CSTS Science, Technology and Society

Chapter 11

Biodiversity and the Healthy Society

A. Desired Learning Outcomes

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

 Determine the interrelatedness of society, environment and health.

 Reflect and analyze the relatedness of species in forming up a diverse and healthy society
without compromising one another
 Identify everyday activity and evaluate whether they contribute to the wellness and health
of biodiversity and society or not.

B. Introduction

Decrease in biodiversity is eminent worldwide. The General Director Marco Lambertini of

WF International described that the disappearance of wildlife is at unprecedented rate where Earth
might enter the sixth mass extinction that experts say. Mass extinction as stated is described to be
the disappearance of species at a rate of 1,000 faster than the usual. The World Wide Fund for
Nature and Zoological Society of London reported an annual decrease in wildlife by 2%. A major
cause is human population which has doubled in number since 1960 to 7.4 billion. Humans have
industrialized the natural habitat of wildlife as well as marine life. Leaving these creatures with no
place to live would eventually cause their deaths. Moreover, the disappearance of species in a
certain environment causes an imbalance in the ecosystem, producing more chaotic changes that
harm the entire ecosystem ([Link], 2016).

This is but a pressing statement for people to know more about the importance of our
diverse environment, and how human activities can either contribute to its growth or destruction.
There is a growing importance of studying how society, environment, and health is interrelated to
each other, that if human beings fail to recognize the needs of one of those components, the other
remaining components can be affected and compromised. Thus, it is timely to know about the
pressing effects of species being extinct and that of our ecosystem being imbalanced.

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C. Input

Biodiversity and Ecosystem

Biodiversity

 It is defined as the vast variety of life forms in the entire Earth. It encompasses all kinds of
life forms, from the single-celled organisms to the largest multi-celled organisms. Its
definition is in the structural and functional perspective and not as individual species.
 It is "the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine
and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this
includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.
 It is the source of the essential goods and ecological services that constitute the source of
life for all and it has direct consumptive value in food, agriculture, medicine, and in
industry." (Villaggio Globale, 2009)

Understanding biodiversity within the concept of ecosystem needs a thorough study on the
relationship of the biotic, the living organisms and the abiotic, non-living organisms.
Interdisciplinary approach is needed to study the ecosystem. Biodiversity plays a major role in this
natural dynamics. Sustainability of the ecosystem ensures a better survival rate against any natural
disaster. Therefore, we, as human inhabitants of the ecosystem, must preserve and conserve the
biodiversity of all creatures.

In simpler terms, it is true that people will always depend on biodiversity on the wholeness
of our being and in our everyday lives. More so, our health will ultimately depend upon the
products and services that we acquire from the ecosystem. Somehow, there are ways and processes
in the ecosystem that are not apparent nor appreciated by us, human-- the need to drink clean and
fresh water, the need to eat healthy vegetables and food, or the need of man to transport which
makes him rely on fuel; all these are human needs that are answered and provided by our
ecosystem.

Thus, if we fail to keep the process of taking care of the ecosystem, it is us who are actually
putting our lives at risk. Significant decline in biodiversity has direct human impact when

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ecosystem in its insufficiency can no longer provide the physical as well as social needs of human
beings. Indirectly, changes in the ecosystem affect livelihood, income, and on occasion, may even
cause political conflict (WHO, n.d.).

Changes in Biodiversity

Alteration in any system could bring varied effects. A change in biodiversity could have
erratic effects not only in wildlife or marine life but also in human beings. Examples are

 humans inhabiting the forest would disturb the natural order of life
 trees and plants would be affected in the land- clearing operations where the houses would
be built
 animals, insects, and all types of life forms in the cleared area would either be displaced or
most likely be killed

The loss of these life forms could affect the entire ecosystem governing that environment.
The food chain might be damaged. From this, we can clearly infer that when our ecosystem is not
well taken care of, biodiversity encounters changes that may impact human health on such different
levels.

Threats to Biodiversity

There are major threats to biodiversity that were identified by the United Nations'
Environment Programme (WHO, n.d.). These are the following:

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Habitat loss and Alterations in Over- Pollution and Global climate

destruction ecosystem exploitation contamination change
composition

Major Alterations and Over-hunting, Biological Both climate

contributing sudden changes, overfishing, or systems respond variability and
factor is the either within over-collecting slowly to climate change
inhabitation of species groups or of species can changes in their cause
human beings within the quickly lead to surrounding biodiversity loss.
and the use of environment, its decline. environment. Species and
land for could begin to Changing Pollution and populations may
economic gains. change entire consumption contamination be lost
ecosystems. patterns of cause permanently if
Alterations in humans is often irreversible they are not
ecosystems are a cited as the key damage to provided with
critical factor reason for this species and enough time to
contributing to unsustainable varieties. adapt to
species and exploitation of changing
habitat loss. natural climatic
resources. conditions.

