Group 2: Biodiversity and Healthy Society

Republic of the Philippines
Commission of Higher Education

Biliran Province State University
Naval, Biliran
GROUP 2
(VISUAL AID)
TOPIC: BIODIVERSITY
AND
HEALTHY SOCIETY
GROUP 2 MEMBERS:
ROSAL, JOHN BERT C. BSCPE1A
DEMATE JOHN MARK P. BSCPE1A
LERION, ERICA BSCPE1A
CALAUNAN, VANESSA BSCPE1A
MONTIADORA, JESSA BSCPE1A
MRS. JOAN DELDA

STS Instructor
BIODIVERSITY AND HEALTHY SOCIETY
What is BIODIVERSITY?
The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity.
The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity
of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts,
rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth.
Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to recognize

this as being integral to any approach to preserving biodiversity. Almost all cultures have
their roots in our biological diversity in some way or form.
Why Biodiversity Is Important?

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all
have an important role to play.
For example,
 A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops
 Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms
 Healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.
And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife.
A Healthy Biodiversity offers many natural services:

A healthy biodiversity provides a number of natural services for everyone:
 Ecosystem services, such as

o Protection of water resources
o Soils formation and protection
o Nutrient storage and recycling
o Pollution breakdown and absorption
o Contribution to climate stability
o Maintenance of ecosystems
o Recovery from unpredictable events
 Biological resources, such as
o Food
o Medicinal resources and pharmaceutical drugs
o Wood products
o Ornamental plants
o Breeding stocks, population reservoirs
o Future resources
o Diversity in genes, species and ecosystems
 Social benefits, such as
o Research, education and monitoring
o Recreation and tourism
o Cultural values
That is quite a lot of services we get for free!
The cost of replacing these (if possible) would be extremely expensive. It therefore
makes economic and development sense to move towards sustainability.
A report from Nature magazine also explains that genetic diversity helps to prevent the
chances of extinction in the wild (and claims to have shown proof of this).
To prevent the well known and well documented problems of genetic defects caused by
in-breeding, species need a variety of genes to ensure successful survival. Without
this, the chances of extinction increases.
Biodiversity providing lessons to the Scientists and Engineers:
For a number of years now, scientists have been looking more and more at nature to see
how various species work, produce, consume resources, trying to mimic the amazing
feats that millions of years of evolution has produced.
As just one small example, some spiders can produce their silk with a higher tensile
strength than many alloys of steel even though it is made of proteins. So biologists are
looking at these processes in more depth to see if they can reproduce or enhance such
capabilities.
Threats to biodiversity and health

There is growing concern about the health consequences of biodiversity loss and change.
Biodiversity changes affect ecosystem functioning and significant disruptions of ecosystems
can result in life sustaining ecosystem goods and services. Biodiversity loss also means that we
are losing, before discovery, many of nature's chemicals and genes, of the kind that have already
provided humankind with enormous health benefits. Specific pressures and linkages between
health and biodiversity include:
Nutritional impact of biodiversity

Biodiversity plays a crucial role in human nutrition through its influence on world food
production, as it ensures the sustainable productivity of soils and provides the genetic
resources for all crops, livestock, and marine species harvested for food. Access to a
sufficiency of a nutritious variety of food is a fundamental determinant of health.
Nutrition and biodiversity are linked at many levels: the ecosystem, with food production as
an ecosystem service; the species in the ecosystem and the genetic diversity within species.
Nutritional composition between foods and among varieties/cultivars/breeds of the same food
can differ dramatically, affecting micronutrient availability in the diet. Healthy local diets,
with adequate average levels of nutrients intake, necessitates maintenance of high biodiversity
levels.
Intensified and enhanced food production through irrigation, use of fertilizer, plant protection
(pesticides) or the introduction of crop varieties and cropping patterns affect biodiversity, and
thus impact global nutritional status and human health. Habitat simplification, species loss
and species succession often enhance communities vulnerabilities as a function of
environmental receptivity to ill health.
Infectious diseases
Human activities are disturbing both the structure and functions of ecosystems and altering
native biodiversity. Such disturbances reduce the abundance of some organisms, cause
population growth in others, modify the interactions among organisms, and alter the
interactions between organisms and their physical and chemical environments. Patterns of
infectious diseases are sensitive to these disturbances. Major processes affecting infectious
disease reservoirs and transmission include, deforestation; land-use change; water
management e.g. through dam construction, irrigation, uncontrolled urbanization or urban
sprawl; resistance to pesticide chemicals used to control certain disease vectors; climate
variability and change; migration and international travel and trade; and the accidental or
intentional human introduction of pathogens.
Climate change, biodiversity and health

Biodiversity provides numerous ecosystem services that are crucial to human well-
being at present and in the future. Climate is an integral part of ecosystem
functioning and human health is impacted directly and indirectly by results of climatic
conditions upon terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Marine biodiversity is affected by
ocean acidification related to levels of carbon in the atmosphere. Terrestrial
biodiversity is influenced by climate variability, such as extreme weather events (ie
drought, flooding) that directly influence ecosystem health and the productivity and
availability of ecosystem goods and services for human use. Longer term changes in
climate affect the viability and health of ecosystems, influencing shifts in the
distribution of plants, pathogens, animals, and even human settlements.
HEALTHY SOCIETY
Society is a body of people tied together and involved with each other through persistent
relationships, usually sharing a common geographical territory, subject to the same
governmental authorities, with compatible dominant cultural influences and expectations.
A healthy society enables its members collectively and individually to benefit in ways that
would not otherwise be possible; both individual and social (common) benefits can be
identified. Often those benefits overlap and are mutually of value. Sometimes they are in
conflict; a healthy society is a tolerant society that provides channels to resolve conflicts
peacefully and reasonably. Healthy societies are amongst the most significant
achievement of human beings.
A healthy society is about more than just preventing injuries and reducing the death toll
from disease. It is also about having access to safe neighborhoods and affordable
housing, broadening job opportunities and reducing income inequality, designing
walkable towns and fostering community cohesion. It takes multiple interventions and
cross-sector partnerships to do all of that, and data to determine what is working. Analytic
tools and strategies from other disciplines offer some guidance for calculating impact, as
does the distinctive perspectives of those who design, implement, and benefit from public
health activities.

Group 2: Biodiversity and Healthy Society

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Group 2: Biodiversity and Healthy Society

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Group 2: Biodiversity and Healthy Society

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Republic of the Philippines

Commission of Higher Education

MRS. JOAN DELDA

Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to recognize

Why Biodiversity Is Important?

A Healthy Biodiversity offers many natural services:

 Ecosystem services, such as

That is quite a lot of services we get for free!

Biodiversity providing lessons to the Scientists and Engineers:

Threats to biodiversity and health

Nutritional impact of biodiversity

Climate change, biodiversity and health

You might also like