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Wildlife Resources

Wildlife Resources. What is happening to the wildlife and plant resources around us today?. U.S. Species Diversity. Decreasing Biodiversity. 10-20% of species alive in 1975 were extinct in 2000. Mostly plants, invertebrates in tropical rain forests (many undescribed species).

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Wildlife Resources

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  1. Wildlife Resources • What is happening to the wildlife and plant resources around us today?

  2. U.S. Species Diversity

  3. Decreasing Biodiversity • 10-20% of species alive in 1975 were extinct in 2000 • Mostly plants, invertebrates in tropical rain forests (many undescribed species) • 40% of all species live in tropical areas • Disappear along with forests

  4. Extinction Not New • 99% of all species have gone extinct • Gradual environmental changes have been responsible for most extinctions • Rapid environmental changes from asteroids, etc. also have been important in many extinctions

  5. Extinction Rates • Background (natural) rate of extinction • Massextinction

  6. Why Should We Care About Extinctions and Biodiversity? 1) economics 2) aesthetics 3) ecological 4) ethics

  7. Cinchona Cinchona ledogeriana, South America Quinine for malaria treatment

  8. Rauvolfia Rauvolfia sepentina, Southeast Asia Tranquilizer, high blood pressure medication

  9. Foxglove Digitalis purpurea, Europe Digitalis for heart failure

  10. Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia, Pacific Northwest Ovarian cancer

  11. Human Impacts on Biodiversity

  12. Causes of Premature Extinction of Wild Species

  13. Human Activities That MayCause Extinctions • Habitat disturbance/destruction • Commercial hunting • Predator and pest control • Collecting for pets, zoos, research • Pollution • Introductions of exotic species

  14. Habitat Disturbance and Destruction California Condor

  15. Commercial Hunting Black Rhino Range in 1700 Range today (about 2,400 left)

  16. Predator and Pest Control African Elephant Probable range 1600 Range today (300,000 left)

  17. Collecting for Pets, Zoos, Research

  18. Pollution Bald Eagle - DDT

  19. Species Introductions Dodo Bird Zebra Mussel

  20. Threats from Nonnative Species

  21. Strategies for Protecting Biodiversity • Species approach • Ecosystem approach

  22. Protecting Wild Species: The Legal Approach • International Treaties: CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species • National Laws: ESA- Endangered Species Act

  23. Protecting Wild Species: The Sanctuary Approach • Wildlife refuges and protected areas - e.g. whooping cranes • Gene banks, botanical gardens, and farms • Zoos and Aquariums - captive breeding programs

  24. The Ecosystem Approach • Biosphere reserves • U.S. has >30 reserves - Yellowstone National Park - Great Smoky Mtns. National Park • Other countries have similar reserves

  25. Bird Success Stories California Condor Whooping Crane Peregrine Falcon Canada Goose WildTurkey

  26. Economics and the Environment • Sustaining economic growth? - Is growth necessary for progress? - Limited natural resources - Limited capacity to deal with wastes

  27. Redirecting Economic Growth • Reduce polluting growth, and growth dependent on nonrenewable resources • Encourage “clean” and efficient growth, and growth dependent on renewable resources

  28. Harmful External Costs and Full-Cost Pricing • External costs - need to eliminate waste in the economy • Full-cost pricing - pay true cost for goods and services - recycling fee and pollution tax to cost of new tires, oil changes

  29. Politics • Orderly distribution of resources • Political systems designed to accomplish this goal

  30. United States Political System • Legislative: enact laws to ensure equitable distribution of resources • Clean Air & Water Acts, Water Pollution Control Act, RCRA, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

  31. NEPA • Environmental impact statement • Short- and long-term effects of project on the environment • Examine alternatives

  32. United States Political System • Executive: enforce the laws • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Enforce environmental regulations • Distribute federal money for environmental purposes (Superfund)

  33. United States Political System • Judicial: interpreting the laws • Environmental law - Who “speaks for the trees”? The Lorax

  34. Factors Hindering Democracies in Dealing with Environmental Problems • Lack of long-range planning (usually focus on short-term issues) • Special interest groups have too much influence • Too much bureaucracy

  35. Religion and the Environment • Most environmental degradation has been the result of human attitudes and values. • Self-centered view of nature

  36. Religion and the Environment • All major religions emphasize humans as a part of nature • Steward of nature • A steward is a caretaker

  37. Religion and the Environment • Most people do not practice their religious or philosophical beliefs when it relates to the environment (not acting as stewards) • Human population growth • Resource problems • Pollution problems • More emphasis is being placed on environmental concerns now by the world’s religious leaders.

  38. Ecological Crisis? • Gloom and doom? • Technological optimism? • “Good old days”? • An important beginning • Lots more to accomplish

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