Biodiversity and The Healthy Society

Biodiversity and
Healthy Society
Reporters: Banzuelo, Nolasco
Lesson Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
determine the interrelatedness of society, environment, and

1 health;
create a diagram that would show the relatedness of species in

2 forming up a diverse and healthy society without compromising
one another; and
identify everyday tasks and evaluate whether they contribute to

3 the wellness and health of biodiversity and society or not.
Introduction
Decrease in biodiversity is eminent worldwide.
Vertebrates fell to 60% from the 1970s due to
human causes. It is projected that by 2020, wildlife
decline will be 67% of the present number.
Marco Lambertini, the General director of WWF
International, described that the disappearance of
wildlife is at an unprecedented rate.
Earth might enter the sixth mass extinction event
according to experts.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Biodiversity is defined as the vast variety of life
forms in the entire Earth. It encompasses all
kinds of life forms, from the single-celled
organisms to the largest multi-celled
organisms. Its definition is in the structural and
functional perspective and not as individual
species.
.
Another definition of biodiversity is "the
variability among living organisms from
all sources, including terrestrial, marine
and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are
part;..." (Villaggio Globale, 2009)
Understanding biodiversity within the
concept of ecosystem needs a thorough
study on the relationship of the biotic,
the living organisms and the abiotic,
nonliving organisms. Interdisciplinary
approach is needed to study the
ecosystem. Biodiversity plays a major
role in this natural dynamics.
In simpler terms, it is true that
people will always depend on
biodiversity on the wholeness of our
being and in our everyday lives.
Indirectly, changes in the ecosystem
affect livelihood, income, and on
occasion, may even cause political
conflict.
Changes in Biodiversity
Alteration in any system could bring varied
effects. A change in biodiversity could have
erratic effects not only in wildlife or marine life
but also in human beings.
Threats to Biodiversity
There are major threats to biodiversity that were identified by
the United Nations' Environment Programme (WHO, n.d.).
These are the following:
1. Habitat loss and

destruction. Major
contributing factor is the
inhabitation of human
beings and the use of
land for economic gains.
2. Alterations in ecosystem
composition. Alterations in
ecosystems are a critical
factor contributing to species
and habitat loss
3. Over-exploitation.
Over-hunting, or
over-collecting of species
can quickly lead to its
decline.
4. Pollution and
contamination. Causes
irreversible damage to species
and varieties.
5. Global climate change.

Both climate variability and
climate change cause
biodiversity loss.
Consequences of Biodiversity Loss
Intact ecosystems function best since
the organisms composing them are
specialized to function in that
ecosystem to capture, transfer, utilize
and, ultimately, lose both energy and
nutrients.
Consequences of Biodiversity Loss
As stated by Tilman, "The Earth will

retain its most striking feature, its
biodiversity, only if humans have the
prescience to do so. This will occur, it
seems, only if we realize the extent to
which we use biodiversity
(Rainforest Conservation Fund, 2017).
Nutritional Impact of Biodiversity
According to the World Health
Organization, biodiversity is a vital
element of a human being's nutrition
because of its influence to food
production. Biodiversity is a major
factor that contributes to sustainable
food production for human beings.
Nutritional Impact of Biodiversity
Habitat simplification, species loss,

and species succession often enhance
communities, vulnerabilities as a
function of environmental receptivity
to ill health (WHO, 2007).
Health, Biology, and Biodiversity
Basic needs of living organisms such as

air, water, food, and habitat are
provided by its environment. The
evolution of human beings was due to
the improved access to these basic
needs.
Health, Biology, and Biodiversity
Although the environment sustains

life, it can also cause diseases. Lack of
basic necessities is a significant cause
of human mortality.
The interrelation between human

health and biological diversity is
considerable and complex.
Environment-Related Illnesses
Some human illnesses that are found to

be related with its environment
include Parkinson's disease, heart
disease, cancer, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, asthma, diabetes,
obesity, occupational injuries,
dysentery, arthritis, malaria, and
depression.
Interestingly, according to experts,

climate change could also have a
serious impact on human health and
could deteriorate farming systems
and reduce nutrients in some foods.
Communities and nations should

wisely choose a site for a factory, a
power plant, or waste dump, or
regulating safety in the workplace to
minimize impact to the society.
When drafting and implementing

environmental health regulations, it is
important to consider vulnerable
subpopulations.
With these in mind, a mitigating plan

and a workable plan of action should
be studied in order to promote good
health among the society.
Summary:
We have to consider the entire Earth as a single unit. A loss of single-celled species or
a family of wild grass can have adverse effects in the entire biosphere.
Eventually, in the near future, this biodiversity loss will have a great negative effect
especially to us humans. "The value of biodiversity is the value of everything"
(Rainforest Conservation Fund, n.d.).
We must recognize the value of the organisms with which we share the planet.
"We must begin to give the natural capital stock that produces these services
adequate weight in the decision-making process, otherwise, current and continued
future human welfare may drastically suffer... many ecosystem services are litterally
irreplaceable." (Costanza et al., 1997).
We do not, and probably cannot, ever evaluate such services adequately, but we can
value the ecosystems of the world appropriately (Rainforest Conservation Fund, n.d.).
Reporters:
Banzuelo, Nolasco

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Biodiversity and

determine the interrelatedness of society, environment, and

create a diagram that would show the relatedness of species in

identify everyday tasks and evaluate whether they contribute to

1. Habitat loss and

5. Global climate change.

As stated by Tilman, "The Earth will

Habitat simplification, species loss,

Basic needs of living organisms such as

Although the environment sustains

The interrelation between human

Some human illnesses that are found to

Interestingly, according to experts,

Communities and nations should

When drafting and implementing

With these in mind, a mitigating plan

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