Biodiversity What is it? Why is it important? What can we do?

1. Anja Murray An Taisce- The National Trust of Ireland BiodiversityWhat is it?Why is it important?What can we do?

2. What is Biodiversity? Biological diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part,

3. diversity of individuals within a species (genetic diversity) • diversity of species within an ecosystem or habitat (species diversity) • diversity of ecosystems and habitats (habitat diversity).

4. Why is it important?! • Biodiversity has an Intrinsic Value that is worth protecting regardless of its value to humans • Biodiversity performs a number of ecological services to humankind that have economic, aesthetic or recreational value

5. Why is it important? • Biodiversity is the Basis of our existence! - Our life support system • Air, water, food, shelter • Diversity of trees / plants / micro-organisms - each specifically adapted to its particular ‘niche’

6. Provision of Natural Resources • domesticated agricultural crops • medicines that protect and cure us • textiles – cotton, linnen, hemp • wood

7. Marine and freshwaterfood resources 25% of all fish stocks are endangered, species as cod, halibut and haddock are massively threatened

8. Ecosystem Services • Regulates our climate • Buffers against flooding • Filters water • Breaks down wastes and recycle nutrients • Provides natural resources

9. Water filtration & flood protection • Wetlands are buffers against flooding • Trees and their roots maximize infiltration of water in to the ground • upland peat bogs act like sponges – preventing flooding

10. Biodiversity, Soil, & food • Plant roots break up rock to create soil particles • earthworms, mites, insects and millipedes help give soil its texture and fertility and are crucial to its aeration • Tiny soil microorganisms and fungi process essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur and make them available to higher plants • A gram of fertile agricultural soil may contain 2.5 billion bacteria, 400 000 fungi, 50 000 algae and 30 000 protozoa.

11. Biodiversity and health • Clean air and water - essential to human health • Plant extracts and derivatives - the basis of most medicines Diversity of life forms is nature’s way of keeping important checks and balances in place, keeping populations of disease-causing pests and viruses in check

12. Biodiversity Loss • Deforestation world wide - 13 million hectares annualy 􀃆 • Destruction or conversion of virgin forests (36% of all forests) 6 million hectares • 80% of the Caribbean coral reefs are destroyed (IUCN).

13. Can any civilization wage relentless war on life without destroying itself and without losing the right to be called civilized? Rachel Carson

14. Biodiversity Loss Ireland is no exception • habitat destruction, such as wetland drainage and infilling; • water pollution; • invasive alien species; • unsustainable and excessive consumption;

15. Target: Ireland has committed to the Convention on Biological Diversity’s target of ‘Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010’

16. How can we achieve this? Cornerstones of realizing our commitments: • The Habitats Directive The Birds Directive • EC Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations • Water Framework Directive (WFD) • Full and timely implementation

17. Climate change as a new threat species and natural systems are now faced with the need to adapt to new regimes of temperature, precipitation and other climatic extremes • Driest April on record- gorse fires reported in across Ireland –impact on our nesting birds?

18. Climate change and Biodiversity Loss Stern Review: • 1oC warming – at least 10% of land species could face extinction • 2oC warming – at least 15-40% of land species could face extinction • 3oC warming – at least 20-50% of land species could face extinction IPCC have warned of 3.6 oC rise in temps

19. Immediate Risk Polar Bears at immediate risk of extinction

21. Ireland and Global Biodiversity Biodiversity Loss contributes to climate change – Ireland is responsible for the import of tens of thousands of m2 of illegally felled tropical timber each year garden furniture, decking, flooring, palm oil, soy feed for cattle

22. What can we do? Protecting our home, the Earth, begins with understanding our personal and collective impact upon it

23. Reducing our Footprint Develop a sustainable hardwood industry More economically and environmentally viable

24. Ecological Footprint • land area used up for current levels of resource consumption and waste discharge • Currently1.8 hectares per person – “a fair earth share”. • Our footprint in Ireland is about 3.5 times larger than this “fair earth share”.

25. Lifestyle choices • Meat.... • Other foods • Chemicals in the home • Timber products • General consumption

26. An Taisce & the Natural Environment Advocate the need to protect the natural resources and ecosystems upon which we depend: biodiversity, clean air & water

27. An Taisce • Independent monitor - unique insight • Provide assistance and respond to instances of serious and often illegal environmental degradation throughout the country • instigating changes that are needed to minimise and control damage to our natural heritage

28. What else can WE do? • Get to know your locality • Stay informed of the issues • Be PROACTIVE – (not Reactive) • Write to your local reps • Create a political mandate • Bring people on board – not alienate them! • RESPECT ------ CHAIN REACTION