Wildlife Conservation

Name – Ajay Rana

Class – X “AS”

Roll no. –

Submitted To – mrs. Renu

Wildlife Conservation

In the United States alone, there are 986 endangered species (388 animals, 598 plants). Also listed are 276 species which are threatened (129 animals, 147 plants).

In the world, 1072 animal species are considered endangered or threatened; 748 plant species are listed as well.

Wildlife Conservation

Causes of Endangerment Efforts and Governmental Acts to Protect

Species Wildlife Refuges American Bald Eagle Conservation Whaling

Reasons for Endangerment

Habitat Destruction Our planet is continually changing, causing habitats

to be altered and modified. Natural changes tend to occur at a gradual pace, usually causing only a slight impact on individual species. However, when changes occur at a fast pace, there is little or no time for individual species to react and adjust to new circumstances. This can create disastrous results, and for this reason, rapid habitat loss is the primary cause of species endangerment. The strongest forces in rapid habitat loss are human beings.

Habitat Destruction (cont’d.)

For example, although tropical forests may look as though they are lush, they are actually highly susceptible to destruction. This is because the soils in which they grow are lacking in nutrients. It may take Centuries to re-grow a forest that was cut down by humans or destroyed by fire, and many of the world's severely threatened animals and plants live in these forests. If the current rate of forest loss continues, huge quantities of plant and animal species will disappear.

Introduction of Exotic Species Native species are those plants and animals that are part of a

specific geographic area, and have ordinarily been a part of that particular biological landscape for a lengthy period of time.

These species are introduced into new environments by way of human activities, either intentionally or accidentally. These interlopers are viewed by the native species as foreign elements. They may cause no obvious problems and may eventual be considered as natural as any native species in the habitat. However, exotic species may also seriously disrupt delicate ecological balances and may produce a plethora of unintended yet harmful consequences.

Introduced insects, rats, pigs, cats, and other foreign species have actually caused the endangerment and extinction of hundreds of species during the past five centuries. Exotic species are certainly a factor leading to endangerment.

Overexploitation Unrestricted whaling during the 20th century is an example of

overexploitation, and the whaling industry brought many species of whales to extremely low population sizes. When several whale species were nearly extinct, a number of nations (including the United States) agreed to abide by an international moratorium on whaling. Due to this moratorium, some whale species, such as the grey whale, have made remarkable comebacks, while others remain threatened or endangered.

Animals are also deliberately hunted for their furs and the special properties some of their body parts have in the making of medicines. While hunting endangered species is illegal, it continues in many parts of the world because of the large sums of money these animals can bring. There are demands for items such as rhino horns and tiger bones in several areas of Asia. It is here that there exists a strong market for traditional medicines made from these animal parts.

More Factors Disease, pollution, and limited distribution are more factors that

threaten various plant and animal species. If a species does not have the natural genetic protection against particular pathogens, an introduced disease can have severe effects on that specie. For example, rabies and canine distemper viruses are presently destroying carnivore populations in East Africa. Domestic animals often transmit the diseases that affect wild populations, demonstrating again how human activities lie at the root of most causes of endangerment. Pollution has seriously affected multiple terrestrial and aquatic species, and limited distributions are frequently a consequence of other threats; populations confined to few small areas due to of habitat loss, for example, may be disastrously affected by random factors.

Efforts and Governmental Acts to

Protect Species

The Endangered Species Act

Passed in 1973 Mission to conserve “the ecosystems upon which endangered

and threatened species depend” It is illegal to “take” an endangered species Administered by the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Department of Commerce’s National Marine Fisheries Service

Individual states are encouraged to develop their own conservation programs for local endangered species

Current ESA Statistics

517 animals are currently endangered

29 animals are proposed for listing

116 candidate species 541 Habitat

Conservation Plans (HCPs) have been approved

• Dedicated to the restoration and protection of costal habitats

• Plans and implements both large and small-scale projects

• Community-based Restoration Program (CRP)

• Damage Assessment and Restoration Program (DARP)

NOAA Restoration Center

More information can be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/index.html

Greenpeace

Immediately end industrial logging and road-building in the Earth's remaining ancient forests

Immediately end clear-cutting in

all forests

U.S. businesses should eliminate their use of all products that destroy or degrade ancient forests

Forest Stewardship Council

(FSC)

http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/forests/

Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT)

Goal of conserving the diversity of plant and animal species in Southern Africa

“Working Groups” initiate and fund projects to further the maintenance of biodiversity

Wildlife Refuges

Wildlife Refuges

“A haven or sanctuary for animals; a wildlife refuge is an area of land or of land and water set aside and maintained, usually by government or private organization, for the preservation and protection of one or more species of wildlife.”

Types of Refuges

The U.S. Wildlife Refuge System in 1997 made up more than 520 different areas in all the states, covering over 93 million acres.

The system is governed by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Dept. of the Interior.

The work of the service includes: Biological research The administration and enforcement of relevant

federal legislation Numerous related projects

Types of Refuges (cont’d.)

Refuges have been established for big game, small resident game, waterfowl, and colonial non-game birds.

The most numerous are the waterfowl refuges.

Waterfowl refuges are refuges that offer to various birds breeding areas, wintering areas, and resting and feeding areas along major flyways during migration.

Types of Refuges (cont’d.)

While the main purpose of the refuge system is to ensure survival of wildlife by providing suitable cover, food, and protection from humans, many refuges have permitted hunting and fishing in season and other recreational activities within its grounds.

Some refuges, also, have been designated wilderness areas.

Wilderness Areas A wilderness area is “land retaining its primeval

character with the imprint of humans minimal or unnoticeable.”

In the United States, the Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System - 9 million acres of land in 54 different areas that provided for the designation of new wilderness areas.

By 1992, the total had risen to 95 million acres in 708 areas of land.

 Alaska, with 57.6 million acres, is by far the leading repository of wilderness in the United States.

Wilderness Areas (cont’d.)

According to environmentalists, Wilderness lands are to be preserved in their natural condition, wild and undeveloped.

The idea of wilderness has deep roots in American thought and writings: William Penn Henry David Thoreau

The establishment of wildlife refuges in the United States

Refuges have been established by private individuals and societies and by all levels of government.

The first state refuge was established by California in 1870; the first federal refuge was Pelican Island in Florida (1903).

 Other countries throughout the world also maintain parks, refuges, and game preserves. Kruger National Park (est. 1898) in South Africa

Recent Issues with Refuges

Maintenance and repair of facilities are enormous. Between 1985 – 1995, Congress added 80 refuges

to the system, but the refuges’ annual operating budget never kept pace with this growth.

Now, even as refuges are asked to handle more and more public access, some of these vast holdings are perceived as burdens on taxpayers.

Some members of Congress have suggested selling off portions of the refuge system.

Recent Issues with Refuges (cont’d.)

Others have favored opening them up for more public use.

Opponents of these measures arguing that these bills refuges would be badly weaken refuges throughout the country.