HOW DO WE CONSERVE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY?

HOW DO WE CONSERVE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY?

5 Strategies to Keeping 5 Strategies to Keeping Species AliveSpecies Alive

#1. Protected Areas

Governments set aside land to protect Governments set aside land to protect speciesspecies

Provincial and National ParksProvincial and National Parks Allow animals to live in relatively Allow animals to live in relatively

undisturbed environmentsundisturbed environments 244 540 square kilometers of Canada is 244 540 square kilometers of Canada is

national park landnational park land

Canadian National Parks Map

List of National Parks in Western Canada Banff Banff Jasper Jasper Waterton LakesWaterton Lakes Elk IslandElk Island Wood BuffaloWood Buffalo GlacierGlacier Gulf IslandsGulf Islands KootenayKootenay Mount RevelstokeMount Revelstoke YohoYoho

• Gwaii HaanasGwaii Haanas Pacific RimPacific Rim Riding MountainRiding Mountain WapuskWapusk GrasslandsGrasslands Prince AlbertPrince Albert IvvavikIvvavik KluaneKluane VuntutVuntut NahanniNahanni

In-Situ Conservation

Provincial and National Parks are Provincial and National Parks are examples of in-situ conservationexamples of in-situ conservation

These areas keep species in their These areas keep species in their natural environments rather than natural environments rather than removing themremoving them

Establishing Wildlife Corridors

Corridors are Corridors are important to share important to share genetic information genetic information between populationsbetween populations

All levels of All levels of government must government must work together to work together to make these workmake these work

#2. Restoration of Ecosystems and Species There are various programs to restore There are various programs to restore

endangered species and their habitatsendangered species and their habitats Could be charities, non-profit Could be charities, non-profit

organizations, volunteer groups or organizations, volunteer groups or private citizens doing the restorationsprivate citizens doing the restorations

Some examples include…Some examples include…

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Conserves wetlands Conserves wetlands and other habitats and other habitats for Canada’s for Canada’s waterfowl - ducks, waterfowl - ducks, geese, loons, etc.geese, loons, etc.

Private non-profit Private non-profit organizationorganization

www.ducks.cawww.ducks.ca

Nature Conservancy of Canada

Purchases land and Purchases land and turns it into an area turns it into an area to protect habitat to protect habitat and endangered and endangered speciesspecies

Owns about 1.8 Owns about 1.8 million acres of million acres of CanadaCanada

www.natureconservancy.cawww.natureconservancy.ca

Friends of Fish Creek

““protect, protect, preserve, and preserve, and enhance the enhance the diverse natural diverse natural and human and human history found in history found in Fish Creek Fish Creek Provincial Park.”Provincial Park.”

Non-profit and Non-profit and volunteer-drivenvolunteer-driven

www.friendsoffishcreek.orgwww.friendsoffishcreek.org

World Wildlife Fund

““stop the degradation of stop the degradation of the planet's natural the planet's natural environment and to environment and to build a future in which build a future in which humans live in harmony humans live in harmony with nature”with nature”

Protects 96 millions Protects 96 millions acres in Canada acres in Canada through endangered through endangered species programsspecies programs

www.wwf.cawww.wwf.ca

#3. Resource Use Policies

Governments pass laws to protect Governments pass laws to protect species that are endangered or species that are endangered or threatenedthreatened

These laws say that these species These laws say that these species cannot be hunted or capturedcannot be hunted or captured

Species at Risk Act

Passed by the Canadian government in June Passed by the Canadian government in June 20042004

““framework for actions across Canada to framework for actions across Canada to ensure the survival of wildlife species and the ensure the survival of wildlife species and the protection of our natural heritage”protection of our natural heritage”

To see a copy of this legislation, go to To see a copy of this legislation, go to http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/the_act/HTML/http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/the_act/HTML/Guide_e.cfmGuide_e.cfm

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) This is the national committee that studies This is the national committee that studies

organisms across Canadaorganisms across Canada Determines whether or not organisms need to Determines whether or not organisms need to

be protected by lawbe protected by law Currently there are 456 Species at Risk in Currently there are 456 Species at Risk in

