Biodiversity ! WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY ! BIODIVERSITY IN SA/FS ! BENEFITS/ROLES OF BIODIVERSITY ! CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS ! CONSERVATION, EDUCATION & SUSTAINABILITY Susan Mandla
BIODIVERSITY?
WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY " Biological diversity – or biodiversity – is the term given to the variety of life on Earth. " It is the variety within and between all species of plants, animals and microorganisms and the ecosystems within which they live and interact. " However, without adequate protection, it will diminish, and make all of us poorer.
! Species diversity " Species diversity is the number of different species in a particular area weighted by some measure of abundance such as number of individuals or biomass.
! Ecosystem diversity " is a term that incorporates both habitat and community diversity. An ecosystem is a unique combination of plant, animal and microorganism communities and their nonliving physical characteristics interacting as a functional unit. Inherent in ecosystem diversity are thus both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components, which makes it different from both genetic and species diversity.
! Genetic diversity " refers to both the vast numbers of different species as well as the diversity within a species. The greater the genetic diversity within a species, the greater that species' chances of long-term survival. This is because negative traits (such as inherited diseases) become widespread within a population when that population is left to reproduce only with its own members
FYNBOS
SUCCULENT KAROO
DESERT FOREST
GRASSLAND BIOME
NAMA-KAROO BIOME
SAVANNA
ALBANY THICKET BIOME
INDIAN OCEAN COASTAL BELT
GRASSLAND BIOME (FS)
FAUNA • REPTILES
MAMMALS & BIRDS
Mongoose
Egyptian Geese Chinspot Batis
Rabbit
FISH
AMPHIBIANS
FLORA Hypoxis (Africa Potato)
African wormwood
Kooigoed (Helichrysum)
Pelargonium
Orange river lily
Agapanthus
Arum Lily
Pineapple flower
BENEFITS OF BIODIVERSITY • BIOLOGICAL BENEFITS
• AESTHETIC BENEFITS
MEDICINE
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " "
FUEL FURNITURE WATER AIR CULTURAL VALUES SOIL FORMATION & PROTECTION RESEARCH POLLINATION MAINTENANCE OF THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES CLOTHES CARBON SEQUESTRATION CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATIC STABILITY SHELTER ORNAMENTAL PLANTS ABILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGE
CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS AIR QUALITY
• POUCHING
A total number of rhinos poached in SA from 2010-14 rose to 3244.The highest number of killings is in the Kruger National Park with 1932 rhinos, followed by Limpopo province with 408, KZN with 294, North West with 289, Mpumalanga with 213, Eastern Cape with 39, Gauteng with 30, Free State province with 15, MNP (Sanparks) with 13, Western Cape 9, Northern Cape with 2 rhinos lost.
HABITAT LOSS OR DEGRADATION
• DEFORESTATION
• MINING
ALIEN INVASSIVE PLANTS
• OVER UTILIZATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
• URBAN DEVELOPMENT
The National Spatial Biodiversity * Assessment Numbers of ecosystems threatened in South Africa: Types of ecosystems
Terrestrial Ecosystems
Total number of ecosystems in S.A.
% of ecosystems threatened
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Least Threatened
440
40%
9%
11%
19%
60%
(i.e. 22 ecosystems mostly fynbos and forest)
(i.e. 57 ecosystems mostly grasslands and savanna)
(mostly fynbos and grassland)
River signatures
223
82%
26%
19%
13%
42%
Wetlands
800
65%
50%
12%
5%
35%
Estuaries
300
43%
39%
2%
2%
58%
Marine & Coastal
136
47%
17%
7%
23%
41%
* Numbers of species threatened in South Africa: Taxonomic Group
Total SA species
Number of threatened species
% of threatened species
Number of nonthreatened species
20692
2505
12%
88%
Freshwater fishes
114
24
21%
79%
Amphibians
118
17
14%
86%
Reptiles
421
36
9%
91%
Birds
851
133
16%
84%
Mammals
307
60
20%
80%
Butterflies
793
59
7%
93%
Plants
RESPONSES TO BIODIVERSITY LOSS A. Conventions and Legislation United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, June 1992, de Janeiro 150 countries agreedRio upon five documents: 1. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development 2. Agenda 21 3. The Convention on Biological Diversity 4. The Framework Convention on Climate Change 5. Principles for Sustainable Management of Forests
The Convention on Biological Diversity Objectives : - The conservation of biodiversity - The sustainable use of resources - The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources On 31 May 2004, the Biodiversity Bill was signed by President Thabo Mbeki – NEMA (Biodiversity Act) The National Botanical Institute became the South African National Biodiversity Institute
SANBI is tasked with: # Spearheading biodiversity research # Sharing biodiversity knowledge # Promoting conservation – network of NBGs Also responsible for: # Climate change and bio-adaptation research # Environmental Education # Multi-partner biome programmes # Custodianship of some of the most valuable flora collections in the world.
What can we do?
Strengthening teachers’ and learners’ content knowledge base
What can we do?
Teachers developing lesson plans that will lead to action projects with learners
What can we do?
Schools and communities developing indigenous gardens
What can we do?
Promote careers in biodiversity
THANK YOU!!!!