UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND GREEN TECHNOLOGY (FEGT)

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (HONS) ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

UGNA 1053 Biodiversity and Concept of Ecology Group Assignment

Assignment Title : The Six Threats of Biodiversity and Biodiversity Crisis 08 August 2011 Tan Yi Mi Lee Pei Ing 11AGB01150 11AGB00069

Date Group Member & ID

: :

Lecturer

Ms. Wong Lai Peng

Content
No. 1. 2. Index Introduction The Six Threats to Biodiversity 2.1 Introduced and Invasive Species 2.2 Habitat Destruction 2.3 Overpopulation 2.4 Overexploitation 2.5 Pollution 2.6 Climate Change Pages 2 3-16

3. 4. 5.

Biodiversity Crisis Conclusions References

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1.0 Introduction Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variety of the earths species, the genes they contain, the ecosystems in terms in which they live, and the ecological processes such as energy flow and nutrient cycling that sustains all life. Biodiversity is a renewable resource. Biodiversity makes up the structure of the ecosystems and habitats that support essential living resources, including wildlife, fisheries and forests. It helps provide for basic human needs such as food, shelter, and medicine. It composes ecosystems that maintain oxygen in the air, enrich the soil, purify the water, protect against flood and storm damage and regulate climate. Biodiversity also has recreational, cultural, spiritual and aesthetic values.
Figure 1.1 Pie Chart of the number and percentage of species in each IUCN Red List category for all mammal species.

The earths biodiversity is a vital part of nature that keeps us alive. However, unfortunately, many plant and animal species on Earth are facing severe threats to their survival and are disappearing at alarming rates. This is referred to as the biodiversity crisis. Every day biodiversity is being lost at up to 1,000 times the natural rate and this is a rate that is rarely seen in history as generally a species will last for an average of 2-10 million years (The IUCN Red List, 2010). On average, one extinction happens somewhere on earth every 20 minutes. Ecologists estimate that half of all living bird and mammal species will be gone within 200 or 300 years (Phillip & Donald, 2002). This is mainly a result of human actions. Over the last century, humans have come to dominate the planet. Ecosystems are being rapidly altered for numerous
Figure 1.2 Proportion of all assessed species in different threat categories of extinction risk on the IUCN Red List, based on data from 47,677 species. Source: IUCN

reasons, and the planet is undergoing a massive loss of biodiversity due to the six major threats to biodiversity.In this assignment, the discussion will mainly focus on the six major threats of biodiversity and will briefly discuss

about the biodiversity crisis, its global effect and the ways to overcome it.
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2.0 The Six Threats to Biodiversity 2.1 Introduced and Invasive Species Introduced species and invasive species are two different term. Introduced species are species which live outside their native distribution range by human activity, either deliberately or accidentally. Invasive species are introduced species which are harmful to others local species and bring adverse affect to economic, environment, and ecology. So, not all introduced species are invasive but all invasive species are introduced species. For example oil palm in Indonesia and Malaysia are introduced species but not invasive species because palm oil brings economic benefits to local. The Asian Long-horned beetles in US are invasive species because the introduction of them caused thousands of ornamental trees has been destroyed, and harmed local environment. Most of invasive species are introduced deliberately.
Figure 2.1.2 Asian Long-horned beetle in US

Figure 2.1.1 Oil palm in Malaysia and Indonesia

The growth and reproduction of the introduced and invasive species may loss

control and become a threat to local biodiversity, and will bring negative effect to ecological value, economic value and cultural value of biodiversity.

2.1.1 Study Case: Introduced and invasive speciesLamprey

Lampreys are vertebrates under phylum chordate which dont have jaws or paired fins. Half of the lampreys are parasites. They attach on fish with a sucking disk and sharp teeth then suck fishs blood as food. They often scarring and killing host fish. Lampreys originate from Atlantic Ocean. They can live in both salt and fresh water. Sea lampreys were accidentally introduced into the Great Lakes in the early 20th century through shipping canals. Today, sea lampreys can be found all over the Great Lakes. As mention above, lampreys are so destructive. Introduction of lampreys into lake cause many fish die under the attack of lamprey. Introduction of lamprey bring negative effect to local ecosystem and economy. According to the statistics, each lamprey can kill 18.2 or more kilograms of fish. Even more, only one of seven fish attacked by a lamprey will survive
Figure 2.1.3 sucking disk and sharp teeth of lamprey

(Great Lakes Fishery Commission, 2010). In some cases, lampreys start to attack human and cause series injuries. Nowadays, human spent millions of dollars each year to control lamprey population especially in North American Great Lakes.

