MEVE 014: Unit 02 - Biodiversity Values and Ecosystem Services

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 UNIT 2: BIODIVERSITY VALUES AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

2.1 Introduction

Biodiversity, encompassing the variety of life on Earth, is fundamental to the survival and well-being of all living organisms, including humans. It not only provides essential ecological services but also holds cultural, aesthetic, and economic significance. This unit explores the various dimensions of biodiversity, including its different levels, its values to human society, and the vital ecosystem services it supports.

2.1.1 Genetic Diversity

Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes within a species. It enables species to adapt to changing environments, resist diseases, and ensures long-term survival. For example, genetic variability in crops like wheat or rice is crucial for breeding programs to withstand pests, droughts, or diseases.

2.1.2 Species Diversity

This pertains to the number of species and their relative abundance in a region. Species diversity ensures ecosystem productivity and resilience. Rich species diversity in forests or oceans allows the system to maintain function even in the face of environmental stress.

2.1.3 Community or Ecosystem Diversity

Ecosystem diversity represents the variety of ecosystems within a geographical area. Examples include forests, wetlands, grasslands, coral reefs, and deserts. Diverse ecosystems offer a wide range of services, and their interaction enhances landscape-level ecological processes.

2.2 Objectives

After studying this unit, learners will be able to:

·         Understand the types of biodiversity and their importance.

·         Identify and explain various values of biodiversity.

·         Distinguish between instrumental and intrinsic values.

·         Explore the concept and types of ecosystem services.

·         Analyze strategies to conserve biodiversity and sustain ecosystem services.

2.3 Values of Biodiversity

Biodiversity holds a wide range of values, which are broadly classified into instrumental (utilitarian) and intrinsic (inherent) values.

2.3.1 Instrumental or Utilitarian Values

These are values derived from the benefits biodiversity provides to humans.

2.3.1.1 Direct Use-Values / Consumptive

·         Include the tangible products from biodiversity.

·         Examples: food (grains, fruits, fish), fuelwood, medicinal plants, timber, and fiber.

2.3.1.2 Indirect Use-Values / Non-consumptive

·         Benefits from ecosystem functions and processes.

·         Examples: pollination, nutrient cycling, air and water purification, climate regulation, and flood control.

2.3.2 Intrinsic or Inherent Values

These are values associated with biodiversity regardless of its utility to humans.

2.3.2.1 Ethical Values

·         Reflect the moral responsibility to protect other life forms.

·         Concept of intergenerational equity: future generations have the right to inherit a rich biodiversity.

2.3.2.2 Option Values

·         Biodiversity may provide unknown future benefits (e.g., future medicinal uses).

·         Conserving biodiversity keeps options open for future needs.

2.3.2.3 Recreation and Aesthetic Values

·         Include nature-based tourism, bird-watching, and the enjoyment derived from natural beauty.

·         Enhance psychological well-being and creativity.

2.3.2.4 Religious Values

·         Many religions consider certain species or ecosystems as sacred.

·         Examples: Sacred groves in India, cows in Hinduism, and various animals symbolized in religious texts.

2.3.2.5 Socio-Cultural Values

·         Biodiversity shapes local customs, traditions, festivals, and folklore.

·         Many tribal and rural communities depend on biodiversity for their cultural identity and livelihoods.

2.4 Monetizing the Values of Biodiversity

Economic valuation helps quantify biodiversity's contributions and integrate them into decision-making and policy. Methods include:

·         Market pricing for direct-use products like timber or fish.

·         Contingent valuation to estimate people's willingness to pay for conservation.

·         Cost-benefit analysis to evaluate biodiversity-related projects.

·         Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES): mechanisms where beneficiaries compensate those managing ecosystems (e.g., paying forest dwellers for carbon storage services).

Valuation tools bridge ecology and economics, but care must be taken not to reduce nature’s worth to mere monetary terms.

2.5 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (ESs)

Ecosystem services are the benefits people derive from ecosystems. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) categorized these into four main types:

2.5.1 Provisioning Ecosystem Services

·         Products obtained from ecosystems.

·         Examples: food, freshwater, fuel, medicinal resources, genetic materials.

2.5.2 Regulating Ecosystem Services

·         Benefits from regulation of ecosystem processes.

·         Examples: climate regulation, flood control, disease regulation, water purification, carbon sequestration.

2.5.3 Supporting Ecosystem Services

·         Services necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services.

·         Examples: soil formation, nutrient cycling, primary production, habitat provision.

2.5.4 Cultural Ecosystem Services

·         Non-material benefits.

·         Examples: spiritual value, education, recreation, cultural heritage, sense of place.

2.6 Conservation Initiatives

To sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services, several global and national initiatives have been launched:

·         Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992) – Global treaty to conserve biodiversity, ensure sustainable use, and share benefits fairly.

·         Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2011–2020) – Framework for biodiversity conservation under the CBD.

·         Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (Kunming-Montreal, 2022) – Updated targets aiming for nature restoration and protection by 2030.

·         India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) – National effort aligned with CBD to conserve biodiversity.

·         Protected Area Networks – National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves.

·         Community-based Conservation – Engaging local and indigenous communities in biodiversity protection.

·         Ecosystem Restoration Initiatives – Reforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable agriculture.

2.7 Let Us Sum Up

·         Biodiversity encompasses genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.

·         Its values span instrumental (direct and indirect use) and intrinsic (ethical, aesthetic, religious) dimensions.

·         Monetizing biodiversity helps promote conservation economics but must be applied judiciously.

·         Ecosystem services—provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural—are directly tied to biodiversity.

·         Effective conservation strategies include legal frameworks, economic tools, and community engagement.

2.8 Keywords

1.      Biodiversity – Variety of life forms at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.

2.      Instrumental Values – Utilitarian benefits of biodiversity.

3.      Intrinsic Values – Non-utilitarian worth of biodiversity.

4.      Direct Use-Value – Tangible products like food or timber.

5.      Indirect Use-Value – Ecological services like pollination or climate regulation.

6.      Option Value – Potential future uses of biodiversity.

7.      Provisioning Services – Material products of ecosystems.

8.      Regulating Services – Ecosystem processes that regulate the environment.

9.      Supporting Services – Fundamental processes supporting ecosystems.

10.  Cultural Services – Spiritual, recreational, and aesthetic benefits.

11.  Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) – Economic incentives for conservation.

 

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