Sustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity - Book

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dc.contributor.authorHarvard Medical School
dc.contributor.organizationEcosystems Division
dc.contributor.otherChivian, Eric
dc.contributor.otherBernstein, Aaron
dc.contributor.otherPimm, Stuart
dc.contributor.otherAlves, Maria
dc.contributor.otherMelillo, Jerry
dc.contributor.otherSala, Osvaldo
dc.contributor.otherNewman, David
dc.contributor.otherKilama, John
dc.contributor.otherRosenthal, Joshua
dc.contributor.otherMolyneux, David
dc.contributor.otherOstfeld, Richard
dc.contributor.otherHillel, Daniel
dc.contributor.otherRosenzweig, Cynthia
dc.contributor.otherMcNeely, Jeffrey
dc.contributor.otherSterling, Eleanor
dc.contributor.otherMulongoy, Kalemani
dc.contributor.otherAnnan, Kofi
dc.contributor.otherWilson, Edward
dc.date.accessioned2019-08-03T09:08:02Z
dc.date.available2019-08-03T09:08:02Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.descriptionThe Earth's biodiversity-the rich variety of life on our planet-is disappearing at an alarming rate. And while many books have focused on the expected ecological consequences, or on the aesthetic, ethical, sociological, or economic dimensions of this loss, Sustaining Life is the first book to examine the full range of potential threats that diminishing biodiversity poses to human health. Edited and written by Harvard Medical School physicians Eric Chivian and Aaron Bernstein, along with more than 100 leading scientists who contributed to writing and reviewing the book, Sustaining Life presents a comprehensive--and sobering--view of how human medicines, biomedical research, the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, and the production of food, both on land and in the oceans, depend on biodiversity. The book's ten chapters cover everything from what biodiversity is and how human activity threatens it to how we as individuals can help conserve the world's richly varied biota. Seven groups of organisms, some of the most endangered on Earth, provide detailed case studies to illustrate the contributions they have already made to human medicine, and those they are expected to make if we do not drive them to extinction. Drawing on the latest research, but written in language a general reader can easily follow, Sustaining Life argues that we can no longer see ourselves as separate from the natural world, nor assume that we will not be harmed by its alteration. Our health, as the authors so vividly show, depends on the health of other species and on the vitality of natural ecosystems. With a foreword by E.O. Wilson and a prologue by Kofi Annan, and more than 200 poignant color illustrations, Sustaining Life contributes essential perspective to the debate over how humans affect biodiversity and a compelling demonstration of the human health costs.This volume presents a comprehensive review of how human medicines, biomedical research, the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, and the production of food all depend on biodiversity.en
dc.description.tableofcontentsForeword — Edward O. Wilson Prologue — Kofi Annan Preface — Eric Chivian and Aaron Bernstein 1. The Diversity of Life What Is Biodiversity? How Many Species Are There? Extinction Rates Before Humans The Current Extinction Crisis Threats to Biodiversity Conclusion Suggested Readings 2. Biodiversity Loss and Human Health The Health Consequences of Biodiversity Loss Ecosystem Disturbance Pollution Climate Change Invasive Species Species Exploitation Conclusion Suggested Readings 3. Ecosystem Services The Character of Ecosystem Services The Economic Value of Ecosystem Services Threats to Ecosystem Services Conclusion Suggested Readings 4. Medicines From Nature Why Natural Medicines? The History of Natural Products as Medicines The Role of Traditional Medicine in Drug Discovery South American Indigenous Medicines A Review of Some Medicines Derived From Nature Herbal Medicines in Industrialized Countries Potential Medicines in Food Natural Products as Insecticides and Fungicides Conclusion Suggested Readings 5. Biodiversity and Biomedical Research A Brief History of Biomedical Research The Role of Animals and Microbes in Biomedical Research Conclusion Suggested Readings 6. Threatened Groups of Organisms Valuable to Medicine Amphibians Bears Primates Gymnosperms Cone Snails Sharks Horseshoe Crabs Conclusion Suggested Readings 7. Ecosystem Disturbance, Biodiversity Loss, and Human Infectious Disease Ecosystem Disturbances and Their Effects on Infectious Diseases Vector, Pathogen, and Host Diversity and Human Infectious Disease Biological Controls Species Exploitation and the Consumption of Bushmeat Climate Change and Its Effects on Infectious Diseases Conclusion Suggested Readings 8. Biodiversity and Food Production Historical Background Agriculture Livestock Production Food From Aquatic Systems Conclusion Suggested Readings 9. Genetically Modified Foods and Organic Farming Genetically Modified Foods Organic Farming Integrated Farming Conclusion Suggested Readings 10. What Individuals Can Do to Help Conserve Biodiversity What Are We Doing to Our Planet? Why Do We Consume So Much? How Can We Conserve Biodiversity? Some Collective Actions That Have Made a Difference Individuals Who Have Made a Difference Ten Things We All Can Do That Can Help Conserve Biodiversity Suggested Readings Appendices Appendix A: Co-Sponsors of Sustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity Appendix B: Treaties, Conventions, and Intergovernmental Organizations for the Conservation of Biodiversity Appendix C: Nongovernmental Organizations Working to Conserve Biodiversity References Chapter Authors Contributing Authors Reviewers Index
dc.description.urihttps://academic.oup.com/book/55094
dc.formatpdf
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195175097.001.0001
dc.identifier.isbn978-0-19-517509-7
dc.identifier.urihttps://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/29110
dc.languageEnglish
dc.page.number564 p.
dc.publisherOxford University Press
dc.rights.accessLevelPublic
dc.subjectbiodiversity
dc.subjectendangered species
dc.subjectbiodiversity loss
dc.subjecthabitat loss
dc.subjectland degradation
dc.subjectinfectious disease
dc.subjectocean
dc.subjectfreshwater
dc.subjectpollution
dc.subjectultraviolet radiation
dc.subjectconflict
dc.subjectclimate change
dc.subjectwar
dc.subjectmedicine
dc.subjecttraditional medicine
dc.subjectbiotechnology
dc.subjectamphibian
dc.subjectbear
dc.subjectprimate
dc.subjectgymnosperm
dc.subjectsnail
dc.subjectshark
dc.subjectcrab
dc.subjectfood production
dc.subjectlivestock
dc.subjectagriculture
dc.subjectaquatic ecology
dc.subjectorganic farming
dc.subjectgenetically modified food
dc.subjectsustainable consumption
dc.subjecthuman health
dc.subjectAgriculture
dc.subjectBiodiversity
dc.subject Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
dc.subject Energy Efficiency
dc.subjectFood Waste
dc.subjectHealth
dc.subjectLand
dc.subjectMarine Litter
dc.subjectNatural Resources
dc.subjectPollution
dc.subject.sdgSDG 2 - Zero Hunger
dc.subject.sdgSDG 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
dc.subject.sdgSDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
dc.subject.themeclimate
dc.subject.themechemistry
dc.subject.themechemical pollution
dc.subject.themenatural areas
dc.subject.themelandscape
dc.subject.themeecosystems
dc.subject.themeresources
dc.subject.themeresource efficiency
dc.titleSustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity - Booken
dc.typeCommunication or other resource
wd.identifier.institutionsCenter for Health and the Global Environment

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