3.2.4 - ways to conserve biodiversity

What are the 5 methods for conserving biodiversity

• national parks

• Total protection

• Ecotourism

• gene banks

• Trophy hunting

What are national parks

An area of countryside, sea or fresh water protected by the state for the enjoyment of the public or the preservation of wildlife - some places are protected because of their natural phenomenon e.g. Grand Canyon

Give an example of a national parks

Komodo national park

Komodo national park

• in Indonesia - 1980

• Protects Komodo dragon illegal hunting, also protects their habitat as it can’t be destroyed or removed due to unesco designation

Evaluate national parks

• helps preserve the species - population is now 3000

• may be difficult to educate people in Indonesia about the problem as many children don’t finish elementary school

National parks link

Ca be done but very difficult due to limitations e.g. visitors

What is total protection

Where protected places would be completely fenced off and the movement of people in and out of that area is prohibited and very closel monitored

Total protection example

• Central kalahari in Botswana

• In 1966 they banned hunting and anyone moving in or out of the area and began to relocate residents as they thought just removing all people would solve the issue

Evaluate total protection

• Putting laws or rules in place about people being there would help the effects of humans on the area however local residents removed from the area would have issues with this method as they have been removed from their home

Total protection link

It doesn’t help much for conserving biodiversity it just limits numbers of people

What is ecotourism

• tourism focused on visiting natural areas responsibly helping with conservation and local communities

Ecotourism example

• murera springs in Kenya

• Visitors use ecolodges and are given guided tours of he areas trying to be conserved and why - so they are educated

• Tourist numbers are limited to reduce risk of overpopulation in conserved areas

• Visitors learn about ways to help the environment e.g. eco friendly energy

• Profits are put back into conservation

Ecotourism evaluation

• educates people about the environment and looking after it so they pass this message on when they get home and continue to help the environment

• The natural environment is conserved ad n changed at all for the needs of tourists

• They are very expensive making success lower

• Doesn’t have a huge impact of species richness

Ecotourism link

• can help to maintain biodiversity in one specific place

What are gene banks

Facilities that store genetic material to preserve genetic diversity of plants and animals

Gene bank example

• Millennium seed bank uk

• In 2000 it has collected over 2 million seeds from 40,000 species

• 275 partners

• If people visit it has educational panels so they can learn about what the seed bank is trying to do and maybe even help

Gene banks evaluation

• plant species stored there can’t become extinct

• We can come up with ways to help preserve the species in the long term

• Doesn’t impact biodiversity and species richness in the wild as we are just storing the genetic material

• Areas with the highest biodiversity in the world e.g. amazon don’t have them

• Expensive for LIC’s

Gene banks link

Doesn’t conserve biodiversity in the wild

What is trophy hunting

Hunting of wild animals where parts e.g. horns are kept as trophies - can fund conservation if strictly regulated

Trophy hunting example

• sango wildlife conservancy, Zimbabwe

• It was purchased n 1993 and the owners say the profits from trophy hunting provides approximately 60% of revenue needed to keep sango running every year

Evaluate trophy hunting

• provides economic benefits as many people in Zimbabwe are employed in this industry

• Keeps numbers of animals in check

• Environmentalists would be uncomfortable with it as its killing animals

• Unethical

Trophy hunting link

Can help preserve animals in an area by providing funding for conservation