the coming years (Sherbinin, 2002). -The extinction rate is of great concern because once a species is extinct, there is no chance of ever getting that species back on the planet. -Three main problems that cause species extinction are: Habitat loss Habitat degradation Habitat fragmentation (Noss et al, 2005). Habitat loss: is described as the complete destruction of a habitat. An example of habitat loss would be logging of a forest. Habitat degradation: is when a habitat diminishes to a point where it can no longer support biological communities (Effects, 2005). An example of this would be habitats that are polluted by industry. - Habitat fragmentation: is described as a habitat that is broken into smaller discontinuous segments of land for development (Mapping, 2005). An example of this would be putting a road in the middle of a habitat. - All three of these problems that result in species extinction are directly related to human influence. Human Actions -There is no clear way of determining the total impact that humans are making on biodiversity; however, it is obvious that many actions by humans are causing a decrease in biodiversity. -To determine the total impact that humans are making on a given environment, the area of productive land and water needed to produce the item that is being consumed and the need to account for the waste being generated by humanity must all be taken into account according to management and production practices in use during that time (Wackernagel et al., 2002). -Direct or indirect actions by humans have resulted in the decrease of biodiversity. -The Convention of Biological Diversity states that there are both indirect and direct human drivers. -Some of the indirect human drivers are demographic, economic, sociopolitical, scientific and technological, and cultural and religious factors. -Some of the direct human drivers are changes in local land use and land cover, species introductions or removals, external inputs, harvesting, air and water pollution, and climate change (Climate, 2005). -22 Human activities has substantially changed one-third to one-half of the world ‘s surface (Frequently, 2005). -In the next 50 years it is expected that humans will seriously impact 50-90 percent of land in developing countries. This is a result of growth in population and in over consumption of natural resources (Mapping, 2005). -The population of humans is, what many consider, the root of the biodiversity problem (Eldredge, 2000). -The number of humans on earth, as of July 2005, is at 6.4 billion (World, 2005). The increase in human inhabitants causes a problem because with it comes a need to convert natural habitats to land for human consumption. One way that the humans have been able to sustain their growth is by converting natural habitats to fields where foods can be produced. At least 23 percent of the earth ‘s land is being used for agriculture (31 percent of all land is unfarmable). - In the United States there is a direct relationship between the loss of forests to the increase in cropland (Dobson, 1996). - Internationally, there is half a hectare of tropical forest disappearing to farmland every second. - One of the potential dangers of decreasing the amount of natural habitats remaining is that species will no longer be present on earth. This directly affects agriculture because many of the species that are being destroyed for croplands may have been used for genetically enhancing crop products (Frequently, 2005). - - In this manner, the increase in agricultural land actually harms our agricultural future. - Human actions have also played a role in climate change, which is also causing great danger for biodiversity. -The change in climate is due to increased atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, which causes increased land and ocean temperatures, and changes in precipitation and sea level rise. -With the change in climate also comes a change in species (explain): Climate affects the timing of reproduction and migration, the length of growing seasons, species distributions and population size, and the frequency of pest and disease outbreaks. It is also expected that the change in climate in the 21st century will have a much higher rate than the past 10,000 years and create an even bigger impact on biodiversity (Climate, 2005). -It is expected that 80 percent of biologically rich regions will suffer great losses of plant and animal species because of global warming. - The rate of change of habitats is expected to increase up to ten times due to global warming (Sherbinin, 2002). Poverty and Biodiversity -Biodiversity affects everyone to varying degrees. - People that live in poverty depend heavily upon nature to provide them with resources to live. - -In third world countries logging is a common activity of the poor. It is a huge problem in many developing countries because it is destroying natural habitats, yet it seems to be one of the only ways that people can make enough money to support their families. - The New York Times recently ran an article about individuals in Malawi illegally cutting down trees in order to make enough money for food. -One individual state, "We have no money to raise our 24 families. We have nowhere to run, nothing else to do. So, we have to cut the trees to feed our families.“ However, even when the individuals cut down trees and sell the wood, they still do not always have enough money to support their families. -The current rate of deforestation in Malawi is 2.8 percent and 23 species that are found in their forests are considered endangered (Wines, 2005). - The degradation of the environment will affect both poor and industrialized nations. However, the developing nations will be the ones that are affected the most by the degradation of the environment by increasing poverty, reducing labor productivity, and exacerbating the current economic social crisis (Mapping, 2005). -Developing nations do not have the resources to help their citizens find an alternative to use nature for survival. - Educating individuals in developing countries are needed to preserve biodiversity for ensuring human survival (give examples) - Educating locals has its impact on people and the environment, showing people how they can live in equilibrium with nature and help preserve biodiversity without causing further oppression. - Many times, individuals do not realize that there are alternative ways of obtaining money that do not put the environment into jeopardy. - For examples: 1-In the case in Malawi, if the locals were to obtain honey from beehives found in the forests, they would be able to make more money than they would by selling wood (Wines, 2005). 