New Climate, New Environment
Why do we need to conserve biodiversity?
Series
Challenges for the 21st Century
This brochure is part of the series, Challenges for the 21st century, a collection of six publications aimed at young students and teachers on themes that are the target of researches conducted in the field of Global Environmental Change: Biodiversity, food security, energy security, natural disasters and human health. Other publications of the series: New Climate – New Environment: The Health of People New Climate – New Environment: Life in the Cities New Climate – New Environment: Food Production New Climate – New Environment: Renewable Energies New Climate – New Environment: Clean Water for Everyone Also read: Climate Change – The climate is different. How does it affect our lives? The Future We All Want – Green Economy, Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication Ecological Footprint – How many planets are you using? Available at: http://inct.ccst.inpe.br
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New Climate, New Environment Why do we need to conserve biodiversity?
INPE Sao Jose dos Campos - SP, Brazil 2016
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New Climate, New Environment Why do we need to conserve biodiversity? Brochure on biodiversity, edited by The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) Production: National Institute of Science and Technology for Climate Change Editorial Coordination: Ana Paula Soares Text: Fabiano Scarpa and Ana Paula Soares Illustrations: Jean Galvão Graphic Design: Magno Studio Original Title: Novo Clima, Novo Ambiente Por que precisamos conservar a biodiversidade Translated into English by Fabiano Scarpa, Pedro James Stephens and Carl Palmer
N945n New Climate New Environment- Why do we need to conserve biodiversity? / Fabiano Micheletto Scarpa, Ana Paula Soares. - São José dos Campos: INPE, 2016. 28P. : II Illustrations by Jean Galvao. This brochure is part of actions promoted by the National Institute of Science and Technology for Climate Change- INCT-MC ISBN: 978-85-17-00086-7 1. Biodiversity.2. Environment. 3. Sustainability. 4. Natural Resources. I. Titulo. CDU 502.2
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ave you ever thought about the immense quantity and diversity of life forms that inhabit our planet? Actually we share the same space with many other living organisms. Some, like animals and plants, can be seen with our naked eyes, and the vast majority can be spotted only with the help of microscopes, like the bacteria. The conservation of such diversity – and the relationships among innumerable species and their ecosystems – is crucial to maintaining life as we know it on Earth. However mankind’s effect on nature is leading to a new mass species extinction that is now underway. Biodiversity decline can cause severe problems, including water scarcity, nutrient cycling alteration, spread of diseases, energy crises and food production losses. In the next pages you will get to know how mankind is affecting the diversity of life on our planet and how such actions interfere with the environment and what we can do to help. Happy reading!
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An issue of recent concern The term biodiversity became widespread among scientists at the end of the 80s. Studies that pointed out to environmental degradation started gaining strength as species loss was achieving unprecedented rates and at a pace not seen since the industrial revolution (between the 18th and 19th century). The first record and wide diffusion of the word is attributed to American researcher Edward O. Wilson, who used it in the title of his book published in 1988. Some years later, in 1992, the first Convention on Biological Diversity took place in Rio 92- UN Convention on Environment and Sustainability in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rio 92 gathered together politicians, non-governmental organisations and representatives of the civil society. The document, named Agenda 21, produced and signed by 179 countries, guaranteed political support to the biological diversity conservation in those nations.
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The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines biodiversity as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems�. The concept encompasses all living forms from the great variety of environments that exist on Earth, from organisms that can be seen only with the use of microscopes – the so-called microorganisms, like protozoa and bacteria to complex organisms, like animals and plants. The environments that are home to these forms of life vary extremely. They include areas covered by ice, like the poles of the planet and continental glaciers; the boreal forests; the temperate forests; the deserts; the savannas, the tropical forests; aquatic environments, of fresh water (rivers and lakes) and salt water (estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs, beaches, islands, rocky coast and the bottom of the oceans).
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The levels of biodiversity We can say that the diversity of life forms exist in three levels: Species: It is estimated that around 8.7 million species (apart from bacteria and other microorganisms) inhabit our planet. However, only 1.3 million (less than 15%) were catalogued by scientists until this moment, of which approximately 4 thousand species are mammals, 9 thousand species are birds, 10.5 thousand are amphibians and reptilians, 19 thousand are birds, 270 thousand are plants and 950 thousand are insects. Genetic: There’s a great variety of genes among individuals of the same species (a person is never entirely equal to another
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one except for identical twins for instance) and among organisms that belong to different species. Genetic variability is extremely important so that a species will not be exterminated by the attack of diseases and environmental alterations. Natural selection occurs due to genetic variability. More genetic variation within and among populations increases the chances of survival (passing the genes on to the offspring) and evolutionary success. Ecosystems: This level refers to the diversity of interactions among communities of different species of organisms with physical factors of the environment (e.g., temperature, light availability, pH, nutrients). There’s a great variety of ecosystems on the planet, including tropical forests and coral reefs, which are home to a vast number of living organisms.
