9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia1 Biodiversity: Some Key Trends Worldwide by Carolle Mathieu 9 th WGEA meeting, Brasilia 31 May, 2004

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia2 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?

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia3 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.

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia4 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

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia5 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

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia6 The IUCN/The World Conservation Union Red List of Threatened Species From the 2003 IUCN Red List:  Since 1500 AD, a total of 762 plants and animals have become extinct species, while 58 are known only in cultivation or in captivity  The current species extinction rate is estimated to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural rate

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia7 From the 2003 IUCN Red List:  More than 12,000 species are known to be threatened with extinction  Since the 2002 Red List, 2,000 species have been added

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia8 The IUCN 2003 Red List of Threatened Species Group of Organisms # Species in Group # Threatened Species % of Total Threatened Species Vertebrates56,5863,5246 Mammals4,8421,13023 Birds9,9321,19412 Reptiles8, Amphibians5, Fishes28, Invertebrates1,190,2001,9590,20 Insects950, ,06 Plants287,6556,7742

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia9 From the 2003 IUCN Red List: Highest number of known threatened birds and mammals are in:  Indonesia, India, China, Brazil and Peru Highest number of known threatened plants are in:  Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Ecuador and Brazil

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia10 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 forests have been cleared Urbanization has dramatically increased the rate

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia11 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

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia12 What are some important issues related to biological diversity? Other causes Over-exploitation of our resources Climatic Change Pollution Overgrazing Desertification Genetic Diversity

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia13 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

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia14 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

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia15 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

9th WGEA Meeting, Brasilia16 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)