Figure 2.1.4 Fish attack by lamprey

Figure 2.1.5 Fish attack by lamprey

Three major methods to control lamprey are: 1. Set up barrier between streams that feed the lake and lake to prevent lamprey distribute.
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2. Apply a type of toxicant called lampricides which are harmless to most other aquatic species to kill lamprey. 3. Use chemically sterilized male lamprey in a method akin to the sterile insect technique.

2.2 Habitat destruction Habitat destruction is the process by which natural habitat is damaged or destroyed to such an extent that it is no longer is capable of supporting the species and ecological communities that naturally occur there (Butler, 2006). It often results in the extinction of species and loss of biodiversity. Habitat destruction can occur through natural processes or human activity. Volcanism, fire and climate change may cause habitat destruction but human activities are the major cause.

Figure 2.2.1 The Graph of of Year Versus Human Population

The growth curve above shows the shape of the increasing of human population in 20th century. But animal populations do not usually rise sharply. The increasing of human population is putting pressure on natural resources. Hence, to get more resource we need to exploit more and cause habitat destruction. Below are some major causes of habitat destruction:

1. Logging: Product of trees are widely use in construction, furniture and our daily life. In some developing country wood are uses as fuel. Collecting wood for fuel does not necessarily destroy rain forests, but it does damage or degrade them. People are cutting down the forest for wood and wood produce. Commonly only large prime tree are cut down but smaller trees can be destroyed in process. 2. Urbanization: For more places to live human start to clear forest to develop city. Cities replace the natural habitat of animal and plant. Highways and freeways can destroy plants and also keep animals from safely traveling through their natural habitat. 3. Agriculture: For more food resource, land is clearing to plant crop and domestic animal such as chicken, pig and cow. It will destroy natural habitat of wildlife.
Figure 2.2.2 logging

2.2.1 Study Case : Tropical Rainforest in Malaysia As we now, rainforest have most plentiful natural resource in the world. Almost 40% to 75% of all biotic species are habitat in rainforest (Butler, 2006). Rainforest also play a critical role in oxygen and medicines provide. So, tropical rainforest have been called The Jewels of the Earth. Malaysia is covered with tropical rainforest which have plentiful natural resource. According to survey, Malaysia is home to 15,500 species of plants, 746 birds, 300 mammals, 379 reptiles, 198 amphibians, and 368 species of fish (Butler, 2006). But this few years, Malaysias deforestation rate is accelerating faster than of any other tropical country in the world. Malaysia annual deforestation rate jumped at almost 86% between
Figure 1 Large scale of rainforest in Malaysia are destroy to plant oil palm

the 1990-2000 period and 2000-2005. In total, Malaysia lost an average of 140200 hectares, which is 0.65% of its forest area per years since 2000 compare to the Southeast Asian country with a loss of an average of 78500 hectares, which is 0.35% of its forests per years since 1990

(Butler, 2006). The main factor cause deforestation in Malaysia is logging, mining, agriculture and incomplete government policy to protect primary forest.

2.3 Overpopulation Overpopulation is a condition when an organisms population numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. Overpopulation here refers to human overpopulation. As we know, human have a highly developed brain, capable of abstract reasoning, language, introspection, and problem solving. But as a most successful developed species in the earth, overpopulation of human became a major threat to biodiversity nowadays. As mention above, human population have a shape increase since 20 century. Nowadays the numbers of human in the earth are exceeding the carrying capacity of environment. Humans are 10,000 times more common than we should be (Beliuz, 2008). Exceeding the carrying capacity of environment causes the short supply of essential natural resource including clean water, food, shelter, warmth and others resources to sustain life. Short supply of essential natural not only affect human, but the others species too, and this become threat to global diversity. Human expend natural resource more than other species in the earth require making their life more easy and comfortable but they dont cherish resource they get from earth. As a result, the rate of human expend natural resources exceed the rate of replenishment and reproduction of the natural resources. In addition, human activity such as agriculture, fishing, manufacturing will cause environment pollution and accelerate natural resource depletion (Beliuz, 2008).

