Biodiversity and Livelihoods Giuliani 2017

Biodiversity products and Livelihoods
Alessandra Giuliani, HAFL

T7 - Biodiversity Module, 24.11.2017
▶ School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL

Learning Points
 The benefits and values of biodiversity

to human beings
 The multiple examples of biodiversity

products and services for the people’s
livelihoods
 Interrelation between biological

diversity and culture: the bio-cultural
diversity
Bern University of Applied Sciences | School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL 2
The Decade coincides with and supports the implementation of the
Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 adopted by the Conference
of the Parties (CoP) at its tenth meeting held in Nagoya, Japan, 2010.
http://www.cbd.int/2011-2020 decade on Biodiversity
STRATEGIC
vision PLAN
By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used,
maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and
delivering benefits essential for all people.
mission
Take effective and urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity…
STRATEGIC GOALS
A: Address the underlying

causes of biodiversity loss B: Reduce the direct C Improve the status D: Enhance the
by mainstreaming pressures on of biodiversity by benefits to all
biodiversity biodiversity and safeguarding from biodiversity
across government and promote sustainable ecosystems, species and ecosystem
society use and genetic diversity services
E:Enhance implementation through participatory planning,

knowledge management and capacity building
implementation support mechanisms
https://www.cbd.int/gbo4/
progress
Biological diversity - Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Intra-species diversity Inter-species diversity ecosystem diversity

varieties (genetic richness)
Biodiversity and human beings
The biodiversity found on Earth today is the result of approximately 3.5

billion years of evolution. Until the emergence of humans, the earth
supported more biodiversity than any other period in geological history.
However, since the dominance of humans, biodiversity has begun a rapid
decline, with one species after another suffering extinction
BIODIVERSITY LOSS
Unsustain
able agr
practices
Loss of
habitat
invasive
species
Climate
change
Pollution
140,000 species per year

1/8 species threated by extinction
Estimation: 30% of all species loss by 2050
video
But humans
Bern University depend
of Applied Sciences on biodiversity
| School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFLfor many reasons
9
Cultural
Biodiversity
diversity
Ecosystems, species, Diversity in ecological knowledge,

varieties (genetic richness) cultural values, systems and
practices, institutions, languages,
transmitted from generation to
generation through learning
Bio-cultural diversity:
It comprises the diversity of life in all its manifestations – biological,
cultural and linguistic –which are interrelated (and likely co-evolved)
within a complex socio-ecological adaptive system
(Maffi and Woodley, 2010)
‘Biodiversity products and services’
Products derived by intra-species, inter-species biological
diversity and diversity in ecosystem and habitats linked
with cultural-tradtional diversity associated to them
What are livelihoods?
Livelihood refers to the ways in which people make a living: ‘the
capabilities, assets (including both material and social resources)
and activities required for a means of living’
The Sustainable
livelihood framework
(Chambers and Conway, 1991)

Biodiversity and human beings
Which values and benefits does Biodiversity have in your

and people’s life?
Bern University of Applied Sciences | School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL M. Böttger © 13
Biodiversity benefits and value to livelihoods
Risk
reduction
Resilience
Sacred
Aesthetic
religious
value
value Tourism
Medicine Ecological
and Recreation
services
health inspiration
Culture
Income Religion
generation Decoration
Traditional Scientific-
cultural knowledge
Social/ethic value
value
Food and
nutrition market
value
crafts
and
industry
1. Ecosystem Services Ecological
services
Ecosystems provide services vital to humans:

▶ purifying air and water
▶ decomposition of wastes
▶ recycling of nutrients in soil (soil fertility)
▶ Pollination of flowers (pollinators of plants)
▶ Predators
▶ Decrease environmental disasters (floods, drought, erosion)
▶ Moderation of climate (and stabilisation)
It is very difficult for people to properly replicate these intricate
ecosystems with man-made alternatives
(Perfecto et al. 2010)

Pollination by hand: humans are not as good as
bees in pollination!!
▶ There are not enough humans in the world to pollinate all of our
crops by hand: too costly, too complicated
«Wenn die Biene einmal von

der Erde verschwindet, hat
der Mensch nur noch vier
Jahre « (A. Einstein)
▶ Bees and other insects have provided free pollination for our crops for
millennia. They will continue to do so if we learn to recognise their
importance and return the favour by providing them with what they
need to survive
Example of ecological function of biodiversity
Aquatic life found in rice-based
ecosystems provides farmers with:
• Higher rice yield in particular in poor soils
and unfertilized crops
• Biological control with fish = reduce of
costs for pesticides
• 65% of higher income than rice
monoculture
• Safety net in case of crop failure
most development plans focus on

increasing rice yields with use of
chemicals resulting in a dramatic
reduction of aquatic resources and
the nutrition of the rural poor
2. Biodiversity to face risks and resilience Risk
reduction
,
resilience
▶ Healthy ecosystems as buffer to mitigate environmental

disasters
▶ On-farm agrobiodiversity: prevent risks from monocrop failure
▶ Pest and desease control
▶ Better resistance and adaptability to harsh environment
▶ supporting biodiversity–based livelihoods in the face of climate

change
Ex.: Very important for vulnerable livelihoods in
post-crises: Mulberry in the Tajik Pamir
 Grow on slopes, as opposed to grain and vegetable
 Early ripening
 Cold, drought, disease, UV resistance
 constitute up to 50% of a household's intake in times of
difficulties
Traditional
3. Biodiversity for food and nutrition cultural
value
Food and
nutrition
▶ Food: people connect with and shape their environment

▶ Central to the economic and cultural lives
▶ Natural selection together with farmers, herders and
fishers, over time, have nurtured agrobiodiversity which
has co-evolved with specific environments, diets, cultural
practices
▶ Loss of biodiversity and traditional knowledge: causes of
food insecurity
(Frison et al. 2010)
Plant species used as food by humans
Total edible plant species 30,000-50,000

(out of 300,000
known species)
Cultivated (or wild food) 7,000
Making up 90% world’s 30
calories intake
50% of the world's food 4
energy intake
(FAO, 2010)
Biodiversity for food and nutrition security
Out of 7 billion people on earth:
 About 800 million people are undernourished (chronically
hunger)
 About 2 billion people are malnourished (lack of micronutrients
and vitamins)
 diseases of affluence both in rich and developing countries
Diets have become simpler (less diversity)
Reaction from society/Govnt:

 supplements and biofortification as
effective treatments (does not reach the
poorest)
 Biodiversity as alternative approach to
malnutrition and health: Promoting of
variety of food (fruits and veg) (not so
common in poor Countries’ policies)
(Biodiversity and sustainable diets, FAO 2010)
Different level of diversity used for food and
nutrition
Farmers use different level of diversity to produce
agricultural food products:
▶ Ecosystem diversity
▶ Different species of plants, animals and fish

(interspecies diversity)
▶ Different varieties of the same plant, animal, fish

species (intraspecies diversity)
Perfecto et al. 2010
Example: Ecosystem divesity for nutrition
▶ In rice-based ecosystems in Cambodia, China, Laos, Vietnam a
rich diversity of aquatic organisms can be found:
▶ 232 aquatic species collected by rural households: fishes,

crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, molluscs, plants and insects
to supplement the rice diets with animal protein, fatty acids
Additional micronutrients (Calcium,

Vitamin A)
In Bangladesh: mola fish to cure night

blindness
Example: Intra-specific divesity
▶ In Ethiopia: Both natural factors and farmers' selection criteria

shape sorghum diversity at farm level
▶ 3 indigenous varieties of sorghum identified
▶ Content ~ 30% more protein
▶ Content 50-60% more amino-acid (lysine)
▶ Valuable for sick children and nursing mothers
Example: Inter-specific diversity for nutrition
Commonly used vegetables
▶ Local leafy vegetables in
1.Amaranthusdubius
Kenya: 2.Amaranthushybridus
3.Amaranthuslividus/blitum
• 1000 different veg species 4.Basellaalba
5.Cleome gynandra
• 210 species recorded in Kenya 6.Corchorusolitoriusand C.
• About 5% are the key ones trilocularis
• Due to high cultural and 7.Crotalaria brevidensandC.
Ochroleuca
biological diversity
8.Cucurbitamaxima/moschata
• Produced by small farmers 9.Cucurbitaficifolia(Kahurura)
• Many collected from the wild 10.Launaeacornuta(Mutsunga)
11.Solanumamericanum
• Cooked with mix of plants
12.Solanumscabrum
(each community cooks the 13.Solanumvillosum
ones they know) 14.Urticamassaica
15.Vigna unguiculata
(Biodiversity International, 2010)
Raise awareness about the nutitional properties
African Leafy Vegetable project (Biodiversity International, 2010)
4. Biodiversity for medicine and health Medicine
and
health
Traditional
cultural
 70–80% people worldwide rely on traditional (herbal) value
medicine to meet their primary healthcare needs
 Ayurvedic medicines market: 20% annually in India
• China: 5,000 plants used in

