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Biodiversity: Some Key Trends Worldwide by Carolle Mathieu ASOSAI WGEA meeting, Wuyishan, China - 29 March, 2005. Overview. What is Biological Diversity (BD)? What is the scope of BD? What are some important issues related to BD? Why is it important to protect BD?

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Overview

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  1. Biodiversity: Some Key Trends Worldwide by Carolle MathieuASOSAI WGEA meeting, Wuyishan, China - 29 March, 2005 ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  2. Overview • What is Biological Diversity (BD)? • What is the scope of BD? • What are some important issues related to BD? • Why is it important to protect BD? • What are major challenges to maintaining BD? • What are some means of protecting and conserving BD? • What are some of the Conventions related to BD? ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  3. What is biological diversity? • It refers to all aspects of variability in the living world, including diversity within and between - Individuals and their genes - Populations - Species - Communities and the system they inhabit. ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  4. What is the scope of biological diversity? • Only about 1.75 million species have been identified; there are many other species that are unknown • Scientists estimate there are 13 million species; they can range from 3 to 100 million ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  5. What are some important issues related to biological diversity? Species extinction • Loss of species is a natural process, but the rate of extinction has accelerated dramatically as a result of human activity • Extinction raises specific concern because of its irreversibility ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  6. The IUCN/The World Conservation UnionRed List of Threatened Species From the 2004 IUCN Red List: • Since 1500 AD, a total of 784 plants and animals have become extinct species, while 60 are known only in cultivation or in captivity • The current species extinction rate is estimated to be between 100 and 1,000 times higher than the natural rate ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  7. From the 2004 IUCN Red List: • More than 15,000 species are known to be threatened with extinction • Since the 2002 Red List, more than 4,000 species have been added ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  8. The IUCN 2004 Red List of Threatened Species ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  9. From the 2004 IUCN Red List: Highest number of known threatened birds and mammals are in: • China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, Madagascar, South Africa, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico and United States. Highest number of known threatened plants are in: • China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Madagascar, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Mexico. ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  10. What are some important issues related to biological diversity? Habitat loss and fragmentation • Habitat loss is identified as a main threat to 85% of all species described in the Red List of Threathened Species • Deforestation is one of the leading causes: about 80% of forestshave been cleared • Urbanization has dramatically increased the rate ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  11. What are some important issues related to biological diversity? Invasive Species • Second main cause of biodiversity loss • Introduce species that spread in the new environment and threaten the native species, the environment and our economy ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  12. What are some important issues related to biological diversity? Other causes • Over-exploitation of our resources • Climatic Change • Pollution • Overgrazing • Desertification • Genetic Diversity ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  13. Why is it important to protect biological diversity? • Species and ecosystems provide goods and services • Provide food and fuel • Medicine • Purification of air and water • Stabilization of climate • Pollination and dispersal of seeds • Generation and preservation of soils • Control of potential agricultural pests • Protection of coastal shores from erosion • Detoxification and decomposition of waste • Aesthetic ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  14. What are major challenges to maintaining biological diversity? • Increasing demand for biological resources due to population growth and increased population • Developing countries want to develop their economy • Assess the status of biodiversity: need for more research to understand value of BD ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  15. What are some means of protecting and conserving biological diversity? • Creation of protected areas such as national parks (in-situ conservation) • Focus on areas containing high species richness and protect endangered species against illegal activities (hot spots) • Zoos, botanical gardens, gene banks (ex-situ conservation) • Increase public awareness • Conventions and treaties ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

  16. What are some of the conventions related to Biological Diversity • Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) • The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971) • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (1973) • Convention to Combat Desertification (1994) • The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety under the Convention of BD on living modified organisms (LMO) (2000) • International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (2004) ASOSAI WGEA, Wuyishan, China

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