What is biodiversity? Biological diversity - or biodiversity - is a term we use to describe the variety of life on Earth.

It refers to the wide variety of ecosystems and living organisms: animals, plants, their habitats and their genes. Biodiversity is extremely complex, dynamic and varied like no other feature of the Earth. Its innumerable plants, animals and microbes physically and chemically unite the atmosphere (the mixture of gases around the Earth), geosphere (the solid part of the Earth), and hydrosphere (the Earth's water, ice and water vapor) into one environmental system which makes it possible for millions of species, including people, to exist. Source: http://www.iucn.org/what/tpas/biodiversity The understanding of the importance of biodiversity has developed in the 20 years since the report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission). There is increased recognition that people are part of, not separate from, the ecosystems in which they live, and are affected by changes in ecosystems, populations of species and genetic changes. Along with human health and wealth, human security and culture are strongly affected by changes in biodiversity, and associated impacts on ecosystem services. As the basis for all ecosystem services, and the foundation for truly sustainable development, biodiversity plays fundamental roles in maintaining and enhancing the well-being of the worlds more than 6.7 billion people, rich and poor, rural and urban alike. Biodiversity comprises much of the renewable natural capital on which livelihoods and development are grounded. However, ongoing, and in many cases, accelerating declines and losses in biodiversity over the past 20 years have decreased the capacity of many ecosystems to provide services, and have had profound negative impacts on opportunities for sustainable development around the planet. These impacts are particularly pronounced in the developing world, in large part due to the patterns of consumption and trade in the industrial world, which themselves are not sustainable. The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth. Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to recognize this as being integral to any approach. Almost all cultures have in some way or form recognized the importance that nature, and its

biological diversity has had upon them and the need to maintain it. Yet, power, greed and politics have affected the precarious balance. 9 articles on Biodiversity and 2 related issues: Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares? Last updated Wednesday, November 18, 2009. Why is Biodiversity important? Does it really matter if there arent so many species? Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters. And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife. Loss Of Biodiversity And Extinctions Last updated Monday, October 04, 2010. It has long been feared that human activity is causing massive extinctions. Despite increased efforts at conservation, it has not been enough and biodiversity losses continue. The costs associated with deteriorating or vanishing ecosystems will be high. However, sustainable development and consumption would help avert ecological problems.

Nature And Animal Conservation Last updated Saturday, February 13, 2010. Preserving species and their habitats is important for ecosystems to self-sustain themselves. Yet, the pressures to destroy habitat for logging, illegal hunting, and other challenges are making conservation a struggle. Climate Change Affects Biodiversity Last updated Tuesday, August 10, 2010. Rapid global warming can affect an ecosystems chances to adapt naturally. The Arctic is very sensitive to climate change and already seeing lots of changes. Ocean biodiversity is already being affected as are other parts of the ecosystem. Coral Reefs Last updated Sunday, January 16, 2011. One type of ecosystem that perhaps is neglected more than any other is perhaps also the richest in biodiversitythe coral reefs.Coral reefs are useful to the environment and to people in a number of ways. However, all around the world, much of the worlds marine biodiversity face threats from human and activities as well as natural. It is feared that very soon, many reefs could die off.

Addressing Biodiversity Loss Posted Sunday, June 06, 2010. At the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (the Earth Summit), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was born. 192 countries, plus the EU, are now Parties to that convention. In April 2002, the Parties to the Convention committed to significantly reduce the loss of biodiversity loss by 2010. Perhaps predictably, that did not happen. Despite numerous successful conservations measures supporting biodiversity, the 2010 biodiversity target has not been met at the global level. This page provides an overview on how the attempts to prevent biodiversity loss is progressing. Read Addressing Biodiversity Loss to learn more. Biosafety Protocol 1999 Last updated Monday, March 19, 2001. The February 1999 Biodiversity Protocol meeting in Colombia broke down because USA, not even a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to which the protocol is meant to be part of, and five other countries of the "Miami Group" felt that their business interests were threatened. The safety concerns were unfortunately overridden by trade concerns. Some technological advances, especially in genetically engineered food, have been very fast paced and products are being pushed into the market place without having been proven safe. All over the world, concerned citizens and governments have been trying to take precautionary measures. However, 1999 was not a successful year in that respect.

