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 weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation

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 The Ecosystem Approach

Goal

Protect species frompremature extinction

Strategies

• Identify endangered species

• Protect their critical habitats

Tactics

• Legally protect endangered species

• Manage habitat

• Propagate endangered species in captivity

• Reintroduce species into suitable habitats

Goal

Protect populations ofspecies in their naturalhabitats

Strategy

Preserve sufficient areasof habitats in differentbiomes and aquaticsystems

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

Bio

diversity

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

• Gene banks & Seed banks

• Botanical gardens, Farms

• Zoos & Aquariums

• Captive breeding & Reintroduction programs

• Aesthetic vs. Ecological value

Evaluating Species based Approaches: Captive breeding

Strengths1. Organisms safe from

poachers2. Ensure good chance

of offspring survival3. Artificial insemination

possible4. Cross fostering is

possible – raised by parent of similar species

Weaknesses1. It is artificial2. 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 good?

1. Shows people the true critical value of species

2. See how it effects us – food web links, nutrient cycling, keystone species

What’s bad?

1. May go over the heads of the general public

2. May be hard to quantify this for some 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

• www.iucn.org

• http://www.panda.org (WWF site)

• www.unep.org

• http://www.greenpeace.org/international/

• http://www.cbd.int/