Loss of biodiversity (2025)
There is evidence of ecosystem loss around the world and a resulting biodiversity crisis. This series of activities looks at case studies of ecosystem loss and the causes of this loss. It then evaluates the evidence from the Inter-government Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem services reports.
Lesson description
Starting questions
Describe the changes in forest cover from 'original' to 'current'.
What might have caused this change?
Activity 1 - Ecosystem loss research task
There are many examples of ecosystem loss. One is the loss of dipterocarp forests in Southeast Asia. Complete the research task to discover more about this specific case study.
Ecosystem loss case studies research
Extension task
Write a letter to your local political leader to campaign against the use of palm oil in products in your supermarkets.
Activity 2 - Causes of the current biodiversity crisis
The explosion in human population is the overarching cause of the current biodiversity crisis. Watch the video below to see how this has changed over time.
Human population growth over time video
Questions
- What caused the exponential rise in the population around AD1?
................................................................................................. - The numbers then slowly increased until the Year 1800. What occurred then to increase the rate of population growth?
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Click on the eye icon below to reveal the suggested answers.
Answers
- What caused the exponential rise in the population around AD1?
The advent of farming.
- The numbers then slowly increased until the Year 1800. What occurred then to increase the rate of population growth?
Modern technology and medicines increased life expectancy.
Use the slides below to discuss how this increase in human population has impacted on global biodiversity.
Causes of loss of biodiversity:
Causes of loss of biodiversity:
Causes of loss of biodiversity:
Causes of loss of biodiversity:
Causes of loss of biodiversity:
Causes of loss of biodiversity:
Causes of loss of biodiversity:
Causes of loss of biodiversity:
Discussion:
- Which of these human activities is leading to the greatest impact on biodiversity in your local area?
- What could be done to raise awareness of the impact of this activity?
- What measures could be taken to prevent this loss of biodiversity?
Activity 3 - Evidence for the biodiversity crisis
Evidence about biodiversity loss can be drawn from Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services reports and other sources. Read the information about each different source of information and answer the questions.
IPBES - Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
IPBES Home page | IPBES secretariat
The UN established this international, inter-governmental organisation to look at biodiversity loss and improve ecosystem services. It published a global assessment report in 2019 which was the first independent and comprehensive global assessment of biodiversity. It looks at trends and data on biodiversity and then advises policymakers on how to develop more sustainable practices. It looks at data from the last 50 years and was written by 145 experts from 50 different countries. These reports are peer-reviewed before publication.
IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature
The IUCN was created in 1948 and is now the largest and most diverse global environmental network. It is supported by over 1,400 member organisations and 16,000 experts. This includes, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) comprising of experts, volunteer scientists and organisations run by indigenous people. It allows people across these organisations to work together to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people's well-being.
It has developed a Red List of Ecosystems which is a measure of the relative risk of collapse of the an ecosystem from Least concern, to Vulnerable, to critically endangered. For example, it has assessed the global risk of collapse of the world's mangrove ecosystems:
MRCI - Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
This foundation has been established for 11 years. It relies on the work of over 3,500 volunteers who are trained to monitor seat turtles in order to identify and develop safe breeding zones in North Western Madagascar. There is 24 hour monitoring of nesting zones to ensure the safety of the turtles and their eggs. They collect and record the number of species, nesting and size related data for estimating population dynamics.
MRCI seat turtle monitoring program video
Questions
- Name some example of different sources of information about biodiversity loss.
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................................................................................................. - Which do you think is the most reliable of information? Explain your answer.
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................................................................................................. - Which is the least reliable source of data? Explain your answer.
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Click on the eye icon below to reveal the suggested answers.
Answers
- Name some example of different sources of information about biodiversity loss.
Studies conducted by:
- research scientists or experts in the field
- non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- volunteer scientists
- organisations run by indigenous people
- volunteers from the public
- Which do you think is the most reliable of information? Explain your answer.
IPBES.
This is because it looks at data from the last 50 years and was written by 145 experts from 50 different countries. This data has been repeated to provide reliable data of changes in species richness and evenness.
These reports are peer-reviewed before publication which means it is verifiable as the data is reviewed and the methodology checked by other experts.
- Which is the least reliable source of data? Explain your answer.
MRCI.
Although the large number of volunteers can provide large sets of data over 11 years, they are not experts and there is no mention of peer review of the data.
Teacher only boxActivity 1 - The template can be used to look at different case studies about biodiversity loss. Students should research their local area to find an example for the second case study.
Activity 2 - The video provides a lovely visual representation of how human population has changed over time. The slides then show the impact of human activities on biodiversity and how that population growth is enhancing this. The discussion task after the slides enables the students to relate these issues to their local area and discuss what measures they could take to prevent this loss of biodiversity.
Activity 3 - This activity allows students to explore different sources of information about biodiversity loss and evaluate the reliability of each.