Biosafety Protocol 2000 Last updated Sunday, July 01, 2001. A Biosafety Protocol meeting was hosted in Montreal, Canada January 24 to January 28. Compared to the fiasco of the previous year, this time, there had been a somewhat successful treaty to regulate the international transport and release of genetically modified organisms to protect natural biological diversity. However, there were a number of important and serious weaknesses too.

Source: http://www.globalissues.org

Massive Extinctions From Human Activity Despite knowing about biodiversitys importance for a long time, human activity has been causing massive extinctions. As the Environment New Service, reported back in August 1999 the current extinction rate is now approaching 1,000 times the background rate and may climb to 10,000 times the background rate during the next century, if present trends continue [resulting in] a loss that would easily equal those of past extinctions. 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. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) notes that many species are threatened with extinction. In addition,

75% of genetic diversity of agricultural crops has been lost

75% of the worlds fisheries are fully or over exploited Up to 70% of the worlds known species risk extinction if the global temperatures rise by more than 3.5C 1/3rd of reef-building corals around the world are threatened with extinction Every second a parcel of rainforest the size of a football field disappears Over 350 million people suffer from severe water scarcity

Is this the kind of world we want, it asks? After all our lives are inextricably linked with biodiversity and ultimately its protection is essential for our very survival Most indicators of the state of biodiversity show negative trends, with no significant reduction in the rate of decline:

Summary of available biodiversity indicators.Graphs compiled by Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) Source:www.globalissues.org.article 171

Coastal biodiversity: The deep sea is increasingly recognized as a major reservoir of biodiversity, comparable to the biodiversity associated with tropical rain forests and shallow-water coral reefs. The wealth of diverse deepsea habitats hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, seamounts, submarine canyons, abyssal plains, oceanic trenches and recently discovered asphalt volcanoes contain a vast array of unique ecosystems and endemic species. Although the magnitude of deep-sea diversity is not yet understood (only 0.0001 per cent of the deep seabed has been subject to biological investigations), it has been estimated that the number of species inhabiting the deep sea may be as high as 10 million. It is believed that the deep seabed supports more species than all other marine environments. Marine biodiversity and ecosystems are threatened by pollution, shipping, military activities and climate change, but today fishing presents the greatest threat. The emergence of new fishing technologies and markets for deep-sea fish products has enabled fishing vessels to begin exploiting these diverse, but poorly understood deep-sea ecosystems. The greatest threat to biodiversity in the deep sea is bottom trawling. This type of high seas fishing is most damaging to seamounts and the coldwater corals they sustain. These habitats are home for several commercial bottomdwelling fish species. Seamounts are also important spawning and feeding grounds for species, such as marine mammals, sharks and tuna, which make them very attractive fishing grounds. The long life cycles and slow sexual maturation of deep-sea fish make the particularly vulnerable to large-scale fishing activities. The lack of data on deep-sea ecosystems and associated biodiversity makes it difficult to predict and control the impacts of human activities, but current levels of bottom trawling on the high seas is unlikely to be sustainable, and may even be unsustainable at greatly reduced levels.

Effective management measures for deep-sea fisheries and biodiversity need to be established. Conservation of marine ecosystems has recently extended to the deep sea with the designation in 2003 of the Juan de Fuca Ridge system and associated Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents (2 250 metres deep and 250 kilometres south of Vancouver Island, Canada) as a marine protected area. There are several mechanisms to conserve deep seas, such as the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA), International Seabed Authority (ISA), 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the 1973 Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). However, these mechanisms need more effective implementation if deep-sea ecosystems are to be conserved and sustainably used.

Marine and Coastal Biodiversity of Pakistan Pakistan has a coastline that stretches to over 1050 km, (990 Km measured as a straight line) along the Arabian Sea. The coast of Pakistan consists of sandy beaches that are interrupted by rocky protruding points. The Indus delta located at the head of the Arabian Sea has been found changing its fluvial characteristics due to damming upstream, which has reduced river borne sediments. This has resulted in drying up of the estuaries and has induced sea encroachment further inland. The information on taxonomic assessment of marine fauna and flora is not readily available. According to the reports available, gastropods dominate the rocky shore fauna followed by decapods crustaceans and polycheate worms. A list of the fauna of the beaches of Pakistan was compiled the Zoological Survey of Pakistan in 1973. There are occurrences of approximately twentyone intertidal seaweeds. Fifteen green seaweeds and six are brown red marine macro algae found from sandy shores. Almost 800 species of marine fish have been recorded in Pakistans coastal waters; however, no analysis of their population status and distributional range is available. Large pelagics such as the tuna are common in the waters of Baluchistan. The blind Indus dolphin (Platanista minor) is a resident of the Indus River and estuary. Palla fish (Tenalosa ilisha), which is considered a delicacy, is an anadromous fish that swims up the Indus River to breed.