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The loss of species It is estimated that the Earth is about 4.6 billion years old and the first living organisms appeared approximately 3.5 billion years ago. The first life was formed by very simple organisms composed of a single cell. Across geological time (millions of years) biological evolution determined the emergence of new species with higher levels of complexity. The fascinating diversity of life that we see today originated through this process. Fossil records have allowed scientists to find out that, from the time that life on Earth was brought to existence until this moment, five extinction events of great magnitude occurred; the so-called mass extinction events.
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All of these events were related to natural causes. The last and most famous one occurred approximately 65 million years ago, when the fall of a huge meteor acutely modified environmental conditions of the planet. Many species were wiped out, including the dinosaurs. However, in the last 200 years this planet has experienced an unprecedented process in its history. For the first time a single species, we – the Homo sapiens sapiens (humans) – are causing, with our activities, a new mass extinction event.
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Human activities Some researchers assert that a sixth mass extinction is underway. Humankind emerged around 200 thousand years ago. The great acceleration of species extinction rate started at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, in the second half of the 18th century. During this period of time enormous technological and social advances were achieved. Humanity dominated all the landscapes on the planet, expanding agricultural production, urbanisation, and natural resources extraction, resulting in habitat loss for many species. The use of machines increased the consumption of fossil fuels that are crucial for their functioning.
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Such advances brought unquestionable benefits to our life quality. Our life expectancy increased significantly, and the number of people inhabiting the planet grew extraordinarily and rapidly. However environmental changes at a global scale kicked off. The necessity of obtaining coal to generate energy and the expansion of agriculture for food production led to the devastation of forests. The destruction of ecosystems was related to the disappearance of a great number of living organisms. Large amounts of greenhouse gas (that trap heat) and pollutants were released into the atmosphere, terrestrial and aquatic environments, generating additional pressures over biodiversity. Since the 1950s, environmental degradation achieved a higher dimension. New technologies for the production of herbicides and fertilisers allowed food production to double in capacity. This period of history is called Green Revolution. The negative side is that injuries to the quality of hydric resources started happening. Great extensions of natural vegetation, including forest cover, were replaced by industrial crops. All these factors are affecting biodiversity on the planet. Such process of environmental degradation and the extensive use of natural resources are still going on, like urbanisation (growth of cities), and the expansion of industrial activities is increasing the demand for water and energy, leading to the destruction of natural habitats. We are witnessing today a rapid decline in the number of species on the planet, which is called biodiversity crisis. Human activities are the direct cause of species extinction at a rate that can be 1000 times higher than extinctions that would occur by natural processes. Due to this rapid transformation Prof. Paul Crutzen, Nobel Prize Lauriate (1995), defined the last 200 years since the industrial revolution as the “Anthropocene� – a term that means a period of time dominated by massive environmental transformations at a global scale caused by humans. However this new Geological Era has not been officially recognised yet*. *An International Commission of Scientists is analysing whether the Anthropocene should be recognised as a new Geological Era.
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The values of biodiversity Many different benefits are associated with the biological diversity that exists on the planet. In general, they can be classified as: Economic: Species of animals and plants that we eat are within this category. About 80 thousand species of plants are potentially edible. However, we use only a small number of species, often cultivated in large scale. The same goes for thousands of species of animals. We currently use a small fraction of them that generally roam freely over vast areas of land, and that is often the way they are managed (e.g., grazing). Freshwater aquatic species and salt water aquatic species, like fishes and seafood, are also often used for human consumption. Plant-based fibers (cellulosic fibers) of domesticated species are often used for producing clothes and shoes. More than 70% of the pharmaceutical drugs discovered from 1981 to 2006 come directly or indirectly from biodiversity. AZT, the first medicine used to control AIDS, for example, was discovered and isolated from a species of marine sponge (Tectitethya crypta). Recently, a new and powerful antibiotic was obtained from bacteria that live in the soil. The substance is able to kill microorganisms – so far considered to be indestructible – capable of causing serious diseases. Ecosystem services: This term refers to the role of ecosystems in maintaining the quality of water resources, nutrient cycling, climate regulation, maintaining the properties of the soil and removal of pollutants. Preserved environments are home to a vast number of pollinators (crucial for plant reproduction), fruit and seed dispersers and insects that prey on agricultural pests (biological control). Cultural and recreational: Natural areas have an important value for recreation. Trails in preserved ecosystems, such as forests, savannas and deserts, are included in this category. Waterfall baths in rivers and lakes are also part of this category. Many traditional and indigenous peoples used to live and still live in natural environments, leaving an important cultural legacy through craftwork and paintings of landscapes, fauna and flora from where they live. There are also typical dances and a spiritual relationship with the environment as their creeds are often linked with the elements of nature.