medicine (MPs from the
province Yunnan 10 times)
• Myanmar: Buddhist
philosophy and Ayurvedic
concepts
• 10 of the world’s 25 top-

selling drugs are from
natural resources (tree
bark, coral and reptile….)
(Pei 2002, Subrat 2002)
What are medicinal plants?
 Plants cultivated and collected from the wild
 The value of medicinal plants to human livelihoods is essentially

infinite
 Symbolically significant in many cultures (magic power)
 Aromatic and flavouring, cosmetic, food and medicine, according

to culture: MAP
 Richer countries: 10-20% growth yearly: health, food

supplements, personal care
Example: Capparis spinosa (caper): medicinal or
aromatic plant?
Medicinal uses of caper plant
Uses of capparis spinosa in traditional medicine
 To cure arteriosclerosis, as
diuretics, kidney disinfectants,
vermifuges and tonics
 Caper root bark infusions and
decoctions: anemia, arthritis and
gout
 Root powder: anti-rheumatic
 Flower buds (rich in
aldosereductose): coughs, eye
infections
 Ayurvedic: hepatic stimulants
and protectors, improving liver
function
Condiment and …….Cosmetic, skin health care
 Extracts of the flower bud: hydrating properties
 Major constituents with antioxidant effects
 Topical application of the extract reduces UVB induced skin

erythema
 Results showed that C.spinosa (59.60%) is more effective than

tocopherol acetate (22%): sunscreen formulations (Balakrishnan,
2011)
(Bonina, 2002)
Thanaka in Myanmar, between tradition and fashion
Thanaka: Medicinal, cosmetic, traditional skin care
 Unique feature of the culture of Myanmar (ancient and modern)
 Refreshing/scented cosmetic paste made from ground bark
 Bark from Thanaka trees (Murraya spp.) growing in central

Myanmar
 Cosmetic, sun protection, anti-fungal (believed to be anti-acne)
The role of plant (animal) diversity in (Western)
medicine: example
 Western medicine: ingredients for drugs/drug discovery
 Potential: only 5,000 of the 250,000 known plant species
 Quinine (malaria): bark of the Amazonian tree Cinchona tree
 Digitalis (chronic heart trouble): Foxglove plant
 Morphine (pain relief): Poppy plant
 Topotecan (anti-cancer): Camptotheca (and other tropical
plants)
 Animals also plays a role, in particular in research
Ratios of doctors (practicing allopathic medicine)
and traditional medical practitioners (TMPs)
Country Doctor:Patient TMP:Patient
Kenya 1:7142 1:987
Malawi 1:50 000 1:138
Mozambique 1:50 000 1:200
Swaziland 1:10 000 1:100
Tanzania 1:33 000 1:350–450 (Dar es

Salaam)
Bern University of Applied Sciences | School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL (Marshall, 2008) 36
Biodiversity loss for medicine and health
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40% no data
30% Not threatened
20%
Threatened
10%
0% Exinct
(CBD, 2010)
Microbial diversity and NCDs
 Immune system needs an input of microbial diversity

from the natural environment
 Reduced contact with biodiversity leads to reduced

diversity in the human microbiota = immune
dysfunction and disease
(Romanelli et al. 2015)

