Managing the conservation of

biodiversity
DEFINTION
 Native Species : a species that originated and
developed in its surrounding habitat and has
adapted to living in that particular environment
 An invasive species is an organism that is not
indigenous, or native, to a particular area.
Invasive species can cause great economic and
environmental harm to the new area.
IMPACTS OF INVASIVE SPECIES ON ENVIRONMENT

 Loss of habitat-Perhaps the most significant of these is the widespread loss

of habitat. The hemlock woolly adelgid is an invasive insect from Asia that
rapidly kills infested hemlock trees. In some parts of the Eastern United
States, it is estimated that up to 80% of hemlock trees have been
killed. These forests represent important habitat for many animals and
with crucial habitat gone, species that rely on them may face extinction.
 Alteration of habitats-Some invaders can physically alter the habitat in
addition to destruction. 50 beavers from Canada were relocated to Tierra
del Fuego, an archipelago at the southern tip of South America, in 1946 to
be hunted for their pelts Since then, they have multiplied and now number
in the hundreds of thousands. The trees in the region are not adapted to
beaver activity as they are in North America, and most do not grow back
after being gnawed by beavers.
IMPACTS OF INVASIVE SPECIES ON ENVIRONMENT

 Biodversity loss-Other invasive species may not destroy

habitat but can have an impact by killing large numbers of
endemic species. Burmese pythons, for example, are top
predators in the Everglades. As such, they have decimated
local mammal and bird populations. Capable of consuming
deer and even alligators, these creatures eat virtually any
animal they encounter in the Everglades. A number of
threatened and endangered bird species have also been
found in the digestive tracts of pythons, prompting concern
that they could drive some species toward extinction.
THE BENEFITS OF CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY

 Biodiversity supports food security and sustained

livelihoods through overall genetic diversity.
 ​ enes regulate all biological processes on the planet and increase
G
the ability of organisms to cope with environmental stressors.
 Preserving genetic diversity ensures the continuing existence of a
wide-range of crops that may be able to withstand disease, and
potentially useful biochemicals such as those used in healthcare. It
also means availability of species for pollination and pest control.
Losses in genetic diversity will decrease organisms' coping ability
and risk losing potentially beneficial biological information .
THE BENEFITS OF CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY

 Biodiversity has greatly contributed to modern medicine and

advancements in human health research and treatment.
 Many modern pharmaceuticals are derived from plant species, including
the anti-tumor agent Taxol from the Pacific yew tree, the anti-malarial
artemisinin from sweet wormwood, and the cardiac drug digoxin from the
digitalis plant.
 Pharmaceuticals can also be derived from non-plant species, such as the
drug ziconotide, which has been highly effective in relieving nerve pain
and severe pain in cancer patients and is derived from the venom of
predatory cone snails.
 As conversion of habitats and subsequent losses in diversity take place,
the potential for losing cures for some of the world's most troubling
ailments increases.
THE BENEFITS OF CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY

 In addition to the many medicinal benefits from biodiversity, human

health can be positively affected simply by spending time in outdoor
environments, which has been linked to increases in life satisfaction and
happiness, and decreases in blood pressure, anxiety, and cardiovascular
disease symptoms.
 Conserving biodiversity and protecting a wide range of habitats maintains
the many benefits that this diversity provides for all species. Highly
diverse environments, such as Yellowstone National Park, are prime
ecosystems that support many species in addition to being aesthetically
beautiful, educational, and interesting recreation sites.
 A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem.
Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically
different or cease to exist altogether..
LEGISLATION AND PROTOCOLS AS METHODS OF
CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY

 1CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna

and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that
international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of
the species.
 Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to
regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-
exploitation. CITES was conceived in the spirit of such cooperation.
 2 The International Whaling Commission (IWC)
 The IWC is the global body charged with the conservation of whales and the management of
whaling.
 In addition to regulation of whaling, today's IWC works to address a wide range of
conservation issues including bycatch and entanglement, ocean noise, pollution and debris,
collision between whales and ships, and sustainable whale watching.
 3 The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the fisheries policy of the European Union (EU).
It sets quotas for which member states are allowed to catch each type of fish, as well as
encouraging the fishing industry by various market interventions
LEGISLATION AND PROTOCOLS AS METHODS OF
CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY

 4 The International Tropical Timber Organization

(ITTO) is an intergovernmental organization
promoting the sustainable management and
conservation of tropical forests and the expansion
and diversification of international trade in
tropical timber from sustainably managed and
legally harvested forests.
LEGISLATION AND PROTOCOLS AS METHODS OF
CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY

 6 The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria are intended to be an easily and
widely understood system for classifying species at high risk of global
extinction. It divides species into nine categories: Not Evaluated, Data
Deficient, Least Concern, Near
Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in
the Wild and Extinct.
 7 Using a scientific framework to identify the world’s most Evolutionarily
Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species, the EDGE of Existence
programme highlights and protects some of the most unique and most
wonderful species on the planet. EDGE species have few close relatives on the
tree of life and are often extremely unusual in the way they look, live and
behave, as well as in their genetic make-up. They represent a unique and
irreplaceable part of the world’s natural heritage, yet an alarming proportion
are on the verge of extinction.
IUCN PROTECTED AREAS
 A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised,
dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve
the long term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and
cultural values. (IUCN Definition 2008).
 A nature reserve (also known as a natural reserve, wildlife
refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature
preserve, or nature conservation area), is a protected area of importance for
flora, fauna, or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved
and managed for purposes of conservation and to provide special opportunities
for study or research. They may be designated by government institutions in some
countries, or by private landowners, such as charities and research institutions.
 A national park is a park in use for conservation purposes, created and protected
by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or
developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns.
EVALUATION OF HABITAT CONSERVATION AND
CREATION AS METHODS OF CONSERVING
BIODIVERSITY
 An extractive