THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

Vijaya Raj SubediVijaya Raj SubediKamal GautamKamal Gautam

Yam Nath PokhrelYam Nath PokhrelThal Bahadur TamangThal Bahadur Tamang

Yadav SigdelYadav SigdelSatya Narayan ShahSatya Narayan Shah

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

• Introduction/definition of biodiversity

• Type/level of biodiversity

• Importance of biodiversity

• Threats to biodiversity• Summary

Local people hunting wild bee

Introduction/definition/concept

• Biodiversity (biological diversity) is the total variety of life on Earth.

• Refers to heterogeneity, variability, unevenness

• Includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

TYPE/LEVEL OF BIODIVERSITYGenetic diversity

Refers variability in the genetic constitution of different individuals within a species

Species Diversity refers to the frequency and variety of species (wild or domesticated) within a geographical area. Estimated # of species- 5 to 30 million in the world

Ecosystem Diversity refers to different ecosystems-Offers variety of habitats. -118 ecosystems in Nepal.

SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEMS IN NEPAL

Searching for nectar

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

• Socio-economic value– Food value– Medicinal value (40% of modern

medicine from plant or animal)– Future use value– Energy– Source (Propagation and raw material)

• Cultural value– Religious (Pond, Religious trees,

animals, plants, mountains worshiped)

• Ecological and aesthetic value– Environment– Ecosystem balance– Hydrological cycle– Landscape and scenic beauty

Muktinath temple

Use of wet lands in Nepal

Wild horses

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY-ECOSYSTEM LOSS

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY-SPECIES LOSS

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY-GENETIC RESOURCES LOSS

• Small population and inbreeding

• Lack of corridor and connectivity

SUMMARY• Biodiversity (biological diversity) is the total variety of life on earth. It

refers variation among living things.• The variation is considered at three levels: i) gene (genetic diversity), ii)

Species (species diversity) and iii) Ecosystem (ecosystem diversity)• Biodiversity is important because it has

– Socio-economic value– Cultural value– Ecological and aesthetic value

• The following factors are threatening (contribution to loss) biodiversity:– Conversion of forests and wet lands into agriculture– Illegal felling, grazing and grass cutting– Haphazard fire– Soil erosion– Pollution and environmental degradation– Poaching and hunting– Over use– Introduction of exotic varieties– Habitat loss– Predation, competition and other impacts of alien species– Hybridization with alien species– Small population and inbreeding– Lack of corridor and connectivity

REFERENCES

• Nepal Biodiversity Strategy 2002

• Encarta 2006• Ecology by Miller

THANKS!