Value of Biodiversity Vital role for Healthy biosphere

Value of Biodiversity • Vital role for Healthy biosphere • Uses of biodiversity Classification & importance of biodiversity 1. Consumptive use value 2. Productive use values 3. Social values 4. ethical(existence) value 5. Aesthetic value 6. Optional values

Consumptive use value • Direct use values • Biodiversity products are harvested & consumed directly Ex: food, drug, fuel Food • 80 -90% of food crops are trophical wild plants. • Wild animals

Drugs • 70% of modern medicines are from plant • 20, 000 plant species are used in unani. ayurveda and siddha. • Examples: 1. germany-2, 500 species of plant 2. India -3000 species of plant 3. bee-sting venom is used for treating arthritis 4. Saving drugs-quinine, reserpine, pencillin are plant origin. 5. Peel tree leaves are used for curing diseases 6. 30 medicine from Neem tree Fuel Firewoods, fossil fuels like coal, petroleum & natural gas from fossilized biodiversity.

Productive use value • Have commercial value • Marketed and sold • Derived from animals & plants Examples: Silk-silk – worm Wool –sheep Musk-musk deer Tusk-elephants Leather-all animals Food – fish & animals • rice-22% of cropped area & cereals-39% of cropped area • Oilseed-import

Plant product industry Wood Paper & pulp, plywood, railway Cotton Textile Fruits, vegetables Food Leather Ivory Pearl pearls

Social values • Manner bio-resources are used to the society • Social life, religion & spiritual aspects of the people • Example: 1. holy plants-tulsi, peepal, lotus 2. Holy animals-cow, snake, bull, peacock, rat

Ethical (existence) value • Issue“all life must be preserved’’ • Biodiversity have great value in religious & cultural basis Example: 1. river ganga – holy river 2. vembu, tulsi, vengai-worship 3. Kangaroo, Zebra or giraffe

Aesthetic value • Beautiful nature of plants & animals insist to protect the biodiversity. Example: eco-tourism, pleasant music of birds, colour of butterfly, flowers, peacocks Optional values -potentials of biodiversity -presently unknown and need to be known Example: searching species for cancer & AIDS -medicinal plants & herbs