9. Biodiversity And The Healthy Society

BIODIVERSITY AND THE HEALTHY SOCIETY

Lesson Objectives – At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to: – determine the interrelatedness of society, environment, and health; – create a diagram that would show the relatedness of species in forming up a diverse and healthy society without compromising one another; and – identify everyday tasks and evaluate whether they contribute to the wellness and health of biodiversity and society or not.

INTRODUCTION –

Decrease in biodiversity is eminent worldwide.

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Vertebrates fell to 60% from the 1970’s due to human causes.

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It is projected that by 2020, wildlife decline will be 67 % of the present number.

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The World Wide Fund for Nature and Zoological Society of London reported an annual decrease in wildlife by 2 %.

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A major cause is human population which has doubled in number since 1960 to 7.4 billion.

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Humans have industrialized the natural habitat of wildlife as well as marine life.

INTRODUCTION – Earth might enter the sixth mass extinction event according to experts.

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Mass extinction is described as the disappearance of species at a rate of 1000 faster than usual.

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The disappearance of species in a certain environment causes an imbalance in the ecosystem, producing more chaotic changes that harm the entire ecosystem (Inquirer.net,2016)

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This is but a pressing statement for people to know more about the importance of our diverse environment, and how human activities can either contribute to its growth or destruction.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Biodiversity- is defined as the vast variety of life forms in the entire Earth.

- it encompasses all kinds of life forms, from the single-celled organisms to the largest multi-celled organisms. - the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. - the source of the essential goods and ecological services that constitute the source of life for all and it has direct consumptive value in food, agriculture, medicine, and in industry.”

Biodiversity and Ecosystem - Understanding Biodiversity within the concept of ecosystem needs a

thorough study on the relationship of the biotic and the abiotic. - Interdisciplinary approach is needed to study the ecosystem. -

Biodiversity plays a major role in this natural dynamics.

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Sustainability of the ecosystem ensures a better survival rate against any natural disaster.

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Therefore, we, as human inhabitants of the ecosystem, must preserve and conserve the biodiversity of all creatures.

Threats to Biodiversity 1. Habitat loss and destruction 2. Alterations in ecosystem composition 3. Over-exploitation

4. Pollution and contaminant 5. Global climate change

Activity Make a research on the following topics 1. Consequences of Biodiversity loss 2. Nutritional Impact of Biodiversity

3. Health, Biology, and Biodiversity 4. Environment-Related Illnesses

Group Activity – Advocacy Writing – In groups of five, brainstorm and come up with an advocacy that you think is timely, knowing that in our emerging needs to endure in this world, biodiversity collapses and suffers just to provide our necessities for survival.

–The end!!!