AGRI UNIT 12

• Biodiversity


  The range of all forms of life on earth, including plants, animals, humans, bacteria and other organisms
• Components of biodiversity


  • Number of species
  • Genetic diversity of different species
  • Population of each species
  • Diversity of habitats and landscapes
• Ethiopia has high geographic and climatic diversity, resulting in high diversity of plant and animal species, including many endemic species
• Scope of biodiversity


  • Plant species including crop and forest genetic resources
  • Animal species including farm animal and wildlife genetic resources
  • Microbial genetic resources
• Values and services of biodiversity

  • Food production
  • Firewood, fiber and construction materials
  • Medicinal resources
  • Climate regulation
  • Disease and pest control
  • Pollination
  • Water and air purification
  • Soil erosion control
  • Waste decomposition
  • Recreation, sports, hunting
  • Source of foreign currency
  • Education and research
• Threats to biodiversity


  • Land use change
  • Unsustainable use of resources
  • Invasive species
  • Climate change
  • Environmental pollution
  • Population growth
• Land use change, such as conversion of forests, grasslands and woodlands to cultivated land, results in the destruction of natural habitats and loss of plant and animal species
• Unsustainable use of resources, such as overgrazing, overfishing, and overharvesting of timber, can result in the loss of plant and animal species and ecosystem services
• Invasive species like Parthenium weed, Prosopis juliflora, and water hyacinth compete with local species and threaten biodiversity in Ethiopia
• Climate change has led to increased temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, and a decrease in crop varieties that require long growing seasons in Ethiopia
• Environmental pollution, such as improper management of solid and liquid wastes, can destroy natural habitats and lead to the reduction or loss of plant and animal species
• Unchecked population growth can result in the expansion of agricultural lands and overexploitation of resources, leading to biodiversity loss
• Biodiversity conservation refers to the planned management of biodiversity in a particular ecosystem to prevent overexploitation, pollution, and other threats
• Biodiversity


  A wide range of life forms including plant and animal species and other organisms
• Components of biodiversity


  • Plant and animal genetic resources
  • Microbial genetic resources
  • Habitat diversity
• Roles of biodiversity


  • Provides various regulatory and cultural services
  • Enables development of improved plant and animal varieties for human use
  • Provides diverse plant species important for food production and medicine
• Threats to biodiversity


  • Habitat destruction
  • Overexploitation
  • Invasive species
  • Climate change
  • Pollution
  • Population growth
• Biodiversity conservation is important to reduce losses of vital plants, animals and microbial resources for the sustainability of agriculture, forestry, wildlife and other similar sectors
• Biodiversity conservation


  Planned management of biodiversity in a particular ecosystem to prevent overexploitation, pollution, destruction and to ensure biodiversity is maintained
• Objectives of biodiversity conservation

  • Maintain sustainable use of species and ecosystems
  • Maintain life supporting systems
  • Maintain essential ecological processes
• Human activities like habitat destruction, introduction of invasive species and harvesting of species has caused huge losses of biodiversity
• Approximately 85% of Ethiopia's population lives in rural areas and their livelihood directly or indirectly depends on natural resources, so conservation is vital
• Biodiversity resources in Ethiopia

  • Field crops
  • Horticultural crops (fruits and vegetables)
  • Wild plants
  • Medicinal plants
  • Forests
  • Rangelands and forage plants
  • Indigenous breeds of farm animals
  • Endemic mammal and bird species
• Threats to biodiversity in Ethiopia

  • Deforestation
  • Habitat destruction
  • Poor forest regeneration
  • Expansion of invasive species
  • Forest fires
  • Illegal tree harvest
  • Overgrazing and over-browsing
  • Conversion of grazing lands to cultivated lands
  • Expansion of agriculture and grazing near wildlife habitats
  • Overexploitation (e.g. overfishing)
  • Unbalanced water use and siltation
• Endangered species in Ethiopia


  • Walia Ibex
  • Mountain Nyala
  • Ethiopian Wolf
• Biodiversity conservation efforts in Ethiopia


  • Involving local communities in forest management
  • Closing forests to reduce human interference
  • Establishing protected areas (national/regional parks, wildlife sanctuaries, reserves, botanical gardens, hunting centers)