Transcript How to Save End. Species

Conservation Biology and
Legislation
A Little History…
• U.S. Lacey Act of 1900: prohibits trade
in wildlife, fish, and plants that have
been illegally taken, transported or sold.
• 1st federal law protecting wildlife
Conservation Biology
• Research an org. to find best way to
protect the species and its
surrounding habitat.
In-Situ Conservation
• “In the field” conservation
• Done by protecting them in their habitat.
Ex-Situ Conservation
• “Out of the field” when few individs left
• Conserving/ helping the population
repopulate in a lab, zoo, aquarium.
Bald Eagle Conservation
• 1963= 417
nesting pairs
• Loss of habitat,
hunted, DDT
• Ex-Situ rehab.
• Aug 8, 07: off End
Species List!
Seed Banks
• Ex-Situ: Saves plants from destruction
• Cryogenically frozen for future
• Stored in duplicate locations
Botanical Gardens
• Ex-Situ: Breed plants and educate
• Asexual reproductive techniques
Aquariums: Ex-Situ
• Growing own corals
• Rehab of injured animals
• Raising public awareness
Zoos: Ex-Situ
• Artificial
Insemination
• Embryo
Transfer
• Education
National Conservation Orgs
• Audubon Society: Birds
• American Cetacean Society: Marine
mammals
• National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club,
Tree People
International Conservation Orgs
• World
Conservation
Union (IUCN)
• World Wildlife
Fund
• Nature
Conservancy:
Buys land,
establishes
reserves
• 1973 -illegal to import or trade products of E.S.
unless used explicitly for science
• USFWS responsible
• Species on list cannot be “taken”, threatened,
killed, harmed: habitat can’t be harmed
• Decision must be made on biological
basis only
– No development that causes harm
– Must develop a recovery plan
– 1350 species listed (4000 candidates)
Problems w/ ESA
• Encourages people to
destroy land before
listing
• No focus on ecosystem
• Is inflexible
• Is political
• Focus on charismatic
megafauna
• Only 8 species de listed
International Laws
• CITES - Convention on the International
Trade of Endangered Species
– Created by IUCN: World Con. Union
– signed by 169 countries
– prohibits trade of live specimens or
products of 900 species on list
CITES
• Does not use
Endangered or
Threatened.
• Uses appendices:
• Appendix 1 listed
means endangered.
Appendix 2 listed
means threatened.
• An org. can be on both
CITES and US ESA!
Ring-Tailed Lemur: App I
Squirrel Monkey: App II
IUCN’s Red List
• World
Conservation
Union list.
• Assess
conservation status
of global species.
• Use Critically
Endangered,
Endangered, and
Vulnerable.
Common Hippo: Vulnerable
Angel Shark: Crit. Endang.
International Whaling
Commission
• Regulates whaling
• Bans on gill-netting, purse seines
• Japan/Finland no sign!
How to Save End. Species
Establish parks, preserves and
wilderness areas that are not
fragmented!
How to Save End. Species
Enforce legislation such as US ESA
and CITES.
Support $$ env. organizations.
How to Save End. Species
Control human population and
consumption!
How to Save End. Species
• Restore damaged habitats
• Reforest
• Regulate private land use.