11.8 Methods of maintaining biodiversity

Conservation

Preservation and careful management of environment and natural resources

Benefits of conserving natural habitat in an area

• Organism's’ chances of survival maintained

• Organisms can reproduce

• Species & genetic diversity safeguarded

In situ

Within natural habitat

Ex situ conservation

Out natural habitat

Extinct

No organisms of species exist anywhere in world

Extinct in wild

Organisms of the species only exist in captivity

Endangered

A species that is in danger of extinction

Vulnerable

Species considered likely to become endangered in near features 

Sustainable development 

Economic development that meets the needs of people today, without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs

Benefits of in situ conservation

• Maintains genetic diversity of species

• Maintains evolutionary adaptations that enable a species to adapt continually to changing environmental conditions 

• Endangered species can interact w. other species

  • Preserves interlinked species 

• Generally cheaper than ex situ 

Examples of in situ conservations

Marine (saltwater), aquatic (freshwater) and land nature reserves

• Specifically designated for conservation of wildlife

Active management of wildlife reserves

• Controlled grazing 

• Restricting human access 

• Controlling poaching 

• Feeding animals 

• Reintroduction of species

• Culling or removal of invasive species 

• Halting succession 

Marine Conservation zones

Purpose to create areas of refuge within which populations can build up & repopulate adjacent areas

• Large areas of sea required as target species often move large distances or breed in geographically diff. areas

• Coral reefs 

Ex situ conservation examples 

Botanic gardens, seed banks, zoo

Botanic gardens 

• Plant species grown 

• Actively managed, provided w. best resources to grow 

  • Soil nutrients, watering, pest control 

Seed banks

Seeds carefully stored so new plants can be grown in future 

• Dried & stored at -20 degrees to maintain viability

  • Slows down rate they lose ability to germinate 

• Provides back-up against extinction of wild plants 

• Doesn’t work for all plants 

  • Most tropical rainforest trees die when dried & frozen

Captive breeding programmes (zoos)

Produce offspring of species in human-controlled environment (run by zoos & aquatic centres) 

• Aim to create stable, healthy population of species, then reintroduce them gradually back into natural habitat 

• Mating can be arranged to ensure genetic diversity maximised 

Why can some organisms born in captivity not be suitable to be released?

• Loss of resistance to local diseases in captive-bred populations ; haven’t yet developed resistance to disease

• Learned behaviour hasn’t been learnt (how to look for food)

• Genetic make-up of captives can be so diff from orig. population, 2 populations can’t interbreed

• Competition, tension w. limited habitat space available

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Assist securing agreements between nations

• approx once a year, red list published, detailing current conservation status of threatened animals, countries work together to conserve 

• Involved in CITES

CITES

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

• Regulates international trade of wild plant & animal specimens & their products 

Rio Convention and CBD

• Convention on Biology Diversity requires countries to develop national strategies for sustainable development, ensuring maintenance of biodiversity 

Rio Convention and UNFCCC ()

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

• Agreement between nations to take steps to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations within atmosphere 

Rio Convention and UNCCD ()

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

• Aims to prevent transformation of fertile land into desert & reduce effects of droughts thru programmes of international cooperation 

Country Stewardship Scheme (CSS) 

• Offered governmental payments to farmers & other land managers to enhance & conserve English landscape

• Aim to make conservation a part of normal faring & land management practice

  • Sustain beauty & diversity of landscape

  • Improving, extending, creating wildlife habitats

  • Restore neglected land, conserving archaeological & historic features

  • Improving opportunities for countryside enjoyment

• Replaced by Environmental Stewardship Scheme