Consequences of Biodiversity Loss

We still have a lot to learn about biodiversity, more so about the consequences of
biodiversity loss amidst the continuous technological improvements.

 Intact ecosystems function best since the organisms composing them are specialized to
function in that ecosystem to capture, transfer, utilize and, ultimately, lose both energy and
nutrients.
 The particular species making up an ecosystem determine its productivity, affect nutrient
cycles and soil contents, and influence environmental conditions such as Water cycles,
weather patterns, climate, and other non-biotic aspects.
 The loss of biodiversity has many consequences that we understand, and many that we do
not. It is apparent that humankind is willing to sustain a great deal of biodiversity loss if
there are concomitant benefits to society; we hope they are net benefits.

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 In many cases, the benefits seem to accrue to a few individuals only, with net societal loss.
However, it is extremely difT1cUlt to estimate the future costs of losses in biodiversity or
of environmental damage (Rainforest Conservation Fund, 2017).

As stated by Tilman, "The Earth will retain its most striking feature, its biodiversity, only
if humans have the prescience to do so. This will occur, it seems, only if we realize the extent to
which we use biodiversity." (Rainforest Conservation Fund, 2017)

Nutritional Impact of Biodiversity

According to the World Health Organization, biodiversity is a vital element of a human

being's nutrition because of its influence to food production. Biodiversity is a major factor that
contributes to sustainable food production for human beings. A society or a population must have
access to a sufficient variety of nutritious food as it is a determinant of their health as human
beings.

Nutrition and biodiversity are linked at many levels: the ecosystem, with food production
as an ecosystem service; the species in the ecosystem; and the genetic diversity within •species.
Nutritional composition between foods and among varieties/cultivars/breeds of the same food can
differ dramatically, affecting micronutrient availability in the diet. A healthy local diet, with
adequate average levels of nutrients intake, necessitates maintenance of high biodiversity levels.
Intensified and enhanced food production through irrigation, use of fertilizer, plant protection
(pesticides), or the introduction of crop varieties and cropping patterns affect biodiversity and thus
impact global nutritional status and human health. Habitat simplification, species loss, and species
succession often enhance communities, vulnerabilities as a function of environmental receptivity
to ill health (WHO, 2007).

Health, Biology, and Biodiversity

Almost all living organisms are dependent to their environment to live and reproduce.
Basic needs of living organisms such as air, water, food and habitat are provided by its
environment. The evolution of human beings was due to the improved access to these basic needs.

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Although the environment sustains human life, it can also cause diseases; lack of basic necessities
is a significant cause of human mortality.

 Environmental hazards increase the risk of cancer, heart asthma, and many other illnesses.
These hazards can be physical, such as toxic chemicals and [food contaminants, or they
can be social' such as dangerous work, poor housing conditions, urban sprawl, and poverty.
 Unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation and hygiene are responsible for a variety of
infectious diseases, such as schistosomiasis, diarrhea, cholera, meningitis, and gastritis. In
2015, approximately 350,000 children under age of five (mostly in the developing world)
died from diarrhea diseases related to unsafe drinking water, and approximately 1.8 billion
people used drinking water contaminated with feces. More than two billion people lacked
access to basic sanitation.

The interrelation between human health and biological diversity is considerable and complex.
With the current biodiversity loss at unprecedented rates, the delicate balance between human
health and biological diversity is at risk.

Environment-Related Illnesses

Some human illnesses that are found to be related with its environment include

 Parkinson's disease,  obesity,

 heart disease,  occupational injuries,
 cancer,  dysentery,
 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,  arthritis,
 asthma,  malaria,
 diabetes,  and depression.

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By contrast, activities that promote health and extend human life could have adverse
environmental effects. For example:

 Food production causes environmental damage from pesticides and fertilizers, soil
salinization, waste produced by livestock, carbon emissions from food manufacturing and
transportation, deforestation, and overfishing
 Health care facilities also have adverse environmental impacts. Hospitals use large
quantities of electricity and fossil fuels and produce medical wastes. To prevent some
diseases, it may be necessary to alter the environment.
 For example, malaria was eradicated in the United States and other developed nations in
the 1940s and 50s as a result of draining wetlands and spraying DDT to kill mosquitoes.
A reduction in mortality from starvation or disease can lead to overpopulation, which
stresses the environment in many different ways—increasing use of fossil fuels, clearing
of land, generating pollution and waste, and so on (Rensik & Portier, 2017).