2.3.1 Study Case: Overpopulation in Singapore Overpopulation often occurs in developed urban such as Singapore. Abundant people immigrated into urban from working chance, completed medical care and education. As an island country, Singapore geographically lack of natural resource such as fresh water, shelter, forest product, and agriculture product. Hence, effect of overpopulation more obvious in Singapore. For an example, Singapore lack of terrace house, most Singapore public live in flat because lacking of land to build house in Singapore. Singapore government control overpopulation through immigration control and education. 1. Immigration control Singapore has a set of complete immigration control. To immigrate to Singapore, one person has to pass a set of test such as English test and has to be professional with high education level. People who are not Singapore residents cant buy house in Singapore. The increasing of hardness to immigrate to Singapore directly decreases the immigration population size. Besides, according to survey, higher educational group will give birth to less offspring compare to lower educational group. Less offspring helps to decrease pressure at require natural resource. 2. Education As mentioned above, higher educational group will birth less offspring compare to low education group as people who receive high education spent more time to focus on their job and have higher demand to their mate. Women have a direct role in regulating the size of their family (Beliuz, 2008). Women who receive high education will focus more on their child quality than quantity. They will give their child the best education and resource. So they have no more remaining economy ability to burden more children.

Figure 2.3.1 lack of shelter in Singapore

2.4 Overexploitation Overexploitation is also called overharvesting.It is the over use of wildlife and plant species by people for food, clothing, pets, medicine and many other purposes, and occurs whena resource is consumed at an unsustainable rate. As an illustration, 25,000 species of plants are recognised as threatened in this way by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)( Kew, 2011). Overexploitation occurs in the form of illegal overhunting, wildlife trade,excessive logging and over-collection of plants from the wild. Overhunting Over-hunting has been a significant cause of the extinction of hundreds of species and the endangerment of many more, such as whales and many African large mammals (Allan, J.David; Fathom, 2001). Over-hunting can lead to extinction because the animals cannot reproduce fast enough to keep up with human demand.From the earliest of times, hunting for wild mammals and birds for food has been an important human activity as a means of survival.More recently, however, hunting of animals for food has taken a back seat, and hunting for their skin, tusks or bones has gained prominence. Besides, the animals are also hunted for sports, zoos, pet trades, ornaments and jewelleries, biomedical researches and education (some animals such as frogs are dissected in many biology classes).The way of hunting also can threaten the biodiversity. Hunters sometimes seek animals far into remote areas and use extreme methods, such as laying mines and traps rather than using the more commonly used methods and tools such as guns, nets and dogs. This may caused nontargeted species being captured. Illegal Wildlife Trade Some protected species are illegally killed for their valuable parts or are sold live to collectors and may endanger many larger animals and some rare plants. Globally this illegal trade in wildlife earns smugglers at least $10 billion Figure 2.4.1 This female rhino was chased off a cliff a year-an average of $19,000 a minute(Miller & E.Spoolman, 2009).
by poachers armed with dogs.Her calf was left orphaned and refused to leave its mother's body. (Photo via Protrack Anti-Poaching Unit)

Rapidly growing wildlife smuggling is a high profit, low risk business because few of the
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smugglers are rarely caught or punished. At least two-thirds of all live animals smuggled around the world die in transit(Miller & E.Spoolman, 2009). Joe Walston, director of the Wildlife Conservation Societys Asian programs, called the illegal trade in wildlife the single largest threat to biodiversity in Asia(Rudolf, 2010). Excessive Logging and Over-Collection of Plants from the Wild Plants are vital to our survival and are the foundation of most of the Earths ecosystems. People harvest plants for food, medicine, building materials, and as raw materials for making other products. But too many plants are taken from the wild can lead to extinction.Some plants which are collectedfor ornamental uses,
Figure 2.4.2 Excessive logging in the Temengor Forest Reserve has resulted in erosion and damage to nature. Picture courtesy of Malaysian Nature Society.

such as orchids, are so prized by collectorsthat they are now endangered and legally protected from poaching by

international law. Forests are overexploited when they are logged at a rate faster than reforestation takes place. Tropical forests are so important because they harbour at least 50%, and perhaps more, of world's biodiversity (Miller & E.Spoolman, 2009). Direct observations reinforced by satellite data, documents that these forests are declining and thecurrent rate of loss is estimated at near 2% annually and caused the diminishing of biodiversity (Allan, J.David; Fathom, 2001). Overexploitation of species can result in knock-on or cascade effects. This can particularly apply if, through overexploitation, a habitat loses its apex predator. Because of the loss of the top predator, adramatic increase in their prey species can occur. In turn, the unchecked prey can then overexploit their own food resources until population numbers dwindle, possibly to the point of extinction. 2.4.1 Study case: Malaysias Fisheries As fishing gear and boats have improved, the fishing industry has become very efficient at harvesting fish and shellfish. The industrialization of the fishing industry and the
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increasing world demand for seafood have people taking more fish from oceans, lakes and rivers than is sustainable. As a result, 53% of the worlds fisheries are fully exploited and 32% are overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion and as many as 90% of all the oceans large fish have been fished out(WWF, 2010). In Malaysia, fisheries play an important role in culture and economy. Malaysia is a nation with more sea than land and there are more than 120,000 licensed fishermen and aquaculture operators within the fisheries sector in 2007(WWF & Society, 2010). Despite increase in revenue over the years, the situation on the ground is worrying. Fisheries resources have depleted since 1970, so much so that fish biomass has
Figure 2.4.3 A trawling boat in the Indo-Pacific fishing for orange roughy, Hoplostethusatlanticus. There is one orange roughy in the top left-hand corner. (photograph courtesy of Right Bite program, John G. Shedd Aquarium).

declined as much as 90% between 1971 and 1997 in some fishing areas(WWF & Society, 2010). This is based on the Department of Fisheries' decadal resource survey that concludes that the demersal resources in west coast and east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, the reefs off Sabah and Sarawak was already over-exploited in 1997(WWF & Society, 2010). The main threats to the fisheries resources are overfishing, which is harvesting the fish resources more than its sustainable level, and the environmentally damaging fishing practices as many fisherman uses non selective gears such as trawl nets which results in high catch of non-targeted species and using cyanides and bombs to catch fish which can results in the devastating of coral reefs and the marine environments. Of course, it isnt the consumption of seafood that is to blame, but if the consumers decide to stop buying threatened and undersized fish, the fishermen will have no reason to catch those fish. The choice of the right ways of fishing is also important. This will reduce the pressure on the species and allows it to restock. .

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2.5 Pollution Pollution is one of the most serious threats, as it is a prominent factor when it comes to extinction of animal and plant species. Species with limited geographical range are the most affected when it comes to extinction due to pollution. Pollution occurs when substances are released into an environment where they can have a harmful effect on living and nonliving things. Human activities can pollute both on a local and global scale and may affect water, soil and air, three of the most important natural resources. Water pollution often occurs due to industrial and municipal toxic discharges, bacterial contamination, and nutrient buildup which the nutrients are often originate as run-off from fertilizers applied on agricultural fields. The excess nutrients can cause algal blooms and deplete dissolved oxygen levels. Water Pollutants can sway the balance of an ecosystem resulting in danger to natural wildlife of aquatic environments. Amphibians tend to be very sensitive to pollution due to the fact that they absorb chemicals in the water through their skins. With addition of detergents to the eco-system, insects that normally have the ability to walk on water will be unable to. Younger animals also have a greater sensitivity to chemical compounds, especially those that mimic organic compounds, since they are still undergoing the physiological changes associated with maturation (Fears, 2009). Water Pollution can also lead to Biochemical Oxygen Demand which results to the aquatic animals thriving on the dissolved oxygen from air die of suffocation. Air pollution can originate from many
Figure 2.5.2 Emissions from industrial factory Figure 2.5.1 Water Pollution due to toxic discharges

sources, and most is caused by factories, power

plants, transportation engines, power and heat generation and even things like windblown dust and wild fires. Air pollution is a great threat because all the living things breathe air. If

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polluted air is breathed, the chemicals and fumes get into the bodies and make them extremely sick. Acid rain which caused by air pollution can caused a significant impact on biodiversity as it will make the surrounding environment become acidic. Species that do not tolerate acidic environments, especially those which live in the aquatic environment, will first begin to lose the ability to reproduce. Even if a female is able to spawn, the young of the year might not be able to survive the harsh acidic environment, and may be more susceptible to disease or deformity (U.S Environmental Protection Agency, 2010). Others pollution such as light pollution and soil pollution are also a great threat to biodiversity. Soil acidification creates ecological dead zones, leaving areas unfit for plant life and the animals that depend upon them as sensitive plant species are especially vulnerable to changes in soil chemistry, causing plant die-offs and lower biodiversity.