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The water crisis We are currently 7 billion people inhabiting planet Earth. Future projections point out that we will be 9 billion by 2050. As the world population grows there is an increasing demand for water and food. However, these resources are becoming scarce, due to the pressure of human activities. Around 70% of the globe is covered with water. However, 97.5% of this amount is salt water from the oceans and thus inappropriate for human consumption. That means 2.5% is in the form of fresh water, and the largest part of it is ice, which is concentrated in the poles of the planet.
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Only 0.3% of the total available is appropriate for human consumption and can be found in rivers, lakes and beneath the Earth’s surface (groundwater). The vegetation along the margins of rivers is important for the preservation of aquatic biodiversity and for the protection of water resources. There are fish species that feed solely on fruits that are produced by plants that fall into the water, but the vegetation that protects the water bodies has been removed, predominantly by the expansion of cattle grazing, extensive agriculture and disordered urbanisation. Without this natural protection, rainfall reaches the nude soil that is now vulnerable to erosion. Sediments then run into the rivers, turning them shallow – a process called siltation that makes the catchment and use of the water difficult. Many rivers are disappearing through this process of degradation. Furthermore, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which are used in agriculture, reach rivers, causing contamination of water sources. Untreated sewage has also contributed to the pollution of rivers. Unfortunately the degradation processes described above are reaching higher proportions. Nowadays around a billion people in the world lack access to drinking water. This process of extreme scarcity is known as water crisis, and affects currently many different areas on Earth.
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Arable land loss Another important role of natural vegetation is maintaining good quality of the soil. The fruits, leaves, branches and flowers that fall down on the floor form a layer of litter. Microorganisms will decompose this layer and the nutrients will then return to the soil assuring its fertility. Litter also allows greater water retention on the soil. Some agricultural systems are compatible with maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. They are called agro ecological systems. Vegetation cover is preserved. Neither chemical fertilisers nor pesticides are used. Organic agriculture is one of the examples of this productive system. However, large scale agriculture and extensive grazing are still the rule in the world, and have led soils to exhaustion and loss of productivity over time. Currently, around 25% of the world´s arable land is degraded – and the situation can get worse, as maintaining the existing system requires new areas to be cleared, in turn leading to a decrease in productive land area and an increase in pollution of soils and water resources.
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Major threats to biodiversity Among the main factors that negatively influence biodiversity are: Bioinvasion: The introduction of species to areas where they do not originate from. Such introduced species can proliferate, leading to extinction of species native to that environment. Bioinvasion is happening at a global scale. In Australia, for example, the introduction of the cane toad (Rhinella marina) native to South and Middle America is currently threatening Australian species with extinction. The cane toad was introduced way back in the 1930s to control plagues of insects that attack sugar cane plantations. The plan did not succeed as the toad started eating many insects native to Australia and many other invertebrate animals as well. Animals that feed on the toad, in turn, die as the animal is poisonous.
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Habitat destruction: Some species inhabit only a certain area. Such species are called endemics. If the environment where they live is devastated, they will be led to extinction. The ararinha azul (Cyanopsitta spixii), a species native to the caatinga (a semi-arid environment in Northeastern Brazil), is currently extinct in the wild and can only be seen in captivity. Hunting: It can occur because of a variety of purposes: entertainment, commercialisation, food consumption. This practice can lead to the population decline of species and extinctions, bringing damages to the ecosystem functioning. Pollinators and seed dispersers (like many bird species), if extinct, can bring problems to many plant species. Overfishing: Currently 30% of the cartilaginous fishes in the world, a group that includes sharks and rays, is threatened due to predatory fishing, and 80% of the marine species are being captured at a rate that is beyond their capacity of reproducing and leaving descendants, which can bring severe problems to feeding the world in the near future. Pollution: It is happening predominantly due to the launch – into the atmosphere, in the water and in the soil – of toxic compounds from industrial and agricultural activities and the release of sewage in the water bodies. This phenomenon is threatening many species, predominantly the group of amphibians (frogs and toads) that are too sensitive to environmental pollution. Global warming: The release of gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide, which contribute to the rapid and significant temperature rise in the planet, and changes in precipitation regimes as well. This process potentially threatens the survival of many species.
