Hello. I am Kripa Thapa Magar, Public Health Professional. This slide was prepared when I was in BPH 4th semester, National Open College as an assignment of environmental health subject by compiling information from different sources.

1. Presented by:
Kripa Thapa Magar
BPH 4th Semester
National Open College
11/16/2014
Loss of

2. Biodiversity
The Global Convention on Biological Diversity,
signed in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit,
describes biodiversity as:
“The variability among all living organisms from
all sources, including terrestrial, marine and
other aquatic ecosystem and other ecological
complexes of which they are part, this includes
diversity within species, between species and of
ecosystems.”

3. *Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth.
*The term biodiversity is commonly used to
describe the number, variety, and variability
of life form, levels and combinations existing
within the living world.
*Biodiversity underpins life on Earth, and
refers to the variety found in biota from
genetic make up of plants and animals to
cultural diversity.
*Biodiversity also underpins ecosystem
function and the provision of ecosystem
services.

4. *It is a practice now to define biodiversity in
terms of genes, species & ecosystem.
Species diversity: numbers of species within
an area
Ecosystem diversity: variation among
ecosystems, communities, landscapes
Genetic diversity: genetic variation within
population or species

5. Why biodiversity is important?
Biodiversity
importance
Help to stop
global warming
Recover from
natural disasters
Medicinal drugs
come from
plants
Wood products
come from
nature

6. “Human health is strongly linked to the health of
ecosystems, which meet many of our most critical
needs.”
-Maria Neira, Director of WHO's Department for the
Protection of the Human Environment
Biodiversity is the life support system of our planet- we
depend on it for the air we breathe, the food we eat,
medicine we take and the water we drink. Wetlands filter
pollutants from water, trees and plants reduce global warming
by absorbing carbon, and bacteria and fungi break down
organic material and fertilize the soil. It has been empirically
shown that native species richness is linked to the health of
ecosystems, as is the quality of life for humans.

7. *Biodiversity is not evenly
distributed, rather it varies
greatly across the globe as
well as within regions.
Among other factors, the
diversity of all living things
depends on temperature,
precipitation, altitude,
soils, geography and the
presence of other species.
Distribution

8. *Estimated number of species on Earth vary from 5
million to 30 million. The UN Convention on Biological
Diversity says there are some 13 million species, of
which 1.75 million have been described.
*Seventy per cent of the world's species is found in
just 12 countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia,
Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico
and Peru.

9. Number of described species on Earth
Source: UNEP/Global Environment Outlook
Species Number
Bacteria 4000
algae, protozoa 80,000
Animals – vertebrates 52,000
Animals – invertebrates 1,272,000
Fungi 72,000
Plants 270,000
Total described species 1,750,000
Possible total of all species
(including unknown species)
14,000,000

10. • Nepal’s biodiversity at ecosystem and habitat,
species and gene levels is a reflection of its unique
geographic position and wide altitudinal and
diverse climatic conditions.
• The latest physiographic data shows that Nepal
harbors 29% forest area, 10.6% shrub land and
degraded forest, 12% grassland, 21% farmland,
2.6% water body, 7% uncultivated inclusions, and
17.8% others.
• The country is a part of biodiversity hotspot,
among four hotspots occurring in the Himalayan
region.
Biodiversity of Nepal

11. *There are six biomes occurring in Nepal, i.e. only two less
than India.
*In terms of Global 200 Eco regions, Nepal hosts nine
important eco regions among 60 eco regions found in the
Himalayan region.
*As many as 35 forest types and 118 ecosystems have been
classified on the basis of altitudinal, climatic variations
and vegetation types.
*In the view of the species diversity in wild habitat, Nepal
occupies 25th position and 11th on the global and
continental basis respectively.

12. Types of species and their number
found in Nepal

14. Nepal has established a network of 21 protected areas since
1973, consisting of 10 national parks, 3 wildlife reserves, 3
conservation areas and 1 hunting reserve.
National parks:
1) Chitwan National Park
2) Sagarmatha National Park
3) Langtang National Park
4) Rara national park
5) Khaptad National Park
6) Shey Phoksundo National Park
7) Bardiya National Park
Protected areas of Nepal

15. 8) Makalu National Park
9) Shivapuri National Park
10)Banke National Park
Wildlife reserve
1. Koshi tappu wildlife reserve
2. Parsa wildlife reserve
3. Sukla phanta wildlife reserve
Hunting reserves
1. Dhorpatan hunting reserve

16. Conservation areas:
1. Annapurna conservation areas
2. Api nampa conservation areas
3. Gaurishankar conservation areas
4. Kanchenjunga conservation areas
5. Makalu-barun conservation areas
6. Manaslu conservation areas
7. Blackbuck conservation areas

17. Loss of biodiversity
A major report, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment,
released in March 2005 highlighted a substantial and
largely irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth,
with some 10-30% of the mammal, bird and amphibian
species threatened with extinction, due to human
actions.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) added
that Earth is unable to keep up in the struggle to
regenerate from the demands we place on it.

