AGRI UNIT 12

Cards (26)

  • 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)