Relationships between human health and the environment raise many ethical, social, and legal
dilemmas by forcing people to choose among competing values. Many of the issues at the
intersection of health and the environment have to do with managing benefits and risks. For
example, pesticides play an important role in increasing crop yields, but they can also pose
hazards to human health and the environment. Alternatives to pesticide use create trade-offs in
health. The extreme action of stopping all pesticide uses could significantly reduce agricultural
productivity, leading to food shortages and increased food prices which would, in turn, increase
starvation in some parts of the world. Public health authorities have opted to regulate the use of
pesticides to enhance food production while minimizing damage to the environment and human
health. Energy production and use help sustain human life, but it can also pose hazards to human
health and the environment, such as air and water pollution, oil spills, and destruction of habitats
(Rensik & Portier, 2017).

No issue demands greater care in balancing benefits and risks than global warming. A
significant percentage of global climate change is due to the human production of greenhouse
gases. Climate change is likely to cause tremendous harm to the environment and human health,
but taking steps to drastically reduce greenhouse gases could have adverse consequences for
global, national, and local economies. For example, greatly increasing taxes on fossil fuels would

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encourage greater fuel efficiency and lower carbon dioxide emissions, but it would also increase
the Price of transportation, which would lead to widespread inflation and reduced consumer
spending power. Managing benefits and risks also raises social justice concerns. In general, people
with lower socio-economic status have greater exposure to certain harmful environmental
conditions in their homes or at work, such as lead, mercury, pesticides, toxic chemicals, or air and
water pollution. Communities and nations should wisely choose a site for a factory, a power plant,
or waste dump, or regulating safety in the workplace to minimize impact to the society. The
decision-making process should be fair, open, and democratic, so that people who will be affected
by environmental risks have a voice in these deliberations and can make their concerns known
(Rensik & Portier, 2017).

When drafting and implementing environmental health regulations, it is important to consider

vulnerable subpopulations. A vulnerable subpopulation is a group with an increased susceptibility
to the adverse effects of an environmental risk factor, due to their age, genetics, health status, or
some other condition. If an environmental regulation is designed to protect average members of
the population, it may fail to adequately protect vulnerable subpopulations. Justice demands that
we take care of people who are vulnerable. However, almost everyone in the population has an
above-average susceptibility to at least one environmental risk factor. Since providing additional
protection to everyone would be costly and impractical, protections must be meted out carefully
and the populations who are vulnerable to a particular environmental risk factor must be defined
clearly (Rensik & Portier, 2017).

In addition to this, various public health strategies pit the rights of individuals against the good
of society, such as mandatory treatment, vaccination, or diagnostic testing; isolation and
quarantine; and disease surveillance. The owner of a coal-burning power plant must deal with
many laws concerning the operation of the plant, workplace safety, and carbon emissions. A
developer who plans to build 150 new homes with land he has purchased may also have to deal
with laws concerning storm drainage, water and sewage lines, gas lines, sidewalks, and so on.
Restrictions on property rights are justified to protect human health and the environment. However,
opponents of these restrictions argue that they are often excessive or not adequately supported by
scientific evidence (Rensik & Portier, 2017).

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Human rights issues also come up with research on environmental health that involves human
subjects. For such research to be ethical, human subjects must give consent, and great care must
be taken to ensure that they understand that they can opt out of the research project. Since the late
1990s, some pesticide companies have tested their products on human subjects to gather data to
submit to the government for regulatory purposes. Some commentators charge that these
experiments are unethical because they place people at unacceptably high risk without a clear
benefit to society. Others have argued that the experiments, if properly designed and implemented,
could produce important benefits to society by providing useful knowledge about the effects of
pesticides that lead to stronger regulations (Rensik & Ponier, 2017).

Will these in mind, a mitigating plan and a workable plan of action should be studied in order
to not compromise biodiversity, while at the same time, promote good health among the society

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D. Reference(s)

• Janice Patria Javier, et al (2018), Science, Technology and Society. Rex Book Store.

Prepared by:

ENGR. MAY B. CHAN

Assistant Professor 1
Process

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