Major fishing grounds along the coast of Pakistan extend from the Sindh coast stretching from Hub River to the Indian border and Baluchistan coast west of Karachi to the Iranian border. Pakistan is a net exporter of shrimps, lobsters, crabs, mollusks, fish and fishing products. The exports of fish and fishery product fetched US$ 156.254 million (2003-2004). The commercially important marine fisheries resources of Pakistan are composed of about 350 different species. Some 240 are demersal fish, 50 are small pelagics, 10 are medium sized pelagics and 18 are large pelagics fish in addition, there are 21 species of shrimp, 12 of squid/ cuttlefish/ octopus and five species of lobsters. In addition, biomass of mesopelagic fish in Pakistan offshore waters is estimated to be about 10 million metric tons, however, technology for its harvesting and utilization has not yet been developed. The Pakistan fish and fishery related sector engages one percent of the Pakistans population i.e. 1.8 Million. The fishery sector generates one percent of Pakistan GDP earning through export of fishery products overseas. According to the economic survey for 2003-04 fishery share in the countrys GDP though very small contributes substantially to the national income through export earnings. During the period of July March 2003-04, 101,256 m tons valued at Rupees 7.9 billion fish and fishery products were exported to Japan, USA, UK, Germany, Middle East, Sri Lanka, China etc. The total landings for small pelagics, large pelagics, demersal fish and shellfish in 2003 accounted for 566,203 m tons. The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) are both found in Pakistan. Until recently, they were indiscriminately killed on the Makran coast. Eight species of oysters occur in Pakistan. Squid are abundant, but surprisingly echinoderm populations are very small. Sandy stretches from Karachi (Sindh Coast) to Gadani and up to Jiwani (Baluchistan Coast) are favorite nesting habitats of the marine turtles. Both the green turtles and the Olive Ridley have been declared as endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The Sindh Wildlife Management and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have initiated a protection and research program to conserve the turtles, their eggs and hatchling. The international requirement for protection of turtles has been fulfilled by Pakistan as the shrimp trawlers are required by law to use turtle excluding devices (TED) on the shrimp trawl nets. The mangrove ecosystems are rich in biodiversity. Eight mangrove species are reported along the coast of Pakistan. Avicennia marina is the most dominant species, while Ceriops tagal and Rhizophora mucronata occurs in localized

patches. Other species have been reported to have become extinct from the delta due to human activities coupled with adverse physical and environmental conditions. Over 48 species of macro fauna have been reported from mangrove forests along the coast of Pakistan. The fauna consist of several species of crabs, polychaetes, molluscs etc. Approximately 56 Species of birds have been reported from the Sindh coastal waters. The most common are Gullbilled Tern, Oystercatcher, Sand Plover, Golden Plover, Kentish Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Marsh Sandpiper, Curlew, Whimbrel etc. Amongst the invertebrates, crustaceans dominate; they include crabs, isopods, carides, juveniles of penaeid shrimps, squilla, amphipods, sergestids, barnacles, etc. Many other animals live on trunk and roots of mangrove which serves as a substrate. Information on and meiofauna of the region is sparse. Certain species of macro fauna are good indicators of environmental health. Baseline information on species and numbers has yet to be established. Corals have recently been discovered along the coast of Baluchistan (Jewani, and Astola Island). Coral communities although not widespread, appear in patches at Astola Island and Gwadar, where a vast fossilized coral reef is present. Soft coral such as seafan (Gorgonia sp), and brain coral are also present south of Astola Island. A variety of coelenterates and bryozoans colonies are also found in most parts of the Baluchistan coast.

