Guide on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples

2Why is Biodiversityimportant?The variety of plants, animals and micro-organisms supports arange of services provided by healthy ecosystems to humans:Ecosystem Services/FunctionsSupporting servicesRegulating servicesProvisioning servicesCultural servicesMaintain conditions for life on earth: Soil formation andretention, nutrient cycling, primary productionRegulation of air quality, climate, floods, soil erosion,water purification, waste treatment, pollination, biologicalcontrol of human, livestock, and agriculture pests anddiseasesProviding food, fuelwood, fiber, biochemicals, naturalmedicines, pharmaceuticals, genetic resources, freshwaterNon material benefits including cultural diversity andidentity, spiritual and religious values, knowledgesystems, educational values, inspiration, aestheticvalues, social relations, sense of place, cultural heritage,recreation, communal and symbolic valueshttp://www.fontplay.com/freephotos/Importance of Biodiversity for the FirstPeoples of British Columbia (Turner, 2007)• Food: Traditional diets - plants and animals found in the wild and somefungi such as mushrooms have sustained and nourished people for manygenerations.• Material resources/Technology: plant and animal materials used as orconstructed as tools and equipment for livelihood, shelter, and clothing.• Medicine: Plants, and some animals and fungi, provide people withmedicines for maintaining health and treating injuries and ailments.• Components of Culture: Plants, animals and fungi are prominent in FirstNations’ belief systems, art, songs and ceremonies. Their world renownedart forms representing stylized animals reflect intense connections withand reliance on biodiversity.• Ecological Indicators: The flowering of certain plants, the songs ofcertain birds, or the appearance of certain types of butterflies or otherinsects, are signs of seasonal change or of the time for some importantharvest event.100 <strong>Guide</strong> on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples