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The Value of Ecosystems
BIODIVERSITY UNDER THREAT
Learning intention:
To identify the various uses of ecosystems
Be able to distinguish between the economic, environmental
and cultural values
How many can you come up with?
Uses of an
ecosystem
Ecosystem value
 When talking about the value of ecosystems and
biodiversity we are not just talking about financial
value, although this does need to be considered
 Values can be categorised into
 Direct-use values
 Indirect-use values
Ecosystem value
 Direct-use values are those where humans are putting
biodiversity to use
 E.g.
Ecosystem value
 Indirect-use values include the services that
biodiversity provides
 E.g.
Ecosystem value
 The role which biodiversity plays can also be broken
down into the categories of:
 Ecological
 Economic
 Cultural/aesthetic
 I would like you to sort the cards into these 3
categories
Ecosystem value
Ecological Values
Economic Values
Cultural Values
Case Study – Coral Reefs
Coral Reefs
Using the hand out I would like you to create a mind map of all the ways which coral
reefs are important
Threats to biodiversity
BIODIVERSITY UNDER THREAT
Learning intention:
To understand the threats affecting biodiversity
To be able to examine each threat and decide upon its extent
What can you think of?
 What do you think are the main threats to
biodiversity?
WRI Six threats
The World Resources Institute has identified six main threats
I would like you to rate the six threats suggested by the WRI
in order of importance
1= Most important
6= Least important
Be prepared to justify your choice
WRI Six Threats
 Do you think these threats identified by the WRI
cover all the threats biodiversity faces?
 What is missing?
What are the threats to biodiversity?
 Extinction is a natural event
 BUT human activity is threatening species and
ecosystems on a scale that is unprecedented
 It is predicted that up to 60 000 plant species could
become extinct by 2050 if the current trend continues
 An increasing global population, rising consumption
and economic activity, and globalisation are all
playing a part
Threats facing biodiversity
 What does this show?
 What is the biggest threat
that biodiversity is facing?
 Is this the same in all
regions?
 How has this changed over
time?
Why are these the biggest threats?
 Using the fish book (pg103-104) and your own
knowledge I would like you to create a detailed mind
map of the threats facing biodiversity
How to mind map
Food for thought
 Why worry about a few species
becoming extinct when there are
millions more waiting to be discovered?