Biodiversity

Backgrounder

Introduction

Have you ever thought about the incredible variety of life on Earth? From the tiniest insects to the mightiest elephants, this variety is called biodiversity. But biodiversity is more than just pretty things – it’s the very foundation of a healthy planet and our well-being.

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity, a short term for biological diversity, is the variety of all life forms on Earth at all levels, from genes and species to ecosystems; from the tiniest microbes to the largest mammals, and everything in between. It encompasses the different species, the genetic differences within those species, and the various ecosystems where these organisms live. Understanding biodiversity is crucial because it helps us appreciate the richness of life around us and the complex web that connects all living things.

Biodiversity does not only include rare, threatened, or endangered species but also every living organism, from humans to plants, animals, microbes, fungi, and invertebrates. In simple terms, biodiversity refers to the various living organisms on Earth and their differences.

Levels of biodiversity

Genes (genetic diversity): This refers to the different genes or DNA that exist within species and populations. Genes are like instructions that tell an organism how to grow, develop, and function. The number of genes ranges between organisms from about 1,000 in bacteria to 10,000 in some fungi and to around 100,000 for a typical mammal. An example of genetic diversity is diversity in breeds of dogs, or varieties of mangoes, rice, etc.

Species (species diversity): A species is a group of living things that are similar to each other in a particular area. Members of the same species share similar characteristics and can grow together and reproduce to create viable offspring. For example, all humans belong to the same species. If a forest is diverse, it might have many different tree species, for example.

Ecosystem (ecosystem diversity): An ecosystem is like a community or neighbourhood where plants, animals, and tiny organisms live together and interact with their surroundings, such as the soil, water, and air. In this “neighbourhood,” every living thing has a role and they all depend on each other to survive. For example, in a forest ecosystem, trees provide oxygen and shelter, animals eat plants or other animals, and microorganisms break down dead material, keeping the ecosystem balanced and healthy.

Definitions of some biodiversity terms

Biodiversity conservation: The practice of protecting and managing biological diversity to ensure its long-term health and viability, thus, maintaining the natural balance and health of our planet.

Biodiversity loss: The reduction in biological diversity in a given area.

Conservation status: An indication of how likely a species is to survive. Example: Vulnerable, endangered, or extinct.

Ecology: the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.

Ecosystem services: Benefits that humans get from ecosystems. For example: Clean water, air, and pollination of crops.

Endangered species: Species at risk of extinction because of environmental changes such as human activity or climate change. For example, Tigers and rhinos.

Habitat: The natural home of all species.

Invasive species: Plants or animals introduced to a new area that harm local species.

Overfishing: Catching too many fish at a given time without allowing them to reproduce.

Macroorganism: A small creature that can be seen with the naked eye.

Microorganism: An organism of microscopic or submicroscopic size, especially a bacterium.

Sustainable practices: Using resources in a way that does not harm the environment. For example, fishing regulations to prevent overfishing.

Poaching: Illegal hunting of animals. Example: Killing elephants for their ivory tusks.

Urban sprawl: Expansion of cities into natural areas. Example: Building new suburbs that destroy wildlife habitats.

 

 

Key information about biodiversity

 

Types of ecosystems

Terrestrial ecosystems: These are land-based ecosystems.

• Forest ecosystems are complex with many tree, animal, fungi, and bacteria species interacting. The variety of plant and animal species found in forests, including trees, shrubs, herbs, and microorganisms. Tropical rainforests in Africa are highly diverse. Examples are, Congo Rainforest (Central Africa), Atewa Forest (West Africa), and Kakamega Forest (East Africa).
• Grassland ecosystems are dominated by grasses with lower diversity than forests. The savannas of Africa are a type of grassland ecosystem. Example: Serengeti (Tanzania)
• Desert ecosystems are very dry with sparse vegetation. The Sahara Desert in North Africa is an example. The dry and humid lands are characterised by limited water availability and are home to unique and adapted species.
• Mountain ecosystems are at high elevations and have unique flora and fauna adapted to cold and harsh conditions. Rwenzori Mountains (Uganda) and Drakensberg Mountains (South Africa)

Aquatic ecosystems (inland water, marine and coastal): These are water-based ecosystems, including freshwater (lakes, rivers, wetlands) and marine (oceans, estuaries, coral reefs).

• Freshwater ecosystems like Lake Victoria in East Africa have fish, plants, and other organisms adapted to the non-salty water.
• Marine ecosystems like the coastal mangrove forests of Ghana contain a variety of marine life.

Artificial ecosystems: These are human-made ecosystems, such as agricultural fields, gardens, and aquariums.