18. *The average lifespan of a species is approximately 1-
10 million years, but that recorded extinctions
correspond to a average lifespan of only 10,000 years,
while rough calculations suggest that current trends
may lead to average lifespan of only 200-400 years.
Thus extinction rates are up to 10,000 times the
natural rate of extinction of one species per year.

19. Causes of loss of biodiversity
Threats to biodiversity loss are numerous and human activity is
responsible for most of them.
Habitat loss and degradation affects 86% of all threatened
birds, 86% of the threatened mammals assessed and 88% of
the threatened amphibians.
Introductions of Invasive Alien Species that establish and
spread outside their normal distribution. Some of the most
threatening invasive species include cats and rats, green
crabs, zebra mussels. Introduction of Alien Species can
happen deliberately or unintentionally.
Over-exploitation of natural resources. Resource
extraction, hunting, and fishing for food, pets, and medicine.

20. Pollution and diseases. For example, excessive fertilizer
use leads to excessive levels of nutrients in soil and water.
Human-induced climate change. For example, climate
change is altering migratory species patterns, and
increasing coral bleaching.
Globally, we now require the equivalent of 1.4 planets to
support our lifestyles. This is humanity’s current Ecological
Footprint - the demand people place upon the natural
world.

22. Facts
*Since 2000, 6 million hectares of primary forest have been
lost each year.
*More land was converted to cropland in the 30 years after
1950 than in the 150 years between 1700 and 1850.
*Between 1960 and 2000, reservoir storage capacity
quadrupled and, as a result, the amount of water stored
behind large dams is estimated to be three to six times the
amount held by rivers.
*35% of mangroves have been lost in just 20 years.
*Roughly 20% of the world’s coral reefs have been
destroyed and an additional 20% have been degraded.

23. *In 2009, humanity used 40% more resources than nature
can regenerate in a year.
*75% of genetic diversity of agricultural crops has been
lost
*75% of world’s fisheries are fully or over exploited
*Up to 70% of the world’s known species are at the risk
of extinction if the global temperature rise by more
than 3.5 degree centigrade
*Over 350 million people suffer from severe water
scarcity

24. *The rapid loss of species we are seeing today is estimated
by experts to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher
than the natural extinction rate.
*Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species per
hour are going to extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur
each year.
*Of the world’s 5490 mammals, 78 are extinct, with 188
critically endangered, 540 endangered and 492 vulnerable
*1895 of the planets' 6285 amphibians are in danger of
extinction, making them the most threatened group of
species known to date.
*At least 803 species have become extinct since the year
1500, according to the IUCN's 2009 Red List of Threatened
Species.

25. Species extinct (or extinct in wild)
Extinct Extinct in wild Total
Vertebrates
Mammals 76 2 78
Birds 133 4 137
Reptiles 20 1 21
Amphibians 37 2 39
Fishes 90 13 103
subtotal 356 22 378

26. Extinct Extinct in wild Total
Invertebrates
Insects 60 1 61
Crustaceans 7 1 8
Molluscs 295 14 309
Other 1 0 1
subtotal 363 16 379

27. Extinct Extinct in wild Total
Plants
Mosses 2 0 2
Ferns 3 0 3
Gymnosperms 0 4 4
Dicots 77 22 99
Monocots 2 2 4
Subtotal 84 28 112

28. Number of species threatened with
extinction
The 2008 Red List of Threatened Species states that the number of
species threatened with extinction is 16,928. This includes:
 1 out of 8 birds
 1 out of 4 mammals
 1 out of 4 conifers
 1 out of 3 amphibians
 6 out of 7 marine turtles

29. Threats to biodiversity in Nepal
The main threats to Nepal’s biodiversity are (Nepal Biodiversity
Strategy, 2002):
 Fragmentation and degradation of habitat
 Illegal trade of key wild animals and plants
 Unsustainable use of natural resources
 Spread of invasive alien plant species
 Human-wildlife conflict
 Climate change
 Overgrazing by livestock
 Fire, flood and landslide
 Large infrastructure development
 Pollution of aquatic environments and changes in river flows