Threats to Biodiversity The main causes of biodiversity loss include activities resulting in the loss and degradation of habitats, over-exploitation of plant and animal species, agricultural intensification, pollution, invasion by introduced species and climate change. There has been no significant change in the threats to biodiversity and an overview of the causes as reported in the Biodiversity Action Plan (2000). Over grazing and deforestation in all terrestrial biomes of the country is major threat to the loss of biodiversity. The main driving forces are high population growth rate, increasing poverty and wide gap between the supply

and demand of the natural resources. The population pressure has increased on the marginal lands for subsistence agriculture. Faulty agricultural practices result in loss of soil due to wind erosion and water erosion. When the land looses fertility, new lands are broken for agriculture and so the process continues unabated. The diversion of water for irrigation, and the drainage of wetlands, is major causes of wetland habitat degradation in Pakistan. The mean quantity of water entering the Indus Basin in Pakistan is 137.2 million acre-feet (MAF), of which 104 MAF are diverted for canal irrigation. Thus, three-quarters of the water entering the Indus Basin is now diverted and only a quarter reaches the Indus Delta and the Arabian Sea. Illegal Hunting. Game bird and animal species are experiencing population declines due to illegal hunting for sport and meat. Some species are ruthlessly persecuted for their depredations on livestock or agricultural crops. Exploitation of Fishery Resource. Marine fisheries and shrimp catches have steadily declined in the country (Mallon 1991). The number of boats has risen rapidly; there is a tendency to fish in shallower waters; and there is an increased proportion of young shrimp in the catch (Amjad in Biodiversity Action Plan, 2000). The introduction of new technology and bigger fishing trawlers has resulted in overexploiting of the fishery resource. However, the incidental take of marine turtles by commercial shrimp trawlers has declined due to the use of turtle excluding devices. Medicinal Plants are indiscriminately harvested from the wild. There are about 40,00050,000 practitioner of Greco-Arabic and Ayurvedic medicine in the country. Over 200 plant species are used in traditional and folkmedicines. In addition, there is demand for medicinal plants by manufacturers of herbal medicines in the country and abroad. In recent years, there has been a consistent growth in the demand for plant-based drugs and products through the world. This has given rise to unsustainable collection and loss of biodiversity and causing scarcity of a number of valuable medicinal plant species. HYVs. Crop genetic diversity in the county is also dropping and the principal reason is the development and use of high-yield varieties (HYVs). This genetic erosion is well pronounced in commonly cultivated crops, such as wheat, rice, sorghum, sugarcane and vegetables. Pollution. Pollution is a growing problem in the country and heavy use of agro chemicals has been a major cause for decline in the populations of useful

fauna and flora. Marine pollution, particularly from oil spills has occasionally contaminated many estuaries and the sea. Untreated sewage is disposed off into irrigation systems, streams and rivers in and around large cities. The discharge of sewage and industrial effluent into aquatic and marine ecosystems is rapidly growing. The organic load of sewage depletes oxygen levels in water and indirectly reduces the diversity of animal and plant life. Lahore alone discharges 240 million gallons of sewage per day mainly into the river Ravi. The resultant loss of fish and contamination of potential drinking water has considerable economic and health impacts. Industrial pollution is particularly severe in the industrial centre of Karachi with a population of over 12 million people. About 80% of the total wastewater remains untreated and is discharged into the sea through sewers and rivers, mainly the Lyari and Malir. Many creeks and coastal waters in the Karachi area exhibit eutrophication due to high levels of organic pollution.

Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans The Biodiversity Action Plan of Pakistan was completed in the year 2000 and it provides an assessment of the status and trend of the nations biodiversity, outlines strategic goals and objectives, and identifies a plan of action that includes coordination arrangements and implementation measures. The Biodiversity Action Plan is made up of 13 components which correspond to specific Articles of the CBD: planning and policies; legislation; identification and monitoring; in-situ conservation; ex-situ conservation; sustainable use; incentive measures; research and training; public education and awareness; environmental impact assessment; access issues; exchange of information; and financial resources. For each component, the issues relevant to Pakistan have been identified and a list of objectives and corresponding actions recommended. The Plan called for greater collaboration between government agencies, local communities and NGOs, and for them to work together as partners in biodiversity conservation. The conservation concerns were first addressed in the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) of Pakistan that was approved in March 1992. The NCS became the de facto policy of the country for conservation and sustainable development. After the NCS process, a need was felt for provincial conservation strategies and this led to formulation of provincial and a few district conservation strategies and integrated district development plans. The Biodiversity Action Plan process and recommendations greatly influenced the conservation strategies and district development plans that were developed after 2000.