Conservation in Biodiversity

Why should we conserve anything?

Species have value as sources for medicine Madagascar’s rosy periwinkle has revolutionized

treatment of childhood leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease The Chinese star anise’s fruit is used in Tamiflu Paclitaxel from the Pacific yew tree treats ovarian, breast,

and small-cell cancers Ethnobotany: studies relationships between plants

and people 3,000 plants have anticancer properties The search for beneficial drugs has helped create parks Bioprospecting: studies indigenous people’s use of plants

The rosy periwinkle

Recreational, aesthetic, and scientific uses

Values support commercial interests Recreational and aesthetic values support

commercial interests In 2006, 87.5 million U.S. adults participated in

wildlife-centered recreation (e.g., bird-watching, hunting) Generated 2.6 million jobs and $108 million

Ecotourism: tourists visit a place to observe wild species or unique ecological sites It is the largest foreign exchange-generating enterprise

for many developing countries Environmental degradation affects commercial

interests

Scientific value

We learn basic laws of natureThe way ecosystems and the world work

Biota provides the nature we studyBut most scientific work is done to gain

medicines, agricultural benefits, and other outcomes

A cautionary note Using wild species and biodiversity causes problems

Little money from the rosy periwinkle’s success went back to Madagascar, a very poor country

Large companies have patented ancient herbal remedies But indigenous people may not benefit

Ecotourism may bring money to poor countries It increases pollution, harms wildlife, changes cultures Whale-watching boats disrupt whale feeding Tourist boats frighten flamingoes and reduce their feeding

The loss of instrumental valueBiodiversity loss has tremendous negative

effect on the worldThe Economics of Ecosystems and

Biodiversity’s (TEEB) 2008 report detailed the economic and life-quality effects of biodiversity loss

Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services = $78 billion/yrHighest for the world’s poorestSuch an outcome is morally wrong

Species have value for their own sake The usefulness (instrumental value) of species is

obviousBut it’s not enough to protect many speciesSome species have no obvious value

Another strategy: emphasize the intrinsic value of speciesExtinction is an irretrievable loss of something valuable

The existence of a species means it has a right to existLiving things have ends and interests of their own

“Destroying species is like tearing pages out of an unread book”Humans have a responsibility to the natural world

Religious support for intrinsic value Jewish and Christian traditions show God’s concern

for wild species God declared his creation was good and blessed it All wild things have intrinsic value and deserve care

The Islamic Quran (Koran) says the environment is Allah’s creation and should be protected

Native American religions have a strong environmental ethic

Hindu philosophy has strong grassroots environmentalism

Religions represent a potentially powerful force for preserving biodiversity

How many species? Most people are unaware of the great diversity of

species Groups that are rich in species: flowering plants and

insects Conspicuous or commercially important groups are

more explored and described Birds, mammals, fish, trees

Fully exploring biodiversity would require a major effort Estimates continue to rise as rain forests are explored

http://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/changing-planet

Disappearing Lizards&

Survival of Trees

The state of U.S. species

Protecting Wild Species:A. Legal and Economical Approaches

International treaties have helped reduce the international trade of endangered and threatened species, but enforcement is difficult.

1. One of the most powerful is the 1975 Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).

Signed by 169 countries, lists 900 species that cannot be commercially traded.

2. The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)One of the world’s most far-reaching and controversial environmental laws is the 1973 U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).

ESA forbids federal agencies (besides defense department) to carry out / fund projects that would jeopardize an endangered species.

ESA makes it illegal for Americans to engage in commerce associated with or hunt / kill / collect endangered or threatened species.

Congress has amended the ESA to help landowners protect species on their land.

Some believe that the ESA should be weakened or repealed while others believe it should be strengthened and modified to focus on protecting ecosystems.

Many scientists believe that we should focus on protecting and sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem function as the best way to protect species.

- But…at present only 1.6-2.5% of the land is in preserve or protected

Because of scarcity of inspectors, probably no more than 1/10th of the illegal wildlife trade

in the U.S. is discovered.

4 / 15 / 2009 – Endangered Species Act

Species Recovery

Endangered Threatened Total Plans

Mammals 325 33 358 55

Birds 254 21 275 85Reptiles 79 40 119

38Amphibians 22 12 34

17Fishes 85 66 151

102Snails 25 11 36

30Clams 64 8 72

70Crustac 19 3 22

18 Insects 51 10 61

40Arachnids 12 0 12

12Plants 601 148 749 664

TOTAL 1,537 352 1,889 1,131

(589)

Endangered Species by State http://www.endangeredspecie.com/map.htm

We could choose to preserve habitats, ecosystems, and biomes ..BUT,

at present there are too many economic and legal blockades to such an approach.

SO,Therefore, we take a single-species approach, and because we take a single-species approach we need to choose species carefully, given that there are so many endangered species and so little money.

Yeah .. We wish.

When Choosing a SpeciesThe Criteria should be as following:

• Likelihood of extinction

• Likelihood that we can help the species

• Taxonomic distinctiveness

• Ecological “key” species

• “Flagship” species (e.g., spotted owl)

Population viability analysis also supports the contention that protection

is coming too late for most species.

For example: the IUCN Captive Breeding Specialist

Group recommends that captive populations

be established for vertebrate species with

wild populations below 1000 individuals.

Protecting Wild Species:

The Sanctuary ApproachThe U.S. has set aside 544 federal refuges for wildlife, but many refuges are suffering from environmental degradation.

Pelican Island was the nation’s first wildlife refuge.

The best sanctuaries…

One large area Area with least perimeter

Less ecotone If they have to be split up, use a cooridor, so creatures

can get from one area to the next

A. Legal and Economical Approaches

Biodiversity hotspots in relation to the largest concentrations of rare and potentially endangered species in the U.S.

The Sanctuary ApproachGene banks, botanical gardens and using farms to raise threatened species can help prevent extinction, but these options lack funding and storage space.

Zoos and aquariums can help protect endangered animal species by preserving some individuals with the long-term goal of reintroduction, but suffer from lack of space and money.

III. Protecting Wild Species:Reconciliation Ecology

Reconciliation ecology involves finding ways to share places we dominate with other species.

Replacing monoculture grasses with native species.

Maintaining habitats for insect eating bats can keep down unwanted insects.

Reduction and elimination of pesticides to protect non-target organisms (such as vital insect pollinators).

IV. What can you do? Do not buy furs, ivory products, and other materials

made from endangered or threatened animal species.

Do not buy wood and paper products produced by cutting remaining old-growth forests in the tropics.

Do not buy birds, snakes, turtles, tropical fish, and other animals that are taken from the wild.

Do not buy orchids, cacti, and other plants that are taken from the wild.

Spread the word. Talk to your friends and relatives about this problem and what they can do about it.