Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Loss of Biodiversity

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4 comments:

  1. UnknownFebruary 23, 2014 at 8:54 PM

    FROM, SWAPNALI

    BIODIVERSITY
    Definition of Biodiversity
    The term biodiversity - or biological diversity - refers to the immense variety of species on this planet and the complex communities or ecosystems these species form. The result of billions of years of evolution, biodiverse ecosystems are the matrix all species depend on and all are an integral part of.
    About 1.75 million different species have been identified on Earth so far. There may actually be some 13 million species, although some estimates range as high as 100 million. Each species plays its role and together they contribute to the formation of the ecosphere that supports all life.
    Biodiversity also refers to the genetic differences within species - such as the differences between varieties of crops or breeds of livestock. It also refers to the diversity of ecosystems, such as those that occur in prairies, forests, wetlands, lakes, rivers, and agricultural landscapes. In each ecosystem, living creatures form a community, interacting with one another and with the air, water, and soil.
    COUSES
    1. HABITAT LOSS
    Most endangered species are threatened by multiple factors, but habitat loss is generally viewed as the largest single cause of biodiversity loss worldwide. When humans convert wild areas for agriculture, forestry, urban development, or water projects (including dams, hydropower, and irrigation), they reduce or eliminate its usefulness as a habitat for the other species that live there.
    2. FRAGMENTATION
    With cities and townships expanding, often at the cost of agriculture, and agriculture expanding at the cost of tree cover, fresh threats to biodiversity are emerging. Various species of plants and animals are on the decline due to habitat fragmentation and over-exploitation, e.g. habitats of Great Indian Bustard in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan, and of the Lion-tailed Macaque in Western Ghat. (blue bull, wild boar, monkey,)
    3. CONSUMERISM
    In addition, changing lifestyles of the people, with rising incomes, in both rural and urban areas, are placing increasing demands on biodiversity. The devastating toll on the Earth's water supplies, natural resources, and ecosystems exacted by a plethora of disposable cameras, plastic garbage bags, and other cheaply made goods with built in product-obsolescence, and cheaply made manufactured goods that lead to a "throw away" mentality.


    4. DEFORESTATION
    All forms of development alter natural ecosystems. Commercial forestry involves road-cutting through forests and the harvesting of trees that are important as shelter or food for some species. The most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth are the tropical rainforests and these are being deforested at an alarming rate leading to wide scale loss of biodiversity.
    5. AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY:
    Farmers clear land, withdraw large quantities of water from local sources, and introduce pesticides and chemical fertilizers to the environment. Ranching impacts land physically through grazing and generates air and water emissions from animal wastes.

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  2. UnknownFebruary 23, 2014 at 8:57 PM

    causes cont................
    6. INDUSTRIALISATION :
    Urban development clears land and paves it, which changes local water cycles by increasing surface runoff and reducing groundwater supplies. It also generates air and water pollution from industrial activities and transportation.
    According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), a four-year, multinational analysis of the health of global ecosystems, cultivated land (including land used for livestock production and aquaculture) now covers one-quarter of Earth's terrestrial area. Mediterranean and temperate forests have been most heavily impacted by land conversion, but substantial conversion of tropical forests is also projected to occur by 2050 (Fig. 8). In contrast, boreal forests and tundra have experienced almost no conversion, although they are threatened by other forces, such as global climate change.
    7. DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS INDIA:
    Large population, is poised for rapid economic growth. Large infrastructural and industrial projects, including highways, rural road network, and the special economic zones, are coming up. Dams change river flow patterns, dissolved oxygen levels, and water temperatures and may prevent fish from swimming upstream to spawn.
    EFFECTS
    1. EXTENTION: It has been increasingly observed. Some studies show that about one eighth of known plant species are threatened with extinction. Some estimates put the loss at up to 140,000 species per year (based on Species-area theory) and subject to discussion. This figure indicates unsustainable ecological practices, because only a small number of species come into being each year. Almost all scientists acknowledge that the rate of species loss is greater now than at any time in human history, with extinctions occurring at rates hundreds of times higher than background extinction rates.
    2. The Living Planet Index (LPI): which tracks nearly 4,000 populations of wildlife, shows an overall fall in population trends of 27% between 1970 and 2005.In general terms, population growth and our consumption are the reasons for this enormous loss. Specifically, habitat destruction and wildlife trade are the major causes of population decline in species.In 2009, humanity used 40% more resources than nature can regenerate in a year.

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  3. UnknownFebruary 23, 2014 at 8:58 PM

    effects cont..............
    3. CLIMATE CHANGE AND DESERTIFICATION
    Climate change, on account of build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leading to globalwarming, poses another significant threat to biodiversity, ecosystems, and the goods and services they provide. There are indications that the projected changes in temperature and CO2 concentration may alter growth, reproduction and host-pathogen relationships in both plants and animals. It is believed that the ecosystems with undiminished species diversity
    4. ECOLOGICAL OVERSHOOT
    This problem - using resources faster than they can regenerate and creating waste such as CO2 faster than it can be absorbed - is called ecological overshoot.
    We currently maintain this overshoot by liquidating the planet’s natural resources. We can cut trees faster than they re-grow, and catch fish at a rate faster than they repopulate. While this
    can be done for a short while, overshoot ultimately leads to the depletion of resources on which our economy depends.
    5. EXTINTION OF MEDICINES SPECIES:
    Biodiversity benefits humans in many ways. Most of our medicines have originated from nature such as aspirin from willow and medicines for leukaemia from the Madagascan periwinkle, quinine for malaria treatment from the Amazon jungle to name just a few. Other resources derived from nature and used extensively by humans include rubber from rubber trees from the rainforests, cotton from cotton plants, wool from sheep and lambs, components of cosmetics from rainforests e.g. cocoa butter, chocolate from rainforests.


    RMEDIES
    The EU backed 2006 Biodiversity Communication and Action Plan - aiming to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010
    The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), published in 2005. This provided a comprehensive appraisal of the consequence of ecosystem change for human well-being.
    Yet even in the short time since the MA was published, the rate of loss is accelerating. It is critical that we reverse this loss. While we can and should make a major effort to conserve and protect the habitats that are the basis of biodiversity, this is not enough. We have to tackle the issue through the major decision making agencies who impact on biodiversity.

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  4. UnknownFebruary 23, 2014 at 9:00 PM

    remedies cont.........
    INDIVIDUAL LEVEL REMEDIES
    1) Buy organic foods, pesticides kill wildlife.
    2) Buy locally produced food to reduce the pollution of air miles.
    3) Don’t buy tropical hardwoods from rainforests, buy wood from sustainably managed forests.
    4) Recycle clothes, books and furniture – give unwanted items to charity shops.
    5) Reduce waste - recycle tins, glass, paper, cardboard
    6) Cycle or walk or use public transport to get to work you will get fitter and reduce carbon emissions and other pollution
    7) Insulate your homes to reduce unnecessary heat loss and reduce your bills and use renewable energy to reduce fossil fuel consumption and pollution
    8) Don’t waste food only buy and prepare what you need
    9) Reduce your consumption of material items – think do you really need to buy something or is it a want rather than a need?
    10) Join ourfutureplanet.org so you can help create a better future!
    LEGISLATION
    Formal policies and programmes for conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity resources dates back to several decades. The concept of environmental protection is enshrined in the Indian constitution in articles 48a and 51a(g). Major central acts relevant to biodiversity include:
    • Environment Protection Act, 1986
    • Fisheries Act, 1897
    • Forest Act, 1927
    • Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
    • Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 1991
    The Government of India has set up seven biosphere reserves: Nokrek (Meghalaya), Nilgiri (Kamataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu), Namdapha (Arunachal Pradesh), Nanda Devi (Uttar Pradesh), Sundarbans (West Bengal), Great Nicobar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), Gulf of Mannnar (Tamil Nadu). The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests(MoEF), the nodal agency for implementing provisions of CBD in India, developed a strategy for biodiversity conservation at macro-level in 1999 and enacted the Biological Diversity Act in 2002 followed by the Rules there under in 2004. National Environment Policy, 2006.
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