Habitat loss
- 1. EFFECT OF HABITAT LOSS ON BIODIVERSITY
- 2. Biodiversity • Biodiversity is the variety of different types of life found on the Earth and the variations within species. It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems. This can refer to genetic variation, ecosystem variation, or species variation within an area, or planet.
- 3. Reason For Habitat Loss • To make more land available for housing and urbanization • To harvest timber to create commercial items such as paper, furniture and homes • To create ingredients that are highly prized consumer items, such as the oil from palm trees • To create room for cattle ranching
- 6. Why is happening? Forest loss and degradation is mostly caused by the expansion of agricultural land, intensive harvesting of timber, wood for fuel and other forest products, as well as overgrazing.
- 7. High land conversion rates The net loss in global forest area during the 1990s was about 94 million ha (equivalent to 2.4% of total forests). It is estimated that in the 1990s, almost 70% of deforested areas were converted to agricultural land. Around half of the world's original forests have disappeared, and they are still being removed at a rate 10x higher than any possible level of regrowth.
- 8. Coastal and marine areas Human impact on terrestrial and marine natural resources results in marine and coastal degradation. Population growth, urbanization, industrialization and tourism are all factors.
- 10. Why is happening? There are 3 main reasons for the diminishing area available to elephants and other wildlife: 1) Deforestation, 2) Overgrazing and 3) Over Hunting.
- 11. Deforestation Farming and development has lead to vast areas of natural forest being burned, chopped down, or otherwise destroyed. Because the soil is not ideal for crops, farmers are often successful only for a few years, after which time, farmers need to move on and destroy another area for their produce.
- 12. CONTINUE The lack of viable forest areas means less oxygen production and massive soil erosion (as tree roots play a major part n anchoring soil). Elephants need vast areas of fertile land and forests in which to graze. As they tear and push down trees, they now begin to exacerbate the man-made problem as there are insufficient resources.
- 13. Overgrazing In third-world continents, such as Africa and Asia, overgrazing is a growing epidemic. Grazing livestock has completely destroyed the land and its nutrients, rendering it completely barren. As this problem spreads over increased farming areas, the space available to wildlife decreases exponentially. With elephants requiring as much vegetation as they do, these areas are completely useless to them.
- 15. SOLUTIONS FOR HABITAT LOSS • Marine Protected Areas : marine sites such as sanctuaries, fisheries management areas, state conservation areas, and wildlife refuges established to protect habitats, endangered species, and to restore the health of marine ecosystems in areas jeopardized by habitat and species loss.
- 16. CONTINUE • Land use and development regulation: An integrated approach to land use and management based on scientific knowledge is needed to protect coastal areas. Policy makers need to be informed on the impact coastal development is having on marine habitats through accessible and evidence-based information.
- 17. CONTINUE • Zoning: to integrated land use and development management, zoning coastal areas into MPAs, with varying levels of use has the potential to slow some of the habitat degradation caused by development. Through cooperation among local, state, and national governments, this approach may provide a viable solution to all stakeholders from tourists, to the fishing industry, to conservation efforts, etc.