5. Biodiversity for culture, religion and Traditional
decoration cultural
value
Culture
Religion
 Many cultures have deep, traditional Decoration
connections to the earth, ranging from
medicines to tribal ceremonies
Social/ethic
 Various plant species have a deep Sacred
value
meaning religious
value
 History and modern times:
Society: Past and modern symbols
▶ Ancient Greece (Apollo) and Rome: laurus nobilis wreath was the
symbol of victory as well as poets, philosophers and honored
(emperors)
▶ Today: symbol of Master degree (Laurea)
Religion: ‘Spiritual’ biodiversity in India
Particularly important for religious,

spiritual and cultural uses:
• Sacred forest areas for praying
(sacred groves)
• Plants and animals have ritual
significance
workship
• Auspicious flower garlands offered in Hindi

temples
• Red hibiscus offered to Goddess Kali
Religion and tradition: biodiversity in India and
Myanmar
Lotus flowers for worship in:

• Hindu temples
• Buddhist pagodas
• Lotus leaves as plate

for Indian dishes, now
replaced by banana
leaves
Tradition:……..also for decoration and aesthetic
 aesthetically pleasing aspect: variety of plants used in

decoration, festivities, tradition worldwide
6. Biodiversity for tourism, recreation
Aesthetic
value
Tourism
Recreation
 Ecotourism/Agrotourism: a growing recreational activity. inspiration
Biodiversity is a source of economical wealth for many
areas, beauty and joy
 Ecotourism does not only benefit travellers through nature
education, but also benefit the local community.
Ecotourims is an income generating activity through the
preservation and promotion of their nature heritage and
culture
Yemen: Biodiversity - ecotourism project
(Economics of Ecosystems, 2009)
Biodiversity for leisure, physical and mental fitness
 Access to park and green places has shown to generating better
physical and mental health, reducing stress, crime and violence,
and increasing social cohesion
 Cultural ecosystem services, such as spiritual values and traditional

food cultures has a positive impact on physical and mental health
 Contact with nature and BD has proved to predict greater

likelihoods to develop environmental concerns
 ‘healing environment’
hospital concept in Singapore
(Horwitz and Kretsch - WHO and CBA 2015)

7. Biodiversity for Crafts and Industry crafts
and
industry
All products extracted from natural resources and
transformed and used worldwide (animal skins, timber,
fibers, honey wax, gums, etc.) for:
 Construction/shelter
 Furniture
 Textile
 Games
 Music instruments
 Food storage
 Weapons
 Firewood
 Working tools
 Etc…
8. Biodiversity and income generation
 Marketing of biodiversity-based products providing income

generation (medicine, food, crafts, etc.)
 Managing recreation and eco-tourism based on
biodiversity
 Biodiversity: source of important marginal income for
resource poor people (landless)
 One conservation strategy through sustainable use
9. Model and inspiration for scientific and
Scientific-
technology knowledge from Nature and BD knowledge
Tapetum lucidum:
reflectors
Velcro Birds soaring
Inspiration for poets, artists, philosophers
Aesthetic
For any form of art, music, painting, poetry, writing, value
nature has always been the source of inspiration
Nature is the art of God - Dante Alighieri
The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the
source of my inspiration - Claude Monet
There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a country. A fine
landscape is like a piece of music; it must be taken at the right
tempo. Even a bicycle goes too fast - Paul Scott Mowrer
Look deep into nature, and then you
will understand everything better -
Albert Einstein
Nature gives to every time and season some
beauties of its own - Charles Dickens
Wild roses are fairest, and nature a better
gardener than art - Louisa May Alcott
To conclude: Biodiversity benefits human livelihoods
what a wonderful world-
Risk People
reduction
Resilience everywhere
Sacred
religious
Aesthetic depend upon
value
Medicine
value
Ecological
Tourism
Recreation biodiversity for
and
health
services inspiratio
n their livelihoods,
Culture
Income
generation
Religion
Decoration
their quality of
Traditional
cultural
Scientific-
knowledge
life, and for the
Social/
ethic value
value
basic ecological
Food and
nutrition
market
value services on
crafts
and
which all life
industry
depends on.
Bern University of Applied Sciences | School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL 50 (Video)
Some references:
o Perfecto I, Vandermeer J, Wright A. 2009. Nature's Matrix: Linking Agriculture,
Conservation and Food Sovereignty. Earthscan
o Pretty J, Adams B, Berkes F, de Athayde S, Dudley N, Hunn E, Maffi L, Milton K,

