The Economic Value of Biodiversity

General statistics of losses of biodiversity up to the present By the year 2000, only about 73% of the original global natural biodiversity was left. Anthropogenic rate of species extinction is estimated to be 1,000x more rapid than natural rate of extinction. As of 2006, 12% of all birds, 23% of mammals, 33% of amphibians, 42% turtles and tortoises, 25% of conifers and 52% of cycads are classified as threatened. 60% of earth’s ecosystem services have ben degraded in the last 50 years.

Marine and Freshwater A third of all assessed freshwater species are threatened with extinction. The global collapse of most of the world fisheries is due to overfishing. Over the last 25 years, 3.6 million hectares of mangroves have disappeared worldwide. Since 1900 over half of wetland worldwide have disappeared. Over 20% of the world’s coral reefs have been destroyed by fishing, pollution, disease, and coral bleaching. By % of coral reefs could b lost.

Forests and Crops In the last 300 years, global forests have shrunk by approx. 40%. They have completely disappeared in 25 countries and another 29 countries have lost more than 90% of their forest cover. An estimated ¾ of the planet’s crop agricultural diversity is already destroyed.

Drivers of biodiversity loss Conversion to agricultural land Expansion of infrastructure (changes from pristine to asphalt) Climate change Most dramatic changes are in the Savannah Biome, The Grasslands, and the Boreal Forest

Known economic benefits of biodiversity Medicine: over 50% have a natural origin, trade value in medicinal plants is over $60 billion/year, of all anti-cancer drugs available, 42% are natural and 34% semi-natural. Forests: timber harvested= $400,000million/yr provides subsistence and wage employment, source of fuel for cooking and heating for 2.6 billion people.

Coral Reefs: Some 9-12% of the world’s fisheries are based directly on reefs, while offshore fisheries rely on them as breeding, nursery or feeding grounds. Tourism generates millions of dollars from coral reefs annually. Coral reefs provide genetic resources for medical research as well as protect many coastal areas (islands).

Mangroves: function as nurseries for many species. They act as watershed protection by keeping intact coastal ecosystems Fisheries in waters adjacent to mangroves tend to have higher yields Over 1 billion people worldwide are dependent on fish as their sole or main source of animal protein while fish provided more than 2.6 billion people with at least 20% of their average per capita animal protein intake. Healthy reefs and mangroves can absorb % of the energy in wind-generated waves- protecting shorelines from storms.