dr deirdre mckay, keele university, [email protected] c-change in gees: people and the...
TRANSCRIPT
C-Change in GEES
People and the Environment
Session 2Session 2: Biodiversity
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These slides were last updated in January 2010
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Learning Objectives
This lecture will:
• Describe the 3 forms of biodiversity
• Sketch the geography of biodiversity at a global scale
• Discuss the kinds of value attached to biodiversity with examples
• Describe how uncertainties shape policy responses for biodiversity conservation
1. Biodiversity as a Resource
2. Threats to Biodiversity
3. The Value of Biodiversity
4. Public Policy and Biodiversity
Session Outline
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
BiodiversityThe variety of life forms that inhabit the earth.
Biodiversity includes :
1)Habitat diversity - the range of different combinations of soil, climate and water supply that lead to a range of different ecological environments or biomes.
2)Plant and animal species diversity within the various habitats - UNEP-WCMC estimate a total of 14 million species (1.75 million of which have been identified)
3)The genetic diversity of various species - within individual species. Even between members of the same species a great deal of diversity can occur between their genomes
(Kemp, 2004: 408)
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
How do we use Biodiversity as a Resource?
• Genetic diversity – recombinant DNA technologies (e.g. salmon antifreeze protein in tomatoes)
• Species diversity – domestication or extraction of plant and animals as resources (i.e. agriculture)
• Habitat diversity – exploitation for resource extraction or conversion (e.g. UK heathlands)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ParaguayChaco_Clearings_for_cattle_grazing_.jpg
Paraguay Chaco Clearings for Cattle Grazing
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
Biodiversity has Geography: Global Hotspots
Twenty-five regions have been identified which together cover only 1.4% of the Earth's land surface but contain nearly half of all plant species and a third of all terrestrial vertebrate species
Also see: Conservation International’s websitehttp://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
Threats to Biodiversity
Biodiversity is threatened by human use of resources, either directly or through indirect effects on ecosystem balance e.g.
– hunting / poaching
– pollution
– over-harvesting of plants
– land conversion
– introduction of alien species
– climate change
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
What Value does Biodiversity have?
1) Inherent value – the worth of species and ecosystems in spiritual, aesthetic or philosophical ‘standing’
2) Service value – the worth of the ecological functions diversity performs
3) Resource value – the worth of diversity as a resource for human use
Catskill Park, NY
Protected and valued highly for the clean water that it supplies to New York City
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Central_Catskills_from_Twin_south_summit.jpg
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
1 - Inherent Value
Sacred cow wandering the streets of Delhi
Humpback Whale
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roshnii/70814880/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Humpback_stellwagen_edit.jpg
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
2 - Service value
Biodiversity supports ecosystem services:
– Nutrient cycling (carbon, nitrogen, sulphur)– Hydrology and climate moderation – Air filtration– Erosion control– Energy capture– Reproduction of plant – and animal resources
But we don’t usually pay for these servicesThey are what economists call ‘externalities’ – part of the taken-for-granted worldBees provide an important
pollinating service
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bee_pollinating_Aquilegia_vulgaris.JPG
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – a case of Ignorance
Costa Rica’s Montane Forests
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aasgier/525735562/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/254075049/http://www.flickr.com/photos/travlinman43/3414133733/
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
Cloud Forest in Monteverde, Costa Rica
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/texaseagle/3895324856/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/klight/590163548/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eristalinus_October_2007-6.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/da100fotos/440241617/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22254604@N05/3747053906/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BeeCropped.jpg
Pollinators
Which species are important?
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
3 - Resource Value
Will making biodiversity valuable as a resource encourage its conservation?
A case of indeterminacy….
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
Bioprospecting
…the search for new sources of chemical compounds, genes,
proteins, microorganisms and other elements
existing in biodiversity that posses real or
potential economic value.
http://www.inbio.ac.cr/en/inbio/inb_faq.htm
• Much of the world's bio-diversity richness is located in the tropical areas in the developing world while the economic and scientific capabilities to exploit that biodiversity exist mainly in developed Western nations.
• Benefit sharing agreements are supposed to ensure Western companies who source genetic material from other nation’s provide recompense in the form of expertise/training, a collection fee and/or a share of the profits.
• But once the information has been collected, will we need in-situ conservation in the natural environment? Or are we looking at a scenario where things are grown in labs?
Case study: National Biodiversity Institute (INBio) Costa Rica (www.inbio.ac.cr)
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
Public Policy Responses
How governments act to conserve biodiversity….
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
International Convention on Biodiversity Conservation (1992)
Objectives
conservation of biological diversity
sustainable use of its components
fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources, including by
appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate
transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over
those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate funding.
• Signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit
• Conceived as a practical tool for translating the principles of Agenda 21 into reality
• Recognizes the ecosystem services aspect of biodiversity
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
More Public Policy Measures
• C.I.T.E.S. – global convention, where governments agree to ban trade in wildlife products from endangered species and regulate trade in products for species at risk of becoming endangered
• Protected Areas Policies - parks, reserves and ‘special management zones’ put in place by national and local governments
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
Conservation Outlook: Bleak?
• Numerous national and international agreements and the creation of protected areas and species try to conserve biodiversity, but they are hard to enforce in practice.
• Biodiversity conservation maintains inherent and service values of biodiversity
• Because conserved biodiversity appears to be of limited resource (use) value, governments are willing to risk loss of biodiversity for the perceived social and economic advantages of land conversion and development
Dr Deirdre McKay, Keele University, [email protected]
C-Change in GEES: People and the Environment – Biodiversity
Learning Summary
• You should know the 3 forms of biodiversity and the 3 kinds of value attached to biodiversity
• You should be able to discuss ignorance as it applies to our knowledge of biodiversity
• You should be able to use the concept of indeterminacy to describe: 1) the extinction of species; 2) the management of protected areas and 3) the possible implications of bioprospecting for conservation
References
Kemp, D.D. (2004) ‘Exploring Environmental Issues: An Integrated Approach’ Routledge (Chapter 9)
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Item Metadata
Author Dr Deirdre McKay
Stephen Whitfield
Institute – Owner Keele University, School of Physical and Geographical Sciences
Title Biodiversity PowerPoint Presentation
Date Created February 2010
Description Biodiversity - PowerPoint Presentation – Part Two of People and the Environment
Educational Level 1
Keywords (Primary keywords – UKOER & GEESOER)
UKOER, GEESOER, Resource, genetic, species, threats, value, policy
Creative Commons License Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales