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Learning About Biodiversity

Learning About Biodiversity. NRESC LEARNING SESSION January 16, 2012. Purpose of Learning Session. To build NRESC members’ understanding of what is meant by biodiversity and what its potential implications are for our work NOT to try to reach agreement about biodiversity

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Learning About Biodiversity

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  1. Learning About Biodiversity NRESC LEARNING SESSION January 16, 2012

  2. Purpose of Learning Session • To build NRESC members’ understanding of what is meant by biodiversity and what its potential implications are for our work • NOT to try to reach agreement about biodiversity • NOT to advocate adoption or rejection of biodiversity for NRESC use Side Note from MSU-Facilitated Process “The community planning process focuses on actions that the community agrees should be taken, not on getting everyone to agree to the same definition of words or concepts.” -- Dr. John Beck, MSU NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  3. “Biodiversity” • What does biodiversity mean? • Why does biodiversity matter? • What are the implications of biodiversity? • Biodiversity in the Great Lakes & Beaver Island archipelago • How might biodiversity matter to the NRESC? • What additional learning questions do we have? NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  4. 1. What Does Biodiversity Mean? Biodiversity is a relatively new way of both measuring & understanding the condition of the natural environment. As a way of measuring, it is value neutral; it just counts things. As a way of understanding, it has important implications for human management of nature. Some Definitions "The number and variety of species.” Biologists most often define biodiversity as the "totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region." The 1992 United NationsEarth Summit defined "biological diversity" as "the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, 'inter alia', terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.“ This definition is used in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  5. A Little Background The term biological diversity was used first by wildlife scientist and conservationist Raymond F. Dasmann in the 1968 lay book A Different Kind of Countryadvocating conservation. The term was widely adopted only after more than a decade, when in the 1980s it came into common usage in science and environmental policy. Thomas Lovejoy, in the foreword to the book Conservation Biology, introduced the term to the scientific community. By the early 1980s The Nature Conservancy's Science program and other leading conservation scientists advocated the use of "biological diversity." The term's contracted form biodiversity may have been coined by W.G. Rosen in 1985 while planning the 1986 National Forum on Biological Diversity organized by the National Research Council (NRC). It first appeared in a publication in 1988 when entomologist E. O. Wilson used it as the title of the proceedingsof that forum. Since this period the term has achieved widespread use among biologists, environmentalists, political leaders, and concerned citizens. NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  6. 2. Why Does Biodiversity Matter? • The Big Picture • Biodiversity can be regarded as a “principle for life on Earth”-- as the basis for evolution and adaptation to changing environments, making it essential for survival of life. • International Association for Impact Assessment: “Loss” of biodiversity “impoverishes the environment and reduces its capacity to support people now and in the future.” • First World Summit on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro (1992) emphasized importance of biodiversity as the basis of our very existence, to be used wisely and sustainably and conserved for current and future generations. NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  7. Human Benefits of Biodiversity • A source of harvestable goods including food, medicines and building materials. • Essential for regulation of natural processes and the earth’s life-support systems, e.g., carbon sequestration, soil formation, and purification of water. • Essential for pollination of commercially valuable crops and biological control of pests and diseases. • A source of spiritual and religious enrichment and well-being. (In many cultures and societies, components of biodiversity have “intrinsic” value in their own right, irrespective of material contribution to human wellbeing.) NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  8. Loss of Biodiversity • Scientists have concluded that massive extinctions occurred five times during the earth's history, the last one the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. • They are calling what is occurring now, the sixth mass extinction. Most believe the rate of loss of species is greater now than at any time in Earth’s history. • The problem is not just the loss of species. There is also loss of genetic diversity within species, and loss of diversity of different types of ecosystems • Primary Causes of Current Biodiversity Loss • Natural resource consumption • Loss of habitat due to urbanization, deforestation, etc. • Pollution • Invasive species • Climate change NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  9. 3. What Are the Implications of Biodiversity? Decisions about how individuals, businesses, and governments manage/use natural resources—locally and globally—inevitably have impacts on local/global biodiversity. • Invest in measuring biodiversity (training, data gathering, etc.) • Adopt biodiversity goals for natural resource/ecosystem management plans • Provide programs and/or financial incentives supporting voluntary management for biodiversity goals • Adopt/enforce regulations supporting required management for biodiversity goals • Provide education for public and next generation (legacy) NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  10. 4. Biodiversity in the great lakes and beaver archipelago NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  11. “The Great Lakes are outstanding in terms of biological diversity. These islands form the world’s largest collection of freshwater islands and contain significant biodiversity including endemic species, rare habitats and critical biological functions. They are important breeding and staging areas for colonial nesting waterbirds, harbour noteworthy assemblages of plants and animals and provide important stopover sites for migrating birds. They make a significant contribution to the physical and biological diversity of the Great Lakes and surrounding basin.” “Islands of Life: A Biodiversity and Conservation Atlas of the Great Lakes Islands” NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  12. Biodiversity of ISLANDS • Geographic factors such as island remoteness and size affect species populations • Large islands tend to have more biodiversity than smaller islands because they have a broader array of habitats • Isolation of islands (or island groups) means they may contain species and ecosystems not found elsewhere. (E.g., dune grasslands found along Great Lakes islands and mainland shorelines are unique in the world) NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  13. Biodiversity of Lake Michigan IslandsFrom “Islands of Life” • More than 6 globally rare species: Dwarf Lake Iris, Houghton’s Goldenrod, Pitcher’s Thistle, Piping Plover Over 12 species rare in Michigan & Wisconsin, including: American Bittern, Common Tern, Michigan Monkey-flower, Calypso and Pumpelly’sBromegrass About 1/3rd of Lake Michigan islands with high biological diversity scores are protected. Beaver Island, the highest scoring biodiversity island, has approximately one-third of its area protected as nature preserves or conservation easements as well as wildlife areas and forest management areas… Garden and Hog Islands are in the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area Beaver Islands Group, managed for conservation. Many upper Lake Michigan islands have high biological diversity, Including sites for colonial nesting waterbirds and ecosystems/habitat for fish. The most threatened islands are Beaver Island and Washington Island… primarily because of their residential and recreational development and roads. NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  14. Scoring BiodiversityFactors Used in “Islands of Life” • Species: rare species, colonial nesting waterbirds, species at risk • Plant Communities: diversity of rare or globally rare plant communities • Ecological Systems • Ecosystem Functions: Isolation (from mainland), Birds (roosting, foraging birds; roosting, foraging waterfowl; stopover sites for landbirds), Fish Habitat (habitat for inter-jurisdictional fish species) • Physical Diversity: Shape complexity, geological complexity, shoreline diversity • Size • Distinctiveness NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  15. 5. How Might Biodiversity Matter to the NRESC? Discussion… NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

  16. 6. What Additional Learning Questions Do We Have? NRESC Biodiversity Learning Session 1.16.12

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