Transcript 4.3 Conservation of Biodiversity

Conservation of Biodiversity
IB syllabus: 4.3.1 – 4.3.5
Syllabus Statements
• 4.3.1: State the arguments for preserving species
& habitats
• 4.3.2: Compare the role and activities of
governmental & non-governmental organizations in
preserving and restoring ecosystems and
biodiversity
• 4.3.3: State and explain the criteria used to design
reserves
• 4.3.4: Evaluate the success of a named protected
area
• 4.3.5: Discuss & evaluate the strengths and
Why should we worry about conservation?
A. Ethics = we know what we are doing and its
negative effects  is it right to continue this?
B. Aesthetics = the natural world is more beautiful
than strip malls and roads  should we keep it
around?
C. Genetic resources = end result of millions of
years of evolution – unique gene combinations
for disease resistance, chemical production,
etc
Why should we worry about conservation?
D. Commercial = many of the products we rely on result
from the biotic component of the planet
- opportunity cost  value of the next best alternative
forgone as a result of making a choice
-implies choice of results that are mutually exclusive
E. Life support = plants produce the oxygen we need to
survive, soil provides the means for growing food,
organisms/processes cycle and purify the water we
need
F. Ecosystem support = the interactions of the world are
all connected  effect one  effect it all
How can we reduce biodiversity loss?
•
2 main approaches – ecosystem or
species directed
1. Preventing premature extinction of
species
2. Preserving & restoring ecosystems which
provide habitats and resources for the
world’s species
The Species Approach
Goal
The Ecosystem Approach
Goal
Protect species from
premature extinction
Protect populations of
species in their natural
habitats
Strategies
Strategy
• Identify endangered
species
• Protect their critical
habitats
Tactics
• Legally protect
endangered species
• Manage habitat
• Propagate endangered
species in captivity
• Reintroduce species
into suitable habitats
Preserve sufficient areas
of habitats in different
biomes and aquatic
systems
Tactics
• Protect habitat areas
through private purchase
or government action
• Eliminate or reduce
populations of alien
species from protected
areas
• Manage protected areas
to sustain native species
• Restore degraded
ecosystems
Protection of Wild species
• CITES – convention on international trade in
endangered species (1975)
• 152 countries – 900 species regulated as
endangered, 29,000 species regulated as
threatened
• Helped reduce international trade in many
organisms, organized international awareness,
protected habitats
• Enforcement is difficult, Consequences are weak,
Countries have a choice, value of organisms may
increase
Protection of Wild species
• CBD – “convention on biodiversity”
extends CITES to conserve biodiversity in
general 172 countries
• Focused on reversing trends in loss of
biodiversity
Biodiversity
National Legislation
• The Endangered Species Act – 1973
– Makes it illegal for Americans to import or trade
in any product made from an endangered or
threatened species unless it is used
– (1) for approved scientific purposes or
– (2) to enhance the survival of the species
Other Means of protection
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Gene banks & Seed banks
Botanical gardens, Farms
Zoos & Aquariums
Captive breeding & Reintroduction
programs
• Aesthetic vs. Ecological value
Evaluating Species based
Approaches: Captive breeding
Strengths
1. Organisms safe from
poachers
2. Ensure good chance
of offspring survival
3. Artificial insemination
possible
4. Cross fostering is
possible – raised by
parent of similar
species
Weaknesses
1. It is artificial
2. Organisms not born in
the wild may not be
able to survive
reintroduction
3. Few actually returned
to wild
4. Lack of habitat to
return them to
Evaluating “Species based
Approaches” : Aesthetic value
Strengths
1. Tourism & recreation
– use promotes
interest
2. “Sexy megafauna” get
public interested in
conserving whole
habitats
3. Personal approach
appeals to people
“Save the manatee”
Weaknesses
1. More interactions
with people – more
damage potentially
2. People may
overlook the deeper
values
Evaluating “Species based
Approaches” : Ecological values
What’s bad?
What’s good?
1. May go over the
1. Shows people the true
heads of the general
critical value of
public
species
2. May be hard to
2. See how it effects us
quantify this for
– food web links,
some species
nutrient cycling,
keystone species
Organizations supporting
Conservation
WWF: World Wildlife Fund
• Established in 1961
• “to conserve the natural environment and
ecological processes worldwide”.
• WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of
the planet’s natural environment and to build
a future in which humans live in harmony with
nature, by:
– conserving the world’s biological diversity
– ensuring that the use of renewable natural
resources is sustainable
– promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful
consumption.
• Role – Promoting awareness & conservation of
wildlife
• Activities – Directed mostly at wildlife conservation,
work with companies like Nike in reducing CO2
emissions, Aid
• Use of the media – International, internet,
newsletters
• Speed of Response – stays current on issues
• Diplomatic constraints – international law &
coordination
• Enforceability – Limited, no real governmental
power, but broad passive influence
Greenpeace
• Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a voice.
It needs solutions. It needs change. It needs action.
• Greenpeace is a non-profit organization, with a presence in 40
countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.
• To maintain its independence, Greenpeace does not accept
donations from governments or corporations but relies on
contributions from individual supporters and foundation grants.
• As a global organization, Greenpeace focuses on the most
crucial worldwide threats to our planet's biodiversity and
environment.
• We campaign to:
--Stop climate change
--Protect ancient forests
--Save the oceans
--Stop whaling
--Say no to genetic engineering
The current Rainbow Warrior was
launched on 10 July 1989. The original
vessel was sunk in 1985 by agents of
the French government in an attempt to
foil protests of their nuclear weapons
testing in the Pacific.
The plan backfired, sparking worldwide
outrage, and the rebuilt ship proved that
"you can't sink a rainbow" when it
returned to battle successfully against
the testing programme. Nuclear testing
ended at Moruroa in 1996.
The ship's name was inspired by a
North American Indian prophecy which
foretells a time when human greed will
make the Earth sick, and a mythical
band of warriors will descend from a
rainbow to save it.
• Role - More extreme environmental activist group
• Activities – Greenpeace's history began in 1971. A group of
ecologists opposed to the war in Vietnam contested US
nuclear testing in the north Pacific. They decided simply to
position themselves in the middle of the testing zone.
• Use of the media - Embarked on a campaign to save the
whales. Using Zodiac inflatables, they put themselves
between the whales and the harpoons, generating images
too sensational not to broadcast and creating new public
pressure.
• Speed of Response – rapid, high profile, technological
approach
• Diplomatic constraints – Nonviolent but radical group Greenpeace's scientific and market research becomes
pressure tools.
• Enforceability - Creative nonviolent action mobilizes public
opinion against the unsustainable practices of governments
or corporations. The objective is to obtain as much coverage
as possible through the media in order to mobilize public
opinion on certain issues.
UNEP: United Nations
Environment Programme
• Established in 1972
• To provide leadership and encourage
partnership in caring for the environment by
inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and
peoples to improve their quality of life without
compromising that of future generations.
• Role – negotiate, monitor, implement
environmental treaties
• Activities – focus on consumption issues, energy,
food, youth programs
• Use of the media – limited, website
• Speed of Response – slower, through government
action
• Diplomatic constraints – tied to the UN
• Enforceability – underfunded, under-supported
• World Conservation Strategy (1980)
– Secretariat/focal point: IUCN/UNEP/WWF
Aim/comment: To help advance the achievement of
sustainable development through the conservation of
living resources. The Strategy:
• explains the contribution of living resource conservation to
human survival and to sustainable development;
• identifies the priority conservation issues and the main
requirements for dealing with them;
• proposes effective ways for achieving the Strategy's aim.
World Conservation Strategy - 1980
• The World Conservation Strategy clarified the ideas of
sustainable development. Its concerns were with the link
between the economy and the environment.
• Therefore, suggesting that economic development and growth
should be used to enhance the ability of societies to conserve
nature. The main aim of the Strategy was to explain how
development and conservation of the environment can work
together
• The World Conservation Strategy did not place as much
emphasis on political, social, cultural and economic issues like
the United Nations Conference on Human Environment which
was held in 1972.
• Another difference between the World Conservation Strategy
and UNCHE is that the World Conservation Strategy developed
ideas on how they could implement and develop sustainable
development.
World Conservation Strategy
Summary Points
1. Maintenance of essential life support
systems (climate, water cycle, soils) and
ecological processes
2. Preservation of genetic and species
diversity
3. Sustainable use of species and
ecosystems
References
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www.iucn.org
http://www.panda.org (WWF site)
www.unep.org
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/
http://www.cbd.int/