ES 100: Biodiversity Conservation: ECOSYSTEM BASED MANAGEMENT

1. ES 100: Biodiversity Conservation:ECOSYSTEM BASED MANAGEMENT September 12th, 2007

2. Approaches to Conservation • Single Species Management • Endangered Species Act • Reductionist, Reactionary, Envt Vs. Economy • Ecosystem Based Management

3. Which Species to Protect? • Umbrella species • Flagship species • Keystone species

4. Species Protection • Minimum Viable Population (MVP) • Inbreeding, genetic drift • Genetic bottleneck • Minimum Viable Area—habitat protection

5. The new trend…… Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) "EBM looks at all the links among living and nonliving resources, rather than considering single issues in isolation . . . Instead of developing a management plan for one issue . . ., EBM focuses on the multiple activities occurring within specific areas that are defined by ecosystem, rather than political, boundaries."
 US Ocean Commission Report, 2004 http://ebm.nceas.ucsb.edu/faq/definition/

6. Ecosystem Based Management Techniques • Conservation Easements • Tradable Development Rights • Nature Preserves • Land-based • Marine

7. Tradable Development Rights

8. Tradable Development Rights

11. Ecosystem Based Management Techniques • Conservation Easements • Tradable Development Rights • Conservation Areas • Land-based • Marine

12. Conservation Areas: where to protect?

13. Habitat Protection: Reserves • One large or many small? • Shape? • Connectivity?

14. SLOSS Debate: Single Large Or Several Small Species-area curve • Management implications: • Small reserves: area = species • As area increases, diminishing returns To consider: Genetic exchange Extinction events Edge effects Future Pressures Cost/Flexibility

15. Reserves…. Size matters!

16. Shape Matters too! Cores and Buffers:

17. Connectivity: Nodes and Corridors

18. Reserves are static…. Nature is not

19. Marine Protected Areas “Any area of the marine environment that has been reserved by federal, state, territorial, tribal or local laws or regulations to provide lasting protection to part or all of the natural or cultural resources therein” (Executive Order 13158). ZONING How can MPA’s improve upon traditional management of individual fish stocks?

20. Marine Protected Areas Channel Islands MPA Objectives: • Protection of representative and unique habitats; • Achievement of sustainable fisheries in the ChannelIslands; and • Minimization of short-term economic losses to all resource users.

21. CINMS MPA Process: http://www.cinms.nos.noaa.gov/marineres/cp.html

22. Science Advisory Panel sets Minimum Viable Area "The best available science demonstrates that the minimum area set aside should be no lower than 30%, and perhaps 50%, of representative and unique marine habitats, features, and populations of interest in all bioregions of the CINMS. Because of the complexity upon which this estimate is based, evaluation of its effectiveness is necessary to determine whether alteration (reduction or increase) is appropriate based on future assessments." –Science Advisory Panel, CINMS

23. The Trouble with Minimum Viable Area “I do not believe that the MRWG can satisfy the goals of biodiversity protection and sustainable fisheries by breaking from some bottom-level of protection, as recommended by the Science Panel. There will be economic impacts, and we should work hard together in this community to equitably and responsibly deal with these impacts but not by compromising on Science Panels recommendation.” -Dr. Michael McGinnis (in a letter explaining his resignation from the marine resources working group, CINMS)

24. Stakeholders • Conservationists • Commercial Fishermen (lobster, urchin, squid, kelp..) • Recreational Fishermen • Recreational Divers • Tourist Boat Operators • Scientists • Others????? Is there inherent conflict? SPILLOVER EFFECT? How can we ‘optimize’ across multiple competing objectives?

26. Great Barrier Reef:MPA Zoning

27. Great Barrier Reef:MPA Zoning

28. GBR vs. CINMS MPA’s • Zoning (2 levels vs.7 levels) • Compensation for displaced fishermen • Decision-making (CINMS: consensus-based) • Community input (forum, transparency)

29. MPA’s: Will They Work? • Enforcement: • Setting boundaries in the ocean • Paper-parks • Role of Technology • Monitoring • BACI • Creating of jobs • Unintended Consequences

30. Some Pro’s and Con’s of MPA’s + (can) protect long-term viability of fisheries + decrease habitat destruction and bycatch + promote non-extractive uses of marine areas + establish ‘baseline’ for scientific studies • Unintended consequence • Can’t fence in marine resources • Can’t fence out pollution, disruption in nearby areas

31. (some) Results are In:

32. (some) Results are In:

33. (some) Results are In:

34. Meta-Analysis Results:

35. The Future: Global MPA’s? At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, coastal nations pledged to turn the tide on this decline by creating national networks of marine parks by 2012. "But until now, it has been unclear how much it will cost countries to deliver on their promises," said Scott Burns, director of WWF's Marine Conservation program. "Making this commitment to marine protection will require international effort on an unprecedented scale. Just half a percent of the sea lies within marine parks today, compared to 12 percent of the land." Projected Cost: estimated $12.4 to 13.9 billion/yr for 30 percent coverage Compared to:Americans spend an estimated $20 billion on ice cream And 8 billion on facial cosmetics

36. Habitat Conservation Management Tools • Conceptual diagrams • Collaboration (with stakeholders, community) • Citizen science • Mathematical/computer models • GIS (Geographic Information Systems) • Remote sensing • Bioassessment • Environmental Impact Reports

37. The new trend……ADAPTIVE management • Treat Management as an experiment • Learn from the past • Allow for change in management approach • ….reduces certainty • ….funding issues

38. For tomorrow… • Come to class ready to participate!!! • Good luck on your finals!!!