2.5.1 Case Study : Decreasing Population of Birds and Light Pollution Light pollution is defined as the over emission of light from artificial sources in wrong directions, amounts or spectra. The physiology and ecology of species, the interactions between species, and functioning of ecosystems is governed in part by light. They have evolved to cope with, depend on and take advantage of natural darkness. A night sky without artificial light is therefore vital to the proper functioning of natural ecosystems. In modern times, humans have developed and deployed extensive outdoor and indoor electrical lighting. The outline of these lights is now visible from space and this shows that the light pollution is getting worse nowadays. Artificial lighting seems to be taking the largest toll on bird populations. In a light polluted site, birds are continuous chirping throughout the night, in anticipation of a dawn that will not arrive for many hours. This seriously disrupts their sleep patterns, preventing
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Figure 2.5.3 This composite image shows the world light use at night. (Credit: Data courtesy Marc Imhoff of NASA GSFC and Christopher Elvidge of NOAA NGDC. Image by Craig Mayhew and Robert Simmon, NASA GSFC.)

them from resting(British Astronomical Association, 2010). Night time lighting is adversely affecting insect species upon which some birds feed and causing the declination of some birds population .Light pollution also reduces the suitable area of feeding habitat for owls and other night-hunting birds. Nocturnal birds use the moon and stars for navigation during their bi-annual migrations. When they fly through a brightly-lit area, they become disoriented, as they mistaken the illumination for stars or the moon. The birds often crash into
Figure 2.5.4 A bird hitting a window due to light pollution

brilliantly-lit broadcast towers, skyscrapers or buildings, or circle them until they drop from exhaustion.

Sometimes whole flocks collide with over-lit structures. In 1981, over 10,000 birds slammed into floodlit smokestacks at the Hydrox Generating Plant near Kingston, Ontario(Guynup, 2003). In 2000, volunteers gathered over 3,000 dead and wounded birds of 138 different species in Toronto. In 2006, a further 2,000 dead birds from 89 different species were put on display at the Royal Ontario Museum to encourage people to turn off unnecessary lights(British Astronomical Association, 2010).

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2.6 Climate Change Another threat that needs to be concern is climate change. People have added carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by extracting and burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. The effect of these gases has been to trap heat and accelerate the rate of global warming and rapid climate change. Climate change is a major threat to terrestrial and marine biodiversity and ecosystem function and itis predicted to be the greatest long-term threat to biodiversity in many regions and is listed as a key threatening process under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)(NSW Government, 2011). Global climate change threatens biodiversity worldwide because it is modifying average temperatures and rainfall patterns, and thereby shifting climate zones.Although throughout Earths history the climate has always changed with
Figure 2.6.1 Climate change is contributing to the bleaching of coral reefs. The top photo shows a healthy staghorn coral reef, and the bottom one shows one that's been bleached. Photos by NOAA and Dave Burdick

ecosystems and species coming and going, rapid climate change affects ecosystems and species ability to adapt and so biodiversity loss increases. This can lead to a change in the abundance and distribution of individual species around the globe and cause a rise in sea levels and problems to many coastal ecosystems. An average increasing of 1.8 degree Celsius of the global surface temperature over the last few decades is causing the water bodies in the tropical areas to evaporate at a faster rate, thus results in loss of habitat for fish and amphibian species in these areas. A 2004 study by Conservation International predicted that climate change caused mostly by global warming could drive more than a quarter of all land animals and plants to extinction by the end of this century(Miller & E.Spoolman, 2009). Some scientific studies indicate that polar bears and 10 of the worlds 17 penguin species are already threatened because of higher temperatures and melting sea ice in their polar habitats.
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2.6.1 Case Study : Polar Bears and Global Warming Polar bears are mammals which live in one of the earths coldest environments, the Arctic Circle. Evidence shows that the Arctic warming as twice as fast as the rest of the world, and that the average annual area of floating summer sea ice in the Arctic is declining and is breaking up earlier and earlier each year, and this has become a great threat to the polar bears. According to a new report from WWF,climate change is the number one threat to the 22,000 polar bears that remain in the world(Young, 2002). Polar bears hunt, feed and give birth on ice or on land, and are not naturally aquatic
Figure 2.5.2 By fitting a GPS collar to a female bear, the researchers found out that this bear swam continuously for 232 hours and 687 km and through waters that were 2-6 degrees Celsius (Davies, 2011).

creatures. As the melting of ice is getting earlier and the forming of ice is getting later, this means that, the time bears have on the ice is shorter making it more difficult for them to

store the energy they need to survive the summer. As the periods without food become longer, the overall body condition of these polar bears declines. This is particularly serious for bears that are pregnant or have cubs, and for the cubs themselves. The increased sea ice melts also pushed polar bears to swim greater distances to find enough food and to spend more time during winter hunting, risking their own life. Although polar bears are strong swimmers, they are adapted for swimming close to the shore. Their sea journeys leave them vulnerable to exhaustion, hypothermia or being swamped by waves. Severalstudies link global warming and diminished sea ice to polar bears starving or drowning while in search of prey. The researchers were startled to find bears having to swim up to 96.6km across open sea to find food(Iredale, 2005). According to a 2006 study by the IUCN-World Conservation Union, the worlds total polar bear population is likely to decline by 30-35% by 2050, and by the end of this century, the bears may be found only in zoos. In 2007, the IUCN listed polar bears as threatened in their annual red list of endangered species, and in 2008, the U.S. government listed the polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act(Miller & E.Spoolman, 2009).

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3.0 Biodiversity Crisis Loss of biodiversity on which so much of human life depends, is one of the worlds most pressing crises. Species have appeared and disappeared continually throughout Earth's history, with extinctions occurring on average at a rate of 0.1 to 1 species per million species-years. However, nowadays every day species extinctions are continuing at up to 1,000 times or more the natural rate. Many scientists believe that the Earth is heading into the sixth great period of extinction, where up to a fifth of all species will be lost. Geological and other records indicate that the earth has experienced five mass extinctions
Figure 3.1 Graph of species extinction since 1800 based on a mathematical model linking species to habitat loss developed by Edward O. Wilson and others.

