Concepts/Approaches to Managing Natural Areas

1. Concepts/Approaches to Managing Natural Areas

2. Wilderness Management • Conservation Biology • Wildlife Management • Multiple-Use, Natural Areas Management • Restoration Ecology • Reconciliation Ecology & Novel Ecosystems Concepts/Approaches to Managing Biodiversity and Natural Areas

3. Wilderness Management • Conservation Biology • Wildlife Management • Multiple-Use, Natural Areas Management • Restoration Ecology • Reconciliation Ecology & Novel Ecosystems Concepts/Approaches to Managing Biodiversity and Natural Areas Intervention

4. First, a word about wilderness http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm

5. Thomas Cole 1835

6. First, a word about wilderness Wilderness Wilderness of the Soul: The Duality of Human Nature: He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision—he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath—"The horror! The horror!” - Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness • Wilderness as the restorer "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike."   - John Muir, The Yosemite, 1912.

7. First, a word about wilderness The wilderness act http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=legisAct

8. First, a word about wilderness Untrammeled by man?

9. Wilderness and the preservationist ethic.Preservationist, Conservationist, Restorationist

10. Conservation Biology For reasons that are probably more sociological/semantic than scientific, the field of Conservation Biology has generally focused on wildlife. General concept, is to “conserve” Often tangled up with large mammals and top-down processes, conservation generally wants us to think about landscapes, and managing habitats. Focus on endangered species. Managing conflict with people… Dr. John Cox, a conservation biologist

11. Conservation Biology

12. Conservation Biology

13. Conservation Biology

14. Wildlife Management Wildlife management is generally applied population biology. Providing resources to species to push up the population numbers, and also managing the number of animals killed. Wildlife management is closely aligned with hunting and “sportsman” and many time the management objectives is making sure enough animals are alive to ensure there are enough around for hunters to have fun killing them. Wildlife management, traditionally, is focused on “game” animals (a.k.a: Game Management) and can include some very interventionist practices (e.g. purposely planting corn for deer). Note that sportsman provide a LOT of money for “ecology” in the way of hunting licenses, and some of the best friends of conservation are hunting groups. Examples- Ducks Unlimited, The Wild Turkey Federation.

15. Multiple- Use Management Relatively self explanatory…this, approach which has been de facto adopted by the National Park Service , metroparks, the US Forest Service, and so forth, asks the land to provide various needs simultaneously. In particular, a general scheme involves: -Watershed Management (water quality) -Recreation -Wildlife Management -Forestry (timber) This kind of approach may or may not include “conservation” and if so, often quite targeted. Perhaps a resource which draws tourists…not necessarily ecologically focused. To some extent was replaced with “Ecosystem Management”

16. Ecological Restoration • The landscape of eastern North America has been almost completely transformed. • Indeed, there is virtually no square centimeter on Earth that has not been in some way influenced by anthropogenic processes, in many cases these exceed the ecological and evolutionary “boundaries” of these systems, leaving them in shambles. • If we accept the argument that ecological systems are essential to the flourishing of human societies, then we would logically find this level of disrepair unacceptable. • Even the most conservative approach would seek an “ecological bulwark” of functioning ecosystems in an ever-changing world. • With most systems in disrepair how to proceed?

17. To some extent, the job of Science, is to address (the addressable) perils facing humanity. • The science of ecology has sub-divided into several disciplinary approaches to dealing with the “crisis.” • Conservation Biology . As a discipline is focused on who is left, and how do we preserve them. But in practice , this field has also focused on re-introductions, particularly of predators and/or endangered species. • Restoration Ecology. The scientific study of restoring ecosystems . Focused on answering questions in ecology, developing theory to inform science, and theory in the field. • Ecological Restoration. The practice of restoring ecosystems. Field based…outcomes are ecological not necessarily scientific. • Reconciliation Ecology. A new idea. Will discuss on Friday

18. Ecological restoration is the practice of returning a system to some historical state, presumably one that is ecologically superior in important ways. • Ecological systems are dynamic..not static, they change through time…so how do we know where to restore to? • Ecological restoration recognizes this… So instead of focusing on specific current states and future outcomes, we imagine an envelope of variability. The system is changing…sometimes rapidly… we want to change the trajectory…sometimes radically. We force the system back within some natural envelope of variability. Involves significant intervention! • Join me next fall- BIO 409 & 409L to learn more…

19. Wilderness Management • Conservation Biology • Wildlife Management • Multiple-Use, Natural Areas Management • Restoration Ecology • Reconciliation Ecology & Novel Ecosystems Concepts/Approaches to Managing Biodiversity and Natural Areas Intervention