3.4 Conservation of Biodiversity

Species and Habitat preservation arguments

Species and Habitat preservation arguments

aesthetic. ecological, economic, ethical, social reasons

Governmental Organisations (in conservation)

eg UNEP United Nations Environment Programme

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (In conservation)

International - WWF or Greenpeace; community based e.g. Palani Hills Conservation Council or Vatakanal Trust

Comparing effectiveness of Conservation Organisations

Use of media, speed of response, diplomatic constraints, financial resources, political influence

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

First signed in Rio at Earth Summit (1992) and uses an ecosystem approach (an integrated strategy for the management of resources)

precautionary principle

where there is a threat of significant reduction or loss of biological diversity, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to avoid or minimize such a threat

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)

Strategy is how a country intends to fulfill the objectives of the CBD, while the National Biodiversity Action Plan comprises the concrete actions to be taken to achieve the goals of the strategy

2010 Biodiversity Convention

To achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth.

Conservation Approaches

Habitat conservation, species conservation or a mixed approach

Designing Protected Areas criteria

size, shape, edge effects, corridors, proximity to potential human influence

Edge effects

the effects of human impact around the boundaries of a protected area. The idea is to reduce the amount of "edge" therefore a circle is the optimal shape

Habitat / Wildlife corridors

these are zones which link together protected areas. they may be physical bridges or simply wildlife friendly zones such as a hedge. They can increase the effective size of the habitat available to an organism

CITES

Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Aims to prevent species threatened with extinction because of international trade. Parties act by banning commercial international trade in an agreed list of endangered species (Appendix-I listed species) and by regulating and monitoring trade in others that might become endangered or whose trade needs to be regulated to ensure control over trade in Appendix-I species (Appendix-II listed species).

Captive breeding programmes

These are designed to try to save what survives, ideally for subsequent release back into the wild. In extreme situations, the species may actually be extinct in the wild.

Reintroduction programmes

Following captive breeding, a species may be released into the wild to form or supplement a wild population. This sort of programme will only work if the reason for the organisms extinction no longer exists.

Charismatic species / Flagship species

these are species that might be deemed "sexy" for publicity's sake and therefore used to promote the protection of an area but thus protecting many other species.

Keystone species

Keystone species maintain the structure and integrity of an ecological community. They have a much larger influence on the community structure than other species, e.g. starfish, sea otters

Economic arguments for preservation

may include ecotourism, the financial benefits of bioprospecting (to find medically useful drugs etc) and the value to humanity of the ecosystem services

ethical arguments for preservation

intrinsic value of the species or the utilitarian value

aesthetic arguments for preservation

the value from seeing and enjoying beauty

ecological arguments for preservation

trophic cascades, food chain effects, ecosystem services (water cycles, flood protection)

social arguments for preservation

The rights of particular groups of people who believe they have a cultural right to the preservation of some land. Some religions and societies ascribe value to the Earth and thus prioritise its protection.