Rapport D, Robbins P, Sterling E, Stolton S, Tsing A, Vintinnerk E, Pilgrim S. 2009.
The Intersections of Biological Diversity and Cultural Diversity: Towards
Integration. Conservation and Society 7(2):100-112 (moodle)
o Maffi L and Woodley E. 2010. Biocultural Diversity Conservation: A Global

Sourcebook. Earthscan 2010
o Frison E, Smith IF, Timothy J, Cherfas J and Eyzaguirre PB. 2010.Agricultural

biodiversity, nutrition and health: making a difference to hunger and nutrition in
the developing world, Bioversity International (moodle)
o Burlingame B and Dernini S (eds). 2012. Sustainable diets and biodiversity:

directions and solutions for policy, research and action, FAO and Bioversity
International (moodle)
o Romanelli C, Cooper D, Campbell-Lendrum D, Maiero M, Karesh W.B, Hunter D,

Golden C.D, 2015. Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health. A
state of knowledge review. WHO, and Convention on Biological Diversity (moodle)
o Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2014) Global Biodiversity

Outlook
Bern University of4. Montréal,
Applied 155ofpages
Sciences | School (moodle)
Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL 51

Biodiversity and Livelihoods Giuliani 2017

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Biodiversity and Livelihoods Giuliani 2017

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Biodiversity products and Livelihoods

Alessandra Giuliani, HAFL

▶ School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL

 The benefits and values of biodiversity

 The multiple examples of biodiversity

 Interrelation between biological

http://www.cbd.int/2011-2020 decade on Biodiversity

A: Address the underlying

E:Enhance implementation through participatory planning,

implementation support mechanisms

Intra-species diversity Inter-species diversity ecosystem diversity

The biodiversity found on Earth today is the result of approximately 3.5

140,000 species per year

Ecosystems, species, Diversity in ecological knowledge,

(Chambers and Conway, 1991)

Which values and benefits does Biodiversity have in your

Ecosystems provide services vital to humans:

(Perfecto et al. 2010)

«Wenn die Biene einmal von

most development plans focus on

▶ Healthy ecosystems as buffer to mitigate environmental

▶ On-farm agrobiodiversity: prevent risks from monocrop failure

▶ Pest and desease control

▶ Better resistance and adaptability to harsh environment

▶ supporting biodiversity–based livelihoods in the face of climate

▶ Food: people connect with and shape their environment

(Frison et al. 2010)

Total edible plant species 30,000-50,000

Reaction from society/Govnt:

▶ Different species of plants, animals and fish

▶ Different varieties of the same plant, animal, fish

▶ 232 aquatic species collected by rural households: fishes,

Additional micronutrients (Calcium,

In Bangladesh: mola fish to cure night

▶ In Ethiopia: Both natural factors and farmers' selection criteria

▶ 3 indigenous varieties of sorghum identified

▶ Content ~ 30% more protein

▶ Content 50-60% more amino-acid (lysine)

▶ Valuable for sick children and nursing mothers

African Leafy Vegetable project (Biodiversity International, 2010)

• China: 5,000 plants used in

• 10 of the world’s 25 top-

 Plants cultivated and collected from the wild

 The value of medicinal plants to human livelihoods is essentially

 Symbolically significant in many cultures (magic power)

 Aromatic and flavouring, cosmetic, food and medicine, according

 Richer countries: 10-20% growth yearly: health, food

Uses of capparis spinosa in traditional medicine

 Major constituents with antioxidant effects

 Topical application of the extract reduces UVB induced skin

 Results showed that C.spinosa (59.60%) is more effective than

 Refreshing/scented cosmetic paste made from ground bark

 Bark from Thanaka trees (Murraya spp.) growing in central

 Cosmetic, sun protection, anti-fungal (believed to be anti-acne)

Kenya 1:7142 1:987

Malawi 1:50 000 1:138

Mozambique 1:50 000 1:200

Swaziland 1:10 000 1:100

Tanzania 1:33 000 1:350–450 (Dar es

 Immune system needs an input of microbial diversity

 Reduced contact with biodiversity leads to reduced

(Romanelli et al. 2015)

▶ Today: symbol of Master degree (Laurea)

Particularly important for religious,