Canada (including 67 mammals and 60 birds)Canada (including 67 mammals and 60 birds) If people harm animals protected by this law, If people harm animals protected by this law,

they face up to a $250 000 fine and/or up to they face up to a $250 000 fine and/or up to five years in prisonfive years in prison

#4. Controlling the Spread of Exotic Species A new species in an environment can A new species in an environment can

have disastrous consequenceshave disastrous consequences There are two examples of this…There are two examples of this…

Purple Loosestrife

Introduced to Alberta from Introduced to Alberta from Europe in the 1800’sEurope in the 1800’s

A plant that lives near A plant that lives near wetlandswetlands

Nothing eats this plant or Nothing eats this plant or uses it for shelteruses it for shelter

Purple loosestrife will reduce Purple loosestrife will reduce the size of natural plant the size of natural plant communitiescommunities

Important to control this plant Important to control this plant so that wetlands can so that wetlands can continue to flourishcontinue to flourish

Rabbits in Australia

Englishman Thomas Austin brought 24 Englishman Thomas Austin brought 24 rabbits into Australia in 1859 because he was rabbits into Australia in 1859 because he was homesickhomesick

These 24 rabbits reproduced and soon after These 24 rabbits reproduced and soon after the species was found all across the the species was found all across the continentcontinent

Rabbits would eat the grass and kill trees by Rabbits would eat the grass and kill trees by stripping their barkstripping their bark

Ate grass that should have been for sheep Ate grass that should have been for sheep this cut down on Australia’s wool exportsthis cut down on Australia’s wool exports

Controlling Rabbits in Australia

Government gave Government gave rewards to people who rewards to people who killed rabbitskilled rabbits

Built a 2000 mile fence Built a 2000 mile fence to protect key cereal to protect key cereal cropscrops

In 1950, the In 1950, the government introduced government introduced a virus that killed rabbitsa virus that killed rabbits

As of 1997, there were As of 1997, there were still 300 million rabbitsstill 300 million rabbits

Rabbits in Australia

http://rubens.anu.edu.au/student.projects/rabbits/history.htmlhttp://rubens.anu.edu.au/student.projects/rabbits/history.html

#5. Conservation of Genetic Resources These involve any activity that helps to These involve any activity that helps to

store the genetic variations of as many store the genetic variations of as many of the world’s species as possibleof the world’s species as possible

Ex-Situ Conservation – Ex-Situ Conservation – the the maintenance of organisms outside of maintenance of organisms outside of their ecosystemstheir ecosystems

Two examples are: SEED BANKS and Two examples are: SEED BANKS and ZOOSZOOS

Seed Banks

Established to gather and store seeds Established to gather and store seeds from plants that are threatened by from plants that are threatened by extinctionextinction

Scientists are able to preserve the Scientists are able to preserve the genetic diversity of many plant speciesgenetic diversity of many plant species

One of the largest is the Royal Botanic One of the largest is the Royal Botanic Gardens in London, EnglandGardens in London, England

Zoos

The Calgary Zoo performs many The Calgary Zoo performs many functionsfunctions– Educational institution for children to visitEducational institution for children to visit– Supports biodiversity research going on Supports biodiversity research going on

around the worldaround the world– Part of a worldwide network to protect and Part of a worldwide network to protect and

preserve endangered animalspreserve endangered animals– Share animals with zoos around the world Share animals with zoos around the world

to maintain the genetic diversityto maintain the genetic diversity

Panda Bears

Our Trips to the Zoo

Do we need Zoos?

PROSPROS– Provide a place for Provide a place for

animals with damaged or animals with damaged or limited habitatlimited habitat

– Maintain biodiversity with Maintain biodiversity with animal breeding animal breeding programsprograms

– Supports research to re-Supports research to re-establish extirpated establish extirpated speciesspecies

CONSCONS– Animals are put in Animals are put in

enclosures so humans enclosures so humans can observe them, can observe them, causing stress to the causing stress to the animalsanimals

– Many animals won’t Many animals won’t breed in captivity so their breed in captivity so their genes are lostgenes are lost

– Money spent on zoos Money spent on zoos would be better spent would be better spent protecting natural protecting natural habitatshabitats