Download Loss of Biodiversity In order to conserve we must first identify t

Claire Lockman
A.P. Environmental
Mr. Lebaron
Global Change: Loss of Biodiversity
In order to conserve we must first identify the causes of habitat loss:
• The growing lumber industry in places such as the boreal forest.
• The immense need of housing for the exponential growth of the earth’s
population.
• Urbanization that occurs in once natural areas.
• The large commercial industries that advocate products and make people
materialistic who need large urban areas to purchase their goods.
• Mechanical agriculture that uses massive amounts of land for a single use and
large amounts of water for irrigational purposes.
• The global market has put all countries in constant competition for money. In
order to increase GNP they must create jobs and raise the per capita income. In
order to do that they must build large corporations in urban cities for people to
work in.
• Pollution
• Introduced species
• Overuse
All these things and others create a large amount of habitat loss in a world that was once
over taken by thick jungle and forest as well as an immense variety of organisms that has
slowly dwindled over time due to intense competition from the human race. When people
get an idea in there head it is hard to stop. The increased competition that we create for
the natural environment due to our need to urbanize and centralize all facets of our lives
has a very harsh affect on plants, animals, and other organisms in the environment.
The main causes of habitat loss are pollution, overuse of the land, and introduced species
that lead to endangered or extinct species.
Pollution:
Pesticides; Such as DDT create a harmful toxic long-term affect on the organisms who
live in areas it was used. It was outlawed by the U.S. because of its negative affect but is
still being used in certain malaria infested parts of Africa.
Prescription Drugs: Prescription drugs, caffeine, and other medications can pass through
both the human body and sewage treatment facilities, and are now present in many
waterways which can harm many aquatic species.
Heavy Metals; Metals such as lead are put into the food chain by hunters and other
human processes and then you have bioaccumulation up through the consumer levels.
Water Acidification; Acid rain and snow is produced from the burning of high-sulfur
coals in electrical power plants. Acid mine run-off is caused by the reaction of rainwater
with mine tailings. Acidification can sterilize water bodies, killing off all aquatic flora
and fauna. When wildfowl and other wildlife ingest this water, they can be poisoned by
heavy metals.
Oil Spills; Oil spills have immediate devastating effects – marine mammals and
waterfowl coated with oil drown, are poisoned, or die of hypothermia. Balls of oil that
sink to the seafloor can smother organisms
Noise Pollution; Chronic noise pollution from low-flying aircraft, snowmobiles,
motorcycles, and traffic can cause wildlife to abandon habitats, lose reproductive
function, and become more vulnerable to predation due to loss of hearing.
Light Pollution; Light pollution at night disorients bats, insects, and migratory birds.
Overuse of Land:
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The land looses its ability to regenerate as fast as we use it up.
The land which is often home to many species is used up and those species loose
their habitat.
Many disease outbreaks occur because the original defenses the land gave are
gone. Many disease carrying insects are gone or extinct and the disease looks for
a new host.
Introduced Species:
When a new species is introduced they are called an invasive species. Invasive
species, if they are to be successful, have no natural predators, are very good
generalists, and can adapt almost anywhere. Invasive species are usually introduced
to control a native species that is a pest or has populated out of control. Invasive
species rarely work though because they create a chain reaction and usually
overpopulate themselves.
• Invasive species can cause harm to species that were not the intended harmed
species.
• The often overpopulate and the natives are left with an even bigger problem
• Overpopulation of invasive species out-competes the native species for food
and water sources and can lead to endangered or extinct species.
Are there any ways to fight loss of biodiversity?
Biodiversity is a huge problem in our world. These species provide our planet with
everything it needs. The world can sustain without a lot of things but not its biodiversity.
• Putting a limit on globalization so that it stays within the confines of
environmental sustainability would create a decline in the loss of biodiversity.
• Making government officials listen to the professionals in the subjects of
environmental protection and conservation.
• Putting less of an emphasis on economics and more of an emphasis on the
environment.
• The creation of an International Panel on Biological Diversity that oversees that
rolling tide of biodiversity loss and gain.
• Engage biodiversity-related treaties in an international effort to reverse this
habitat loss.
Relevant Laws and Treaties:
Treaties;
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World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC)
Biodiversity Conservation Information System (BCIS)
Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora(1975)
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2004)
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971)
World Heritage Convention (1972)
Laws;
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State Wetlands Conservation Plan
Swift Fox Interstate Conservation Plan
Texas Law to Protect Plants and Animals
Wetland Acquistion Fund
Texas Agricultural Code : to control the introduction of foreign species
Predator Management Program