4.3 Conservation of biodiversity

Arguments for preserving species

• Ethical• Aesthetic• Genetic Resources• Commercial• Life Support/ecosystem support functions

Ethical• Has intrinsic (essential) value• Right to exist• Human have stewardship over the Earth

Aesthetic (Visual)

• Recreation• Spiritual• Educational

Genetic Resource• Diversity of gene

pool• Ensures future

variety of life• Needed for stable

ecosystems (disease/natural selection)

Commercial• Food, Industry, lumber, rubber, oil…• Medicines ($100 billion/year)• Ecotourism

Life Support• Nutrient cycling • Water Purification• Pollination• CO2 Removal

• Flood Control

UNEP• United nations environmental program• Provide leadership and partnerships worldwide

WWF• World Wildlife Fund• Independent conservation organization• Draw attention to major issues and influence

policy and decision making• 252 million dollars in 1995

Greenpeace• Independent campaigning organization• Non-violent, creative, confrontation• Draw attention through issues by “bearing

witness”

Ecoterrorists • Greatest terrorist threatto our country• Animal Liberation Front

(ALF)• Earth Liberation Front

(ELF)• Arsons, bombings,vandalism andharassment

Greenpeace protests

Key Terms

• Corridors- Strips of land that link reserves together

• Ecotone- where two habitats meet near a boundary

• Edge effect- occurs at ecotones because more species are present from the two habitats (increased resources)

Ecotone (marsh/mangrove)

Edge Effect: More Species Can Be found here at the ecotone!

Criteria used to Design protected areas• Size: – How large should area be?– One large or many small areas?– How many individuals must be protected? – Reduce Edge Effect

• Shape: What is the best shape?• Proximity: How close together? • Corridors: Reserves Joined or separated?

Corridor in Wildlife Reserve

Wildlife Reserves Design

CITES

• Conservation of International trade in endangered species (CITES)

• Reduced trade in endangered species – Appendix I: cannot be traded threatened with

extinction– Appendix II: can be traded but with strict

regulation– Appendix III: Included at request of country to

help regulate illegal exploitation

Species based approach to conservation

Strengths Weaknesses

Focus on 1 at a time Species do not exist in isolation

Media- High profile species captures attention

Media doesn’t like unglamorous organisms

More research Research needs the context of whole environment

Focus on species diversity Ignores community and ecosystem biodiversity

Breeding, reintroduction, zoo programs Doesn’t ensure protection of habitat

Only need key species How do you decide on key species?