30.  The GoN has imposed restrictions on the export of 12
plant species and one forest product under the Forest Act
(1993).
 Similarly, 27 mammal species, 9 bird species, and 3
reptile species have been given legal protection under
the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act (1973).
The most notable fauna among endangered species
are The Greater One Horned Rhinoceros, Royal
Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Snow Leopard, Arna,
Musk Deer, Red Panda, Black buck, Swamp deer,
Gaur, and Gharial .
Endangered species of Nepal

31. Threat of biodiversity loss at three major levels:
• The threat of ecosystem loss: due to conversion of
natural environment into agriculture or residential
areas, environmental pollution etc.
• The threat of species loss: due to deforestation,
habitat degradation, high commercial values in local
and international markets for specific plants and
animal parts.
• The threat of loss of genetic resources: due to
destruction of natural habitat, overgrazing, land
fragmentation, indiscriminate use of pesticides, etc.
Threats of biodiversity loss

33. Biodiversity
preservation

34. National biodiversity strategy and actions plans
Nagoya protocol on ABS
Cartagena protocol on biosafety
Nagoya – Kaula Lumpur Supplementary protocol
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
International Day for Biological Diversity – 22 May
Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 – 2020
Some actions taken by CBD

35. The Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity,
in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, adopted the Strategic Plan
for Biodiversity 2011-2020 with the purpose of
inspiring broad-based action in support of biodiversity
over the next decade by all countries and
stakeholders.
The Strategic Plan is comprised of a shared vision, a
mission, strategic goals and 20 ambitious yet
achievable targets, collectively known as the Aichi
Targets.
Strategic Plan for Biodiversity
2011-2020

36. A biodiversity action plan (BAP) is an
internationally recognized program addressing
threatened species and habitats and is designed to
protect and restore biological systems.
The original impetus for these plans derives from
the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
As of 2009, 191 countries have ratified the CBD,
but only a fraction of these have developed
substantive BAP documents.
Biodiversity action plan

37. The principal elements of a BAP typically include:
a) Preparing inventories of biological information for
selected species or habitats;
b) assessing the conservation status of species within
specified ecosystems;
c) Creation of targets for conversation and
restoration; and
d) establishing budgets, timelines and institutional
partnerships for implementing the BAP.

38. Establishment of Department of National park and
wildlife conservation areas
Translocation and reintroduction (rhino from
Chitwan to Bardiya)
Given legal protection status to 13 plants, 26
mammals, 9 birds and 3 reptiles
Use of alternative energy sources
Ecotourism (symbiotic relationship between
Environment and Tourists)
Action taken by GoN

39. *Under the Forest Act 1993, the Government of
Nepal has banned the collection use, sale,
distribution, transportation, and export of three
species effective from February 12, 2001. They are
the Pancha ounle (Dactylorhiza hatagirea), Okhar
ko bokara (Juglans regia bark) and ‘Kutki’
(Neopicrorhizascrophulariflora).
*Likewise, the government has banned
transportation, export, and felling of seven tree
species for commercial purposes.
*In addition, 26 mammal species, nine bird species,
and three reptile species have been listed as
protected under the 1973 NPWC Act.

40. Forest Act 1993 and regulation 1995
Environment protection act and regulation 1997
National biodiversity strategy 2002
National wetland policy 2003
Working policy on wildlife farming, breeding and research
2003
Agriculture policy 2004
Nepal biodiversity strategy implementation plan 2006
Biotechnology policy 2006
National biosafety framework including biosafety policy
2007
Major policies and legal framework
related to biodiversity conservation

41. Low level of public awareness and participation,
High population pressures and prevailing poverty,
Weak institutional, administrative, planning and
management capacity,
Lack of integrated land and water use planning,
Inadequate data and information management and
Inadequate policies and strategies for biodiversity
conservation.
Challenges in the preservation of
biodiversity

42. Thank you

43. 1. Define Biodiversity. [2012 S, 2010 S]
2. Causes of loss biodiversity. [2010 S]
3. Threats of loss of biodiversity. {2010 S]
4. Importance of biodiversity. [2013 S]
5. Preservation of biodiversity. [2012 F]
6. Challenges in the preservation of biodiversity. [2013 S]
Questions: