Health - a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

World Health Organization 1946

Biodiversity -“the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems”

Convention on Biological Diversity, Article 2

Disease Environmental change

Malaria Deforestation

Nipah virus Encroachment, agricultural intensification

Hookworm Deforestation leading to silting

Hemorrhagic viruses

Land use changes, encroachment

Leishmaniasis Deforestation

Schistosomiasis Intensive irrigation

Filariasis Irrigation, standing water

Arboviral diseases

Deforestation, irrigation, agriculture

Lyme disease Habitat fragmentation/ reforestation

–Direct linkages• consumable

goods and services

– Indirect linkages• services

provided by large-scale ecosystem interactions

Related in two broad ways:

–Direct linkages• consumable

goods and services

– Indirect linkages• services

provided by large-scale ecosystem interactions

• Meeting daily caloric and nutritional needs

• Food relates to biodiversity via:– Edible wild and domesticated species– Genetic libraries– Ecosystem services

Drug Purpose Source

Amoxicillin Antibiotic Fungus

Captopril Antihypertensive Animal

Digitoxin Cardiotonic Plant

Morphine Analgesic Plant

Penicillin Antibiotic Fungus

QuinineAntimalarial, antipyretic Plant

Salicin Analgesic Plant

Vinblastine Antitumor Plant

Codeine Analgesic Plant

Artemisin Antimalarial Plant

Species SampleEnvironmental stressor

Marine/freshwater invertebrates

Distribution and abundance Chemical pollution

Mosses Tissue Chemical pollution

Wild birds

Egg shells, feathers, blood, tissue Chemical pollution

Amphibians

Distribution and abundance, deformities

Multiple/undetermined

Sea turtlesPathological changes

Multiple/undetermined

Sea otters

Distribution and abundance, blood, tissue

Chemical pollution, ecosystem integrity

Chickens Blood Viral exposure

Wild birds and mammals Blood Viral exposure

Domestic mammals Blood

Viral exposure, chemical pollution

–Direct linkages• consumable

goods and services

– Indirect linkages• services

provided by large-scale ecosystem interactions

Pollutant Organism

Hydrocarbons (oil, kerosene)

Bacteria, fungi

Cyanide, heavy metals Willow trees

Pesticides Wetland plants

Heavy metals Ferns, legumes, grasses, sunflower plants

– Direct linkages• consumable

goods and services

– food – pharmaceutical

s– medical models– sentinels

– Indirect linkages• services provided

by large-scale ecosystem interactions

– water– waste removal and

decomposition– biotic regulation – psychological

health

Related in two broad ways:

• Does biodiversity loss per se drive changes in human health?

Human Health

Biodiversity Loss

Environmental Degradation

Biodiversity Loss

Human Health

Environmental Degradation

Or --could changes in human health and biodiversity both be driven by environmental degradation?

Would that change our interpretation of observed patterns?

• Health connects all species– Strongly positive links between human

health and biodiversity exist– Links are mediated by complex

interactions • Causality is not always clear• Conflicts• Lack of valuation of the benefits• More research is needed, specifically a

multidisciplinary approach

• What is the main argument?

• What are the conclusions?

• What evidence did they use?

• Are there alternative explanations, causes?

• What’s the platform? Does it matter?

• What do YOU think?

• Based on the reading, what would be the ideal city?– What are the jobs?– Where does food come from? Energy?

Water? Waste go?– What are the educational priorities? The

governmental priorities? – What happens outside of the city?– And why?