Conservation and Biodiversity Prioritization for a Sustainable Future

1. Lecture 3: Conservation

2. What is Conservation? • Restoration Ecology: applies ecological principles in an effort to return degraded ecosystems to their previous natural condition • Conservation: the preservation or planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or loss of biodiversity

3. Why Conserve? • Because… • “Diverse systems are often the most productive systems” • “Variation is the basis for adaptation: it allows some individuals or species to thrive or survive while others are declining” • “Coral reefs contribute to overall marine productivity” • And other keystone species in their own ecosystems • If we damage ecosystems and decrease biodiversity we take away the support for the system, thus collapsing life…

4. How do we prioritize biodiversity? Most unique species? Ecological distinctiveness; endemic species (only found in one part of the world) Example: Lemurs only found on Madagascar Longest Evolutionary History? One of many species of Tiger Or Only species of a family (example: aye-aye) Special evolutionary meaning? Example: Chimpanzees and Bonobos closely related to humans Hotspots are based on increased levels of endemic species, so we will focus on biodiversity hotspots Who and Where to Conserve? Above: Aye-Aye, only species remaining in family Below: Bonobos

5. How to Conserve Biodiversity and Hotspots • Different Approaches need to be taken for: • Different ecosystems, (marine vs tropical rainforests), and • Different species (large predators vs small herbivores)

6. Approaches to Conserving Tropical Rainforests: • Habitat Protection • National Parks and Private Reserves • With Corridors/ Networks • Laws and regulation against hunting endangered species • Captive Breeding programs to increase population size then rerelease into the wild • Reduce Emissions and pollution to save the Earth from global warming and climate change

7. Habitat Protection • Protecting forests from clear-cutting, slash and burn, and unregulated logging • An alternative to this is Sustainable Forest Management • Harvesting the forest without destroying or altering the structure or overall size of the forest • This involves selective logging • Planting and reforestation to Absorb CO2 • We discussed how selective logging can cause edge effects and potentially disrupt the ecosystem. With better management and reforestation these effects will be minimized.

8. National Governmental Protection of entire habitats Private Reserves: privately owned protection of large and small areas How big should the reserve be? Single Large or Several Small? What are Corridors and Networks? National Parks, Private Reserves, and Networks Above: Costa Rica Parks and Reserves Dark green= current reserves Light green= planned/developing reserves

9. The Minimum viable population size, the pop size at which the population is viable and sustainable, needs to be considered. Need to consider how much area each individual species needs to survive. Large Predators generally need a larger habitat. This combined with the MVP can tell us how much habitat needs to be protected. What if there isn’t the ability to protect this large of a habitat? … NETWORKS. Corridors are narrow pieces of habitat that would link reserves together creating networks Networks would buffer disturbances to a single smaller reserve, and would increase the effective population size National Parks, Private Reserves, and Networks Above: Ecuador’s Planned Corridors

10. Reduce Sedimentation and Pollution Forestry management to reduce soil erosion via logging Limit Coastal Development Increase Mangroves and estuaries around the coast to act as buffers Fertilizer management Fishery Management Sustainable Harvest Laws against harvesting endangered species Farm Raise/ Breeding of fish for human consumption Habitat Protection Reserves or Protected Areas from human activities such as fishing, swimming, boating, etc. Approaches to Conserving Coral Reefs Above: Farm Raised Salmon Behind: Mangrove Below: Coral

11. What YOU Can Do • What YOU can do today: • Plant a Tree • Growing Plants Absorb CO2, gases that cause global warming • Recycling • Write a letter to your local legislators • Telling them you want more laws protecting Hotspots • Conserve Water • Take Shorter Showers • Don’t leave the water running while brushing your teeth • Plant A Garden • Eating locally grown food will lower your impact on the environment • How YOU can help in the FUTURE: • Career Choices • Become a conversationalist, environmentalist • Share Knowledge • KEEP LEARNING • New eco-friendly ideas are being developed everyday, learn new ideas to reduce your impact!