throughout global history and after each mass extinction, biodiversity eventually required million of years to return to equal or higher levels (Miller & E.Spoolman, 2009). The crisis facing species today differs in one fundamental way from the earlier five mass extinctions: they have come about as the result of climatic change, a natural geological change or some cataclysmic event. The present crisis, however, is being driven by human influences. Biological diversity is the resource upon which families, communities, nations and future generations depend. It is the link between all organisms on earth, binding each into an interdependent ecosystem, in which all species have their role. It is the web of life. If human activities continue to cause extinctions and the loss of biodiversity, this will threaten the continuity of ecosystems and limit provision of goods and services to humans affecting global economies and societies. Millions of people will face a future where food supplies are vulnerable to pests and disease, and where fresh water is irregular or short supply. The vulnerability of plants and animals to pests and diseases will also be increased. Ultimately, all ecosystems will suffer by the loss of biodiversity and the balance of life on earth will be lost. For example, damaged ecosystems lose the capability of soaking up and cleaning water, leading to devastating floods and mudslides and poisoned and diminished ground water all around the world; the extinctions of birds that play key and specialized roles on pollination and seed dispersal, especially in tropical areas, may lead to extinctions of plants dependant on these ecological services, and some specialized animals that feed on these plants may also become extinct.
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4.0 Conclusion The biodiversity crisis and threats may sound like yet another doom-and-gloomscenario. But biodiversity scientists are making progress in finding solutions to avoid this crisis. Foremost, the major solution is reducing human population in sharp increasing rate. Decreasing of birth rate is an important step to slow down population growth in each country as it cans temporary slowdown natural resource consumption, but it was not enough. Human need to reduce their consumption of natural resources (such as forest product, meat, water and soil) to let renewable natural resources have enough time to replenish. Since 20th century, rate of extinction increase obviously because rapid evolution of science and technology. Although science and technology nowadays improve human life causes the depletion of natural resource, it also can help in saving our biodiversity. For an example, selective breeding technology can produce plants and animals species which more adaptive to environment and produce high quality and quantity offspring accelerate natural resource replenish rate. By help of technology, concept of environment protection and important of biodiversity can dispersal through media such as ratio, television and most efficiency way is internet. Video or news about environment protective or after effect of pollution may dispersal rapid through social network like Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter. Moreover, government can use existing environmental laws and treaties and work to enact new laws designed to prevent premature species extinction and protect overall biodiversity. Creating and maintaining wildlife refuges, gene banks, botanical gardens, and national park is also another way to protect the biodiversity. Another step toward a solution to the loss of biodiversity is education. There are many small steps that seem far too simple to work but which, if practiced by everyone, would go a long way toward solving some of the problems. Walking or bicycling instead of driving, using energy-efficient appliances, cutting down our dependence on fossil fuels are part of a solution to biodiversity that almost anyone can put into practice easily. Problem of pollution will more easy to solve, and reduction of consumption of natural resource will be more efficiency if everyone have concept of environment protection. From time immemorial, nature has fed us, cured us, and protected us. But today the roles have switched. We need to feed nature, we need to cure it and protect it if we want to secure a healthy and prosperous future for our next generation
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5.0 Reference 1. Kew. (2011). Over-exploitation. Retrieved from Royal Botanic Gardens: http://www.kew.org/msbp/why/overexploitation.htm 2. Allan, J.David; Fathom. (2001). Threats to Biodiversit. Retrieved from The University of Michigan: http://www.fathom.com/course/21701785/session2.html 3. Beliuz, J. (2008, October 7). Leading geneticist Steve Jones says human evolution is over. Retrieved from The Sunday Times: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article4894696.ece 4. British Astronomical Association. (2010). The Treats to Wildlife. Retrieved from British Astronomical Association's Campaign of Dark Skies: http://www.britastro.org/darkskies/wildlife.html 5. Butler, R. A. (2006, February 4). Malaysia's Tropical Rainforest. Retrieved from Mongabay.com: http://rainforests.mongabay.com/20malaysia.htm 6. Davies, E. (2011, January 25). Polar bear's epic nine day swim in search of sea ice. Retrieved from BBC Earth News-Reporting Life on Earth: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9369000/9369317.stm 7. Eldredge, N. (2005). The Sixth Extinction. Retrieved from ActionBioscience.org: http://www.actionbioscience.org/newfrontiers/eldredge2.html 8. Fears, S. (2009, January 12). Effects of Water Pollution on Aquatic Ecosystems. Retrieved from Bright Hub: http://www.brighthub.com/environment/scienceenvironmental/articles/13705.aspx 9. Great Lakes Fishery Commission. (2010). Sea Lampreys: A Great Lakes Invader. Retrieved from Great Lakes Fishery Commission.org: http://www.glfc.org/lampcon.php 10. Guynup, S. (2003, April 17). Light Pollution Taking Toll on Wildlife, Eco-Groups Say. Retrieved from National Geographic News: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0417_030417_tvlightpollution.html 11. Iredale, W. (2005, December 18). Polar bears drown as ice shelf melts. Retrieved from The Sunday Times: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article767459.ece
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12. Miller, G., & E.Spoolman, S. (2009). Essentials of Ecology. United States: Yolanda Cossio. 13. National Wildlife Federation. (2010). Overexploitation. Retrieved from Wildlife Conservatiion: http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Threats-toWildlife/Overexploitation.aspx 14. NSW Government. (2011, April 11). Climate change impacts on biodiversity. Retrieved from Office of Environment Heritage: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/biodiversity/climatechange.htm 15. Rudolf, J. C. (2010, September 3). Vietnam Raids Restaurants Selling Exotic Meats. Retrieved from The New York Times: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/vietnam-raids-restaurants-selling-illegalexotic-meats/?partner=rss&emc=rss 16. The IUCN Red List. (2010, September 03). Why is Biodiversity in Crisis? Retrieved from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: http://www.iucnredlist.org/news/biodiversity-crisis 17. U.S Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Air Pollution. Retrieved from Aquatic Biodiversity: http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/aquatic/airpoll.html 18. WWF. (2010). Unsustainable Fishing - Our Ocean has Plundered. Retrieved from WWF Global: http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/problems_fishing/ 19. WWF, & Society, M. N. (2010). Fisheries Scenario. Retrieved from S.O.S Save Our Seafood: http://www.saveourseafood.my/about/fisheriesScenario.html 20. Young, E. (2002, May 15). Climate change threatens polar bears. Retrieved from New Scientist: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2285-climate-change-threatens-polarbears.html

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