• Crop fields and plantations are artificial ecosystems created by humans for food production.

 

Why is biodiversity important?

The benefits of plant, animal, water resources and microbial biodiversity are enormous. These include:

• economic (source of rural and urban income, export earnings),
• social (as sources of food and food security, medicine for health maintenance and cure of diseases and ailments),
• religious and cultural (avenue for spiritual inspiration),
• aesthetic and recreational,
• ecological (watershed and catchment area protection, wind/storm break, forest regeneration, soil fertility maintenance, etc.),
• and environmental (maintenance of atmospheric carbon levels, absorption of pollutants, etc.).

Without biodiversity, there is no life. Every little organism in an ecosystem plays a crucial role and has its relevance for several reasons. Biodiversity is important in various aspects as explained briefly below:

1. Aid in the continuation of life: All species or living things which includes humans at all levels of biodiversity are interconnected. Biodiversity supports essential ecosystem services that are crucial for our survival, such as food production, climate regulation, and nutrient cycling. For example, diverse ecosystems like forests and wetlands help moderate climate and provide clean water.

2. Soil health: Fungi and bacteria in the soil break down organic matter, creating nutrients essential for plant growth. This process helps maintain soil fertility and supports agricultural productivity.

3. Medicinal resources: Many medicinal compounds are derived from plants and animals crucial for treating diseases and improving health. Preserving biodiversity allows us to discover new treatments. For instance;

• The rosy periwinkle plant is used to treat cancer.
• Prunus africana (African Cherry) bark used to treat prostate issues,
• In Ghana, the Moringa oleifera is often called the “miracle tree,” as its leaves and seeds are used for various health benefits.

4. Recreation and mental health: Biodiversity helps people in urban areas be more resilient by reducing stress and improving mental health. Green spaces, like parks and forests, in cities offer places for relaxation and recreation. At times, doctors may recommend more time spent in nature for individuals suffering from a variety of health issues, including depression and anxiety. Recreation and physical activity is also important for maintaining physical and mental health.

5. Ecotourism: This is one of the economic values. Biodiversity supports ecotourism, as visitors are attracted to natural areas, helping local economies and promoting environmental awareness. Ecotourism and sustainable use of biodiversity resources create jobs and support local economies. Examples include safaris in Africa’s wildlife reserves,

• Maasai Mara, Kenya: Known for its rich wildlife, including the Great Migration of wildebeests,
• Kruger National Park, South Africa: Offers safaris to see the “Big Five” (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo).
• Kakum National Park, Ghana: Famous for its canopy walkway, which offers a unique view of the rainforest’s diverse plant and animal life.
• Mole National Park, Ghana: Known for its population of elephants and other wildlife, attracting tourists for safaris.
• Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, Ghana: Attracts visitors interested in bird watching and exploring coastal ecosystems.
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda: Home to mountain gorillas, attracting tourists for gorilla trekking.

6. Preservation of cultural and spiritual heritage and well-being: Many African cultures, including various Ghanaian tribes, deeply intertwine biodiversity with traditional practices and spiritual beliefs. Many people derive cultural, spiritual, and recreational benefits from biodiversity. Certain animals and plants hold sacred or symbolic significance within these cultures. For instance, certain animals and plants are considered sacred or symbolic in various Ghanaian tribes. Natural areas offer spaces for spiritual practices and recreation. For example, there are sacred forests in most African countries. Conserving biodiversity is crucial to maintaining these cultural traditions.

7. Water and air quality: Biodiversity, especially in plant species, helps clean the air by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen. Similarly, diverse ecosystems filter and absorb pollutants from rainwater, improving water quality. The oxygen released by these plants also ensures life continuity. As the old saying goes, when the last tree dies, the last man dies.

8. Climate regulation: Diverse ecosystems help stabilize climate by moderating temperature extremes and reducing heat pockets. Forests and wetlands play significant roles in this regulation.

9. Innovation and knowledge: Studying diverse species can lead to new scientific discoveries and technological innovations, benefiting various sectors including agriculture, medicine, and industry.

10. Keeping the environment clean: Decomposers like fungi and scavengers help break down waste and organic matter, keeping the environment clean and nutrient-rich. Scavengers are the cleanup crews of the animal kingdom, they consume leftovers and dead animals. By preventing waste buildup and the spread of disease, they keep the environment clean. As they move around, they also disperse seeds and spores, aiding plant growth and maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

11. Nutrition and food security: Biodiversity ensures the availability of a wide range of foods necessary for human nutrition and health. Humans feed on plants and animals. Biodiversity ensures the availability of a variety of crops and livestock, which are essential for a balanced diet. Different species contribute to agricultural diversity, providing resilience against pests and diseases. If we do not conserve these plants and animals to ensure its continuity, there would be no food.