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Biodiversity hotspots In a conservationist effort scientists identified 35 priority areas on the planet (hotspots), as they present high levels of endemism (species that only exist in a certain geographical region) and are extremely degraded (reduced to less than 30% of their original cover) due to human activities. When summed hotspots make up 2.3% of the Earth’s continental surface. Brazil is the country that harbours the highest biodiversity known on the planet. Two biodiversity hotspots were identified in that country: The Cerrado (a savannah with the highest biodiversity in the world) and the Atlantic Rainforest (one of the most threatened tropical forests on Earth, currently reduced to only 7% of its original cover).
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How can we help? The right to life is an ethical justification that many people use to conserve the biological diversity of the planet. However, as we’ve seen, there are practical reasons for conservation purposes as species loss affect our life quality directly. Here are some measures we can take to contribute with the conservation: • Demand for politicians’ greater commitment to the creation of conservation areas (regions that are rich in biodiversity and must be legally protected). • Avoid the waste of production, distribution and consumption of food. • Prefer the consumption of organics: they are produced in a way that is compatible with environmental preservation. Therefore preference to these products contributes to biological conservation. Furthermore they are healthier as they are free from agro-toxics. • Avoid the consumption of fish and seafood collected in an unsustainable way. • Demand for politicians’ incentive to practices of reforestation with native species to restore original ecosystems. • Demand greater rigour in the legislation and inspection of illegal species traffic and activities that stimulate biological invasions. • Avoid consumerist behaviours, such as frequent replacement of electronic devices, as they contain heavy metals. They also contain many different minerals. Mining activities cause great environmental impact. • Avoid buying products from companies that have already been fined for committing environmental crime and give preference to products from companies that support conservationist projects. Some of them adopt good practices, like recycling water that was used in the production process.
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• Minimise the use of papers, printing only what is extremely necessary, and give preference to recycled paper. Paper and cellulose companies use great areas for the plantation of eucalypts, contributing to the degradation of ecosystems. Furthermore, water and energy consumption is very high. • Be concerned about the destination of the garbage. Toxic waste found in any type of batteries, appliances and electronics can contaminate soil and water, causing serious environmental damages. Therefore, when disposed of, they must be stored at collecting points. Papers, glasses and metals must be separated for recycling.
Researches in Brazil The impacts of human activities on the planet are the subject of diverse projects and research programmes in the world. Get to know some of the activities that are being carried out in Brazil: INCT for Climate Change – The National Institute of Science and Technology for Climate Change (INCT-MC) is a network of interdisciplinary research on climate change. Many groups are cooperating in Brazil and overseas, forming the largest network of environmental research ever carried out in Brazil. It has the mission of generating a scientific agenda that can provide the country with optimal conditions for developing scientific excellence in a vast number of areas related to global environmental changes, and its implications on sustainable development, mainly when the economy of developing nations is strongly linked with natural resources, which is the case of Brazil. http://inct.ccst.inpe.br Rede CLIMA – The Brazilian Network on Global Climate Change research has the mission of generating and disseminating knowledge so that Brazil can respond to the challenges presented by the causes and effects of global climate change. Rede Clima is a fundamental pillar that supports activities of research and development of the national plan on climate change created by the federal government. It has helped with the identification of obstacles and catalysers of actions. It aims at the establishment of a scientific community that is able to fully supply the national needs of knowledge, including the production of information for the formulation of public policies on climate change and the support to Brazilian diplomacy in international debates on climate change. http://redeclima.ccst.inpe.br
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Fapesp Programme on Climate Change – It has the goal of promoting and incentivising the advances of knowledge in the area of global environmental research in the area of global environmental change, with the focus on: consequences of global climatic change in the functioning of ecosystems, with an emphasis on biodiversity and the cycles of water, carbon and nitrogen; radiation balance in the atmosphere, aerossols, trace gases and land use change; global climatic change, agriculture and cattle grazing; energy and greenhouse gases: emissions and mitigation; climate change and its effects on human health; human dimensions of global climate change: impacts, vulnerabilities, economic and social responses including adaptation to climate change. www.fapesp.br/programas/mudancas-climaticas Global Land Project (GLP) - Based on the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) until December 2015, in São José dos Campos, SP, it is one of the largest networks on land use change. The studies encompass a number of aspects of environmental degradation, including biodiversity loss, deforestation, water pollution and the relationship between humans and the environment across the planet. http://www.globallandproject.org Sources: cvconservationstrategy.org, IPCC AR5, Journal of Natural Products, National Geographic, Nature Education, Nature Magazine, New Scientist, United Nations (UN), Food and agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (Unep), Scientific American, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), WWF and Conservation International.
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www.inpe.br Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais – INPE http://inct.ccst.inpe.br INCT para Mudanças Climáticas
Av. dos Astronautas, 1758 – Jardim da Granja 12227-010 – São José dos Campos – SP, Brazil Tel. (12) 3208-6000