Biodiversity and the
Healthy Society
Presented by:
Ahmed Albaran Jr.
Mark Joven Elecias
Bob Kirby Tenefrancia
Jhon Lloyd Rosalejos
Earl Laurence Tabacon
Lesson Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you are
expected to:
describe biodiversity and its components;
discuss how biodiversity affects the health of
society;
cite factors and activities that destroy
biodiversity;
design a program that can help restore and
sustain biodiverse resources of the country;
explain the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on
the Philippine biodiversity;
and develop values of loving, caring, and
helping protect the Philippine biodiversity.
Introduction
Biodiversity comprises all living forms that we see around us. These
include all essential goods and services we derive from the
environment. Therefore, we can say that we depend on the richness
of biodiversity for our survival. Any alteration in the biodiversity of
species can affect our lives whether directly or indirectly. It is sad to
know that these diverse life forms are exploited and unmanaged.
Some components are becoming endangered, worst they are
becoming extinct. This is the best time to find ways and act to
protect and preserve our environmental resources.
Abstraction
Biodiversity refers to the richness and variety of life forms on Earth. It includes all the species of living
organisms, whether bacteria, plants, animals, and humans, that can be found in one distinct area. To date, it
has been recorded that there are approximately 8.7 million species of plants and animals on earth.
Surprisingly, only about 12 million species have been identified and classified properly. Insects have the
greatest number of organisms that have been identified. Because of this, millions of species or organisms
are waiting to be explored and named accordingly (National Geographic Society, 2020).
Evolution is a mechanism allowing organisms to develop traits favorable for their survival and growth and
also making them distinct from other species in the environment. Because of these unique features, the
species can be easily recognized from others. In general, species that can reproduce with their fellow
species belong to one species while those that cannot reproduce among themselves often belong to
different species of groups.
There are so much to explore and work on in terms of biodiversity globally. There are certain regions in the
globe where species are rich and abundant while others may contain just a few. Hotspots are the areas with
high levels of biodiversity. Endemic species or species that are located in one particular region are usually
found in hotspots. Scientists are in continuous study of identifying, classifying, and characterizing different
species of microorganisms, plants, and animals. They are also looking at possible applications in the society
and benefits we can derive from these species.
Abstraction
Aside from studying biodiversity on a global scale, scientists also look at diversity of species within
ecosystems. They delve into characterizing ecosystems such as terrestrial (forest, tundra, grassland, and
valley) and aquatic (river, swamp, lake, sea, and ocean) habitats. Some of these habitats may consist of a
wide range of species while others support minimal number of species. Both macroscopic and microscopic
organisms are present in ecosystems. Each component of an ecosystem plays a role for the sustainability of
the ecosystem. Producers, consumers, and decomposers have their own unique and significant functions in
the ecosystem. For instance, microscopic decomposers do play their role of breaking down waste materials
that can be toxic to other living components of the ecosystem. Manure from dead organisms fertilize soil and
helps promote growth of plants. Humans benefit from other components of the ecosystem for food, shelter,
clothing, livelihood, and medicine among others.
Nonetheless, these diverse components of the environment are in danger because of destructive activities
of humans. Deforestation, pollution, soil erosion, kaingin farming, conversion of forest lands into industrial
purposes, and climate change are just among the major threats to our biodiversity. These have led to
escalating rate of extinction of species. Scientists even estimate that within the next century, half of the
species on Earth will be wiped out. Therefore, preservation and conservation efforts are a must to protect
the remaining species of organisms together with their respective habitats. These wonders of nature are not
only for our generation's enjoyment but even for the any generations that will follow. The future of these rich
diversity of organisms is in our hands.
Biodiversity and
the Human Health
Health is our most essential human right. Most people
consider health as treasure and wealth. it means overall
wellness that secures our physical, emotional, intellectual,
spiritual, and social zspects. Therefore, health is a reliable
indicator for the country's sustainable development. The
health of people affects economic flow and growth
(Cohabinitiative 2010).
Human health rests on biodiversity. The diverse collection of
goods and services provide unending benefits to human health.
On the contrary, the unprecedented loss of biodiversity globally
impose threat to human health and well-being. Hence, the call to
maintaining a healthy and sustainable biodiversity should not be
disregarded. Life is impossible without a healthy and sustainable
global environment (Cohabinitiative 2010).
Here are the points on how does biodiversity affect our health
(Cohabinitiative 2010).
1. Biodiversity helps secure food, health, and livelihood for people.
Diverse collection of food systems maintain crop supply and also promote resistance of crops and livestock to
pests and other stressors. Diets containing various types of food promote good health and provide the
necessary nutrients and vitamins for humans.
2. Biodiversity serves as a rich source of materials for medical research.
Research endeavors on wildlife diversity, anatomy and physiology, ecology, and biochemistry can
contribute to great developments in human medicine. Some organisms of interest in research include
horseshoe crabs, bears, sharks, and cetaceans.
3. Biodiversity provides abundant resources for traditional and modern medicine.
Nowadays, there are still a lot of people who rely on traditional medicine for maintaining their health. Modern
drugs are also derived from natural products including pain killers, drugs against cardiovascular diseases,
diabetes, and cancer. Meanwhile, millions of species are still waiting to be discovered for their potential
application in medicine.
4 Biodiversity helps in the control and prevention of infectious diseases.
Destruction of biodiversity contributes to the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases not only in humans
but also in animals and plants. Disease outbreaks due to SARS, avian influenza, malaria, Ebola, Marburg, and Hantavirus
Pulmonary Syndrome have been accounted to human induced abuse of biodiversity.
5. Biodiversity serves important roles for the communities' cultural, spiritual, and social growth.
Biodiversity loss causes negative implications for physical, mental, and social well-being of humans. There has been
an increasing rate of pathologic conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiopulmonary diseases because
of such loss. Access to greenspace are linked to better health outcomes and faster recovery rate for the sick.
6. Biodiversity conservation is very important for climate change.
Biodiversity conservation is very important for climate change adaptation. Biodiversity loss exposes the communities
at greater risk of experiencing adverse effects of climate change particularly floods and droughts among others.
7. Stable and sustainable ecosystems support relief and recovery efforts.
Healthy ecosystems serve as natural buffers against devastating natural phenomenon including typhoons, floods,
landslides, and droughts among others. These can also provide essential resources for rebuilding livelihood during
post-crisis events.e adaptation. Biodiversity loss exposes the communities at greater risk of experiencing adverse
effects of climate change particularly floods and droughts among others. 7. > Stable and sustainable ecosystems
support relief and recovery efforts. Healthy ecosystems serve as natural buffers against devastating natural
phenomenon including typhoons, floods, landslides, and droughts among others. These can also provide essential
resources for rebuilding livelihood during post-crisis events.
