Biodiversity and Waste Management

Biodiversity and Waste Management

What Is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the variety of all living organisms on Earth, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, and the ecosystems they form.

💡 Key Concept: High biodiversity means greater ecosystem stability and resilience.

Why Is Biodiversity Important?

✔ Stable ecosystems – more species means less disruption if one species is affected
✔ Resources for humans – food, medicines, raw materials
✔ Supports the food web – all organisms are interconnected
✔ Cultural and aesthetic value

Threats to Biodiversity

1️ Waste production – pollution of land, air, and water
2️ Deforestation – destroys habitats
3️ Global warming – affects ecosystems and species distribution
4️ Overfishing and hunting – reduces species numbers
5️ Pollution – chemicals, plastics, fertilisers, and sewage can poison ecosystems

Types of Pollution (from Waste)

Pollution Type

Source

Effect on Biodiversity

Water pollution

Sewage, fertilisers, chemicals

Kills aquatic organisms, causes eutrophication

Air pollution

Sulfur dioxide from factories

Causes acid rain → damages trees, soil, lakes

Land pollution

Landfill, pesticides, herbicides

Harms soil organisms, contaminates food chains

Eutrophication Explained (Water Pollution)

✔ Fertilisers and sewage enter water → algae grow rapidly
✔ Algae block sunlight → plants die
✔ Microorganisms decompose dead plants → use up oxygen
✔ Low oxygen levels → fish and aquatic animals die

💡 Result: A big drop in biodiversity.

Managing Waste to Protect Biodiversity

✔ Treat sewage before releasing into water
✔ Reduce use of fertilisers and pesticides
✔ Reduce, reuse, recycle materials
✔ Use biodegradable products
✔ Proper landfill management to prevent leaching

Questions 

  1. What is biodiversity?
  2. How does air pollution reduce biodiversity?
  3. What causes eutrophication?
  4. Why is high biodiversity important?
  5. Give one way waste can be managed to reduce harm to ecosystems.

Summary 

  • Biodiversity supports stable ecosystems and benefits humans.
  • Pollution from waste threatens biodiversity through land, air, and water pollution.
  • Waste management (recycling, treatment, reducing chemicals) is essential to protect natural habitats.