Why should we care about maintaining biodiversity? Reasons that benefit humans: 1.Food 2.Medicines and drugs 3.Ecological balance 4.Aesthetic and cultural value Other reasons: 1. Life is special and should be preserved 2. Because all living things have an equal right to survive on this planet

How many species of living organisms are on Earth? 1.5 million identified of estimated million potentially existing What regions of earth have the most species? Tropical Rainforests have the greatest diversity Temperate Rainforests (such as those in B.C.) have the 2nd greatest diversity

How are human activities affecting biodiversity? Although mass extinctions are natural result of evolution and catastrophic disturbances like K/T event (a massive asteroid that hit earth and killed thousands of species), human activities have accelerated extinction rates. 1 species /decade is normal for an undisturbed ecosystem. Human activities result in hundreds even thousands of species disappearing every year. (only 1% of total number of species that have existed still exist)

How do humans threaten biodiversity? 1. Habitat Destruction 2. Invasive Species 3. Pollution 4. Population Growth 5. Overharvesting

Endangered Species: imminent danger of extinction Threatened Species: likely to become endangered (at least locally) within near future

A political battle is currently underway over ESA In September 2008, the Canadian Government implemented the new Endangered Species Act This act changes the way that humans are able to use areas that contain endangered species and that have high levels of biodiversity. An example is the Boreal Forest surrounding Red Lake.