BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Biodiversity- the variety of life on earth and the natural patterns it forms.

3 Levels of Biodiversity

1. species diversity- the number and variety of organisms an ecosystem contain

2. genetic diversity- the genetic variety within a species
3. ecosystem diversity- the variety of ecosystems found on earth

Extinction-the death of a species occurs when the last individual member of a species dies.

Endangered species- a species in imminent danger of extinction throughout all or a significant part of its
range.

Threatened species- a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future, throughout all or
a significant part of its range.

Characteristics of Threatened and Endangered Species

1. having an extremely (localized) range

2. requiring a large territory
3. living on islands
4. having low reproductive success
5. needing specialized breeding areas
6. possessing specialized feeding habits

Why Protect Biodiversity?

1. Aesthetic and Economics- source of beauty and pleasure; can provide economic benefits
2. Food, Pharmaceuticals, Scientific Information and Products
3. Protecting Free Services and Saving Money
-protecting natural systems helps preserve many ecological services such as flood control and
water pollution abatement
4. Ethics- Doing the Right Thing

Causes of Declining Biodiversity

1. Destruction or modification of habitat

Habitat fragmentation- the breakup of large areas of habitat into small isolated segments
Island- small patch of forest surrounded by agricultural and suburban land
2. Biotic pollution- the introduction of foreign species into an area where it is not native
3. Hunting
a. sport hunting
b. subsistence hunting
c. commercial hunting or harvesting
 d. illegal hunting or poaching
4. Pollution
5. Population growth and overconsumption
6. Climate change

International Year of Biodiversity- 2010

 focuses on boosting awareness of biodiversity’s importance by promoting actions to foster

biodiversity worldwide.

Convention on Biological Diversity

 an international legally-binding treaty with three main goals: conservation of biodiversity;

sustainable use of biodiversity; fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of
genetic resources.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

 Its mission is to influence, encourage and assist global societies to conserve nature. To ensure
that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable .
 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species -provides scientifically based information on the status of
species and subspecies at a global level.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

 aims to ensure that the international trade of plants and animals does not threaten the survival
of the species in its natural habitat.

Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147)

 to conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitats to promote ecological balance and
enhance biological diversity;
 to regulate the collection and trade of wildlife;
 to pursue, with due regard to the national interest, the Philippine commitment to international
conventions, protection of wildlife and their habitats; and
 to initiate or support scientific studies on the conservation of biological diversity.