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when did humans start degrading the environment?
for as long as we have existed - evidence that hunter-gatherers overexploited species
overall impacts of ancestral environmental degradation
small because consumption levels were low, impacts were small and localized, and they practiced conservation
what is conservation and what is required to practice it?
“Conservation is the act of preserving, protecting,
or restoring natural resources in order to prevent
depletion, and to ensure their long-term benefits to
future generations. Conservation only occurs
when people knowingly, and willingly use a
resource at less than its maximum sustainable
rate. Conservation requires restraint and incurs
costs.” (Ch. 2, pg. 27)
what is intergenerational sustainability
promoted harmony between humans and their environment. People were instructed to maintain sacred forests for many generations. Idea originated in China during the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279) with setting aside of “sacred” or fengshui forests around villages as part of religious philosophy
Idea originated independently with the Iroquois nation (AD 1142 and 1500) who recorded the 7th generation principle in The Great Law of Iroquois Confederacy -- a philosophy that the decisions we make today should result in a sustainable world 7 generations into the future.
what is the noble savage
A common trope that romanticizes early cultures as symbolizing the innate goodness of humanity, free from the corrupt influences of modern civilization.
Early cultures lived in harmony with nature, managing resources wisely to live within their means.
Current societies advanced technology and placed in contrast, as greedy destroyers of nature.
Society must return to its previous state to conserve nature and its biodiversity
what were the first game and nature reserves - signaling conservation
Royal Forests in England, Scotland, and Wales
Medieval period (starting ca. 500AD)
Reserved for hunting by royalty
Forest law enforced by wardens, foresters, rangers
Imperial gardens in China
Genghis Khan (1200AD), Qing Dynasty (1644-1911
Bureau of Imperial Gardens and Parks
Enforced hunting regulations
what are the colonial roots of forest conservation
Originated in British colonies of East India where science officers argued conservation was needed to prevent soil erosion, provide irrigation and drinking water, maintain wood supplies, and prevent famine.
Beginnings of a conservation ethic based on 3 ideas:
Human activity damaged the environment
Civic duty to maintain env for future gens
Science/empiricism was necessary
1855 – Dalhousie introduced first permanent large-scale forest conservation program in the world – British colonial reserve system in India was then replicated in other colonies, and beyond
foundations of the national park
Bialowieza Forest. Poland -- first nature reserve (est. 1561 by Polish king) to protect a species from extinction (European bison, Bison bonasus).
Bogd Khan Mountain, Mongolia – first national park (a 673 km2 park est.1783 under the Qing dynasty). Preserved for its natural beauty.
yellowstone national park history and importance
Est. 1872 by act of Congress
1st time any nation set aside large tract of land for public enjoyment.
Was a monumental turning point in the conservation movement.
Concept was imitated throughout world: Australia (1879), Canada (1885), numerous countries in Africa (1890), Sweden (1903).
National Park model responsible for many ‘success stories’
describe the American Colonial and Frontier Eras
1500-1800’s
Nature to be conquered
Resources ‘inexhaustible’
Individuals ‘owned’ the land
Idea of manifest destiny
Homestead Act (1862)
By mid-1800’s, widespread recognition that
•Fish & wildlife were disappearing due to overfishing and market hunting
•Pollution was uncontrolled
•Deforestation was rampant, leading to massive erosion, major fires
•Concern over public health & safety
what was the first environmental movement?
romantic transcendentalism
which authors pioneered romantic transcendentalism?
Emerson and Thoreau
what was the first US conservation philosophy and what were its principles?
Preservationist ethic championed by John Muir (started Sierra Club)
Nature has intrinsic value, completely separate from its value to people.
Intrinsic values are morally superior to the tangible benefits of exploitation.
Nature is to be preserved… left alone, unexploited.
What was Teddy Roosevelt’s contributions
(26th U.S. President, 1901-09)
Active outdoorsman, loved nature, heavily influenced by Muir and Preservationist Ethic.
Trust buster - Viewed large mining / lumber corporations as unfairly profiting from public resources.
Devised concept of National Parks system & establishment of U.S. National Parks Service.
Used provisions of 1891 Forest Preservation Act to set aside unprecedented amounts of land.
5 national parks, 51 bird reserves, 4 game preserves
Established U.S. Forest Service / 150 national forests
930,000 km2 protected area
what was the 2nd conservation philosophy and what were its principles
Resource Conservation Ethic - championed by Pinchot
Pinchot was 1st head of forest service and trained in silviculture
Principles
Proper use of natural resources is whatever will further “the greatest good, for the greatest number of people, for the longest time.”
Resources should be distributed fairly among all generations
Inception of “sustainable development” -- a philosophy used by many national (USFS) and international agencies (UN).
What was the 3rd conservation philosophy?
Evolutionary-ecological land ethic (championed by Aldo Leopold)
Leopold trained as forested at Yale. Joined Forest Service, did not like Pinchot’s philosophy
Principles
The goal of conservation is to preserve the health, integrity, and functioning of ecosystems and the ecological processes they perform.
Humans are part of (not separate from) an eco-evolutionary community of organisms. People should be intimately involved in land management, but they should be good members of a community of species.
Influential in many conservation organizations that practice ecosystem-based management (e.g., TNC).
How did the post WWII boom impact conbio
unprecedented expansion of industry, sprawl, public works, wealth, and environmental impacts
big events in modern movements leading up to the 2nd movement
1963 - Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
1969- Santa Barbara Oil Spil
1969 - Cuyahoga River catches fire
the 2nd environmental movement
in 1970s
1970- first earth day
1970 - nixon forms EPA
1972 - congress passes water pollution control act
1973 congress passes Endangered Species Act
1977 - Supreme Court upholds Endangered Spcies Act and passes Clean Water Act
1978 - Love Canal national emergency
1980 - Carter esablishes Superfund
formalization of conservation biology as a discipline
Michael Soulé set in motion the formalization of conbio and founded the Society for Conservation Biology here in A2
how is conbio interdisciplinary?
it integrates the biological sciences, resource management, social sciences, and humanities. basic meets applied science
why is conservation biology a crisis discipline?
“Of the hundreds of thousands of human generations that ever existed, no previous generation has had to respond to the possible annihilation of a large percentage of the species diversity on the planet by humans. Unless humanity acts quickly, the next generation may not have this opportunity.”
Groom et al. (2006)
what are the three main goals of conbio
1. To investigate and describe the full variety of life on the planet
2. To evaluate and predict the effects of human activities on biodiversity
3. To develop practical solutions to protect and manage biodiversity sustainably