Threats to biodiversity

There are many factors affecting biodiversity. We’ve organized them into four major categories.

1. Habitat loss or destruction: Forests are cleared for many reasons, destroying animal homes. For example:

• Deforestation without planting new trees is a major cause of habitat destruction and fragmentation.
• Conversion of natural habitats to agricultural land. The practice is common in Africa.
• Urban expansion and infrastructure development

Forest fragmentation is another form of habitat destruction. Imagine a giant, healthy forest shrinking and getting chopped up into smaller, isolated patches. It happens when things like roads, farms, or towns cut through forests, breaking them into pieces. This creates big problems for animals. Animals lose parts of their habitat, making it harder to find food and shelter. They wander into human areas, and face danger of killing humans or being killed.

 

2. Overexploitation: Overfishing and overhunting threaten fish and wildlife populations. (e.g., poaching of elephants in Africa). This includes: Overfishing in the world’s oceans

• Poaching of endangered species like elephants, tiger, lions, dear and rhinos, etc. especially in Africa
• Illegal wildlife trade and logging.

 

3. Pollution and climate change: Greenhouse gas emissions, chemicals from factories and farms contaminate air, water, and soil. This includes:

• Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans: Floating plastic transport invasive alien species and toxic chemicals into the water bodies killing species in the water..
• Air pollution from industrial activities and transportation in urban areas: Pollutants that are released into the atmosphere go a long way to destroy genes, organisms and habitats.
• Water pollution from agricultural and mining: Harmful chemicals used in farming and mining leach into water bodies and this destroys the habitats in that ecosystem.
• Rising temperatures disrupt weather patterns and harm ecosystems. For example, the melting of Arctic sea ice affecting polar species is one of the effect of climate change. The melting of Arctic sea ice is having significant impacts on polar bears, which rely on the ice for hunting and breeding. As the ice melts, polar bears are forced to swim longer distances to find food and shelter, which can lead to increased energy expenditure and reduced reproductive success.
• Increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters like wildfires and floods as a result of climate change. Climate change has led to an increase in wildfires in Africa, particularly in countries like South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. These fires can have significant impacts on biodiversity, as they can destroy habitats and disrupt ecosystem processes.

 

4. Invasive species: Introduced plants and animals can outcompete native species. Plants and animals brought from elsewhere can crowd out native species, making them disappear. This is like bringing a bully to a party. Examples:

• Brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) harming Guam’s birds, The brown tree snake was accidentally introduced to the island of Guam, likely through cargo shipments after World War II. The brown tree snake has completely displaced Guam’s native birds from their natural habitats, causing the extinction of several bird species and the near-extinction of many others.
• Spread of invasive plant species in freshwater ecosystems like Chromolaena odorata and Eichhornia crassipes(water hyacinth):  These aquatic plants are native to South America but have been introduced to Ghana and other African countries. It can form dense mats that block water flow, alter aquatic habitats, and displace native species.

 

5. Disease outbreaks: Disease outbreaks can drastically reduce populations of certain species. If a disease kills a large number of a particular animal, it can affect other animals that rely on them for food, shelter, or other needs, causing a ripple effect through the ecosystem. Examples are:

• Emergence of zoonotic diseases: Diseases like HIV and Ebola killed many humans and animals.
• Spread of pathogens affecting biodiversity: Some diseases specifically target animals and plants, severely affecting their populations. For example, the amphibian chytrid fungus has spread around the world, killing many frog species and disrupting ecosystems.

How can biodiversity be protected (with examples)

At various levels — global, regional and local — there should be a concerted effort to protect biodiversity, especially Africa’s rich biodiversity. Ambitious conservation measures are critical to reducing wildlife loss, but households and communities can contribute as well.

1. Create protected areas: Establish national parks and reserves. In Ghana there is the Kakum National Park to safeguard habitats. Communities can also protect forests in their area, with local regulations on who can access and use the forest materials.
2. Sustainable forest management: Community forestry management is a great way for communities to guide the protection of the forest and avoid its overexploitation for wood or other resources. This can also include using the forests for beekeeping, leading to sustainable, non-timber benefits from the forested area.
3. Combat poaching: Strengthen anti-poaching patrols against poaching of elephants, rhinos, and other animals. For example, in Botswana, successful anti-poaching initiatives like “Operation Pangolin” employed helicopter patrols, sniffer dogs, and community engagement programs to significantly reduce elephant poaching.
4. Reduce plastic use: Limit plastic pollution that harms wildlife and ecosystems. Rwanda’s nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags in 2008 has been a remarkable success story, drastically reducing plastic waste and its negative impact on wildlife and ecosystems.
5. Support sustainable farming: Encourage practices that minimize environmental impact, like using organic fertilizers to improve soil health. Over reliance on chemicals in farming are harmful to the soil and also kills certain fungi or certain bacteria or living organisms in the soil. Many farmers in West Africa, like Senegal and Burkina Faso, use the zaï technique, a traditional practice of digging small pits and filling them with organic matter, to help conserve water and improve soil fertility for sustainable agriculture.
6. Restore degraded lands: Plant trees and rehabilitate areas damaged by human activities to create new habitats. For example, the Great Green Wall initiative across the Sahel region of Africa is a large-scale effort to combat desertification and restore degraded land through tree planting and land management practices. Farmer-managed natural regeneration is a practice that farmers can adopt on their own lands.
7. Promote ecotourism: Encourage responsible tourism that benefits local communities and conservation efforts. Example is the safaris in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. In addition, community-run conservancies in Namibia, like the conservancy around the Skeleton Coast, allow local communities to benefit from tourism while protecting wildlife and their habitat.
8. Educate communities: Raise awareness about biodiversity and its importance through educational programs in schools, communities, and villages. For example, the “Wild about Nature” program in Kenya uses interactive educational tools and workshops to raise awareness about biodiversity conservation among school children and local communities.
9. Support indigenous knowledge: Integrate traditional practices of local communities that have lived sustainably with nature for generations. For example, the Maasai people in Kenya have a long history of living alongside wildlife. Their traditional grazing practices and knowledge of medicinal plants contribute to a sustainable relationship with their environment.
10. Invest in renewable energy: Reduce reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change, harming ecosystems. For example, South Africa’s commitment to renewable energy projects, like large solar power plants, is helping to reduce its dependence on coal and mitigate the impact of climate change on biodiversity.
11. Control invasive species: Implement measures to manage the spread of invasive plants to protect native species. For example, in Ethiopia, biological control methods like introducing insects that feed on the invasive Parthenium weed have been used to control its spread and protect native plant communities.
12. Clean up pollution: Address pollution from industries and agriculture to improve air and water quality in Africa’s ecosystems. For example, the “Ebonyi River Clean-up Project” in Nigeria is a community-led initiative to remove plastic waste and other pollutants from the Ebonyi River, improving water quality for both humans and wildlife.
13. Support sustainable fishing: Implement regulations and quotas to prevent overfishing and protect marine biodiversity. For example, Senegal’s efforts to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and implement quotas for fish catches are helping to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks and protect marine ecosystems. And in Ghana, fishing is banned for a period of the year to promote reproduction and prevent overexploitation.
14. Conserve water: Encourage water conservation practices in agriculture and daily life to preserve this vital resource for ecosystems.
15. Promote research: Support research on biodiversity and conservation to develop effective strategies for protecting Africa’s unique species and habitats.
16. Promote wildlife corridors: Create safe passages for animals to migrate between fragmented habitats, like the Greater Kruger National Park connecting protected areas in South Africa.
17. Support community-based conservation: Empower local communities to manage their natural resources sustainably, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility. (e.g., Conservancy programs in Namibia)
18. Adopt sustainable consumption habits: Reduce our individual footprint by choosing eco-friendly products and minimizing waste, impacting global trade practices that affect Africa’s biodiversity.
19. Deliberate efforts to replenish endangered species: Examples:

• Black Rhinoceros and White Rhinoceros: In Kenya, armed rangers patrol parks to protect rhinos from poachers. South Africa has implemented dehorning programs to deter poaching​(The Living Rainforest)​​ (ScienceDaily).
• Pangolins: In Vietnam and China, rescued pangolins are rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Law enforcement agencies are increasingly targeting traffickers with stricter penalties​(The Living Rainforest)​​ (ScienceDaily).
• Amur Leopard: Protected areas in Russia and China have been established to safeguard their habitat. Anti-poaching measures have been intensified​(American Museum of Natural History)​​ (ScienceDaily).
• Ghana’s Green Day on June 1^st every year where both endangered and non endangered tree species are planted across the country. Also the closing of the sea and river bodies for a specific period to protect fishes during breeding seasons.

 

Some international, regional and local laws on safeguarding biodiversity

International laws

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992.
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 2022
• National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)
• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 1994

 

Regional laws

• Convention on African Migratory Locust
• African Union (AU) Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
• European Union (EU) Habitats Directive
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) Biodiversity Policy