2-Educating and empowering women lead to a decrease in birthrates which would make a huge impact on population growth, especially since developing nations have a higher birthrate compared to industrialized nations. - Simply educating individuals, all individuals, not just impoverished ones, about their impacts on biodiversity is a step in the right direction (Eldredge, 2000). Positive Effects of Humans on the Ecosystem -Native Americans understood that what affects even the lowest creature on the totem pole of life, affects everyone, which is why they chose to live in harmony with nature, instead of against it. - They never stayed in an area long enough to deplete the land and moved with the seasons to not use up all the resources in one location. But a modern human doesn't live that way and has come up with other methods to positively affect and protect ecosystems in threat of extinction. -Ways in which people positively affect ecosystems around the world include: 1-Recycling 2-Establishing wildlife preserves and national parks 3-Creating green, open space laws 4-Creating environmental regulations 1- Recycling Ecosystems are biological communities and exist all around the globe. -They serve as small, interconnected worlds that host multiple forms of plant and animal life. -Nature recycles everything: dead plant and animal matter return to the soil to once again produce more trees and plants. -Taking a cue from nature, many people understand that recycling offers a positive contribution to the ecosystems of the world by reusing or remaking old products into new ones without having to take resources from nature. 2-Establishing wildlife preserves and national parks Within wildlife preserves and national parks zones, animals and plant life thrive under laws that keep them from harm. -People, with the help of governments, established these zones to protect specific ecosystems containing threatened plant and animal life. 3-Creating green and open spaces -Many state and local communities created laws that require developers who build homes and commercial buildings to keep green, open spaces of land to protect them from development. - This includes bridges over highways and freeways that allow deer and other creatures to migrate across the developed area without threat of death-by-vehicle. - These protected areas represent positive contributions to ecosystems. 4-Creating environmental regulations -While Richard Nixon was president, he established the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 because of the threats to the environment. - Environmental laws and management programs have a positive effect on the world's ecosystem when enforced. - These laws are in place to prevent companies from destroying ecosystems by preventing them from dumping industrial contaminants on the ground, into rivers or streams or other waterways. - Reforestation: Environmental laws in some parts of the country also require lumber companies to replant clear-cut forest areas with new plantings. -Lumber companies operating in the state of Oregon and others, must replant the area clear cut of trees with new tree growth to replenish the ecosystem within a specific period, generally up to three years after originally clearing the land. -Variety is the spice of life, an old saying goes. It‘s also the price of life: Without a variety of life -- biodiversity -- ecosystems suffer. - Ecosystems include all the things, living and nonliving, needed for the health of a particular area. - Damaging biodiversity damages ecosystems because an ecosystem ‘s components are interdependent. -Protecting biodiversity, also protects human interests (explain): for instance, damaging a region where insects live can interfere with pollination, which in turn affects the ability of plants to produce fruits and vegetables. 5-Putting Things Right -Unfortunately, human activity has harmed the world‘s biodiversity: too much fishing and hunting, destruction and damage to habitats, pollution, climate change -- all these threaten biodiversity. Fortunately, some damage can be reversed through restoration of an area ‘s habitat. -Restoring a habitat provides the foundation for biodiversity. The species that should be living in an area can return or increase in numbers. -Even in urban areas, restoring native plants can provide food and shelter for native animal and insect species. -In such areas, establishing wildlife corridors allows animals to travel safely. 6-Practicing Sustainability -Human activity is reducing biodiversity at a rate 1,000 times faster than has happened over the last 65 million years, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. -The Earth can‘t sustain biodiversity under such conditions. - The IUCN predicts the extinction of over a million species in the next half-century. -Practicing sustainability means using resources more wisely so that Earth can maintain its riches (explain): for instance, anyone can buy organic products, which reduces habitat damage by eliminating harmful pesticides and fertilizers. Energy efficient products consume less energy and also protect resources. 7-Keeping Things Wild -About 45 percent of the world‘s forests are gone, according to the United Nations, yet they contain most of land‘s biodiversity. -By destroying all this habitat, human activity is causing the worst extinction event since the extinction of the dinosaurs. - Preserving wild areas not only preserves existing biodiversity, it also helps with efforts to restore ecosystems. - The wild areas serve as a reference point for how the environment of a given area should function. - Meanwhile, conserving forests prevents $3.7 trillion-worth of harmful greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2010 report from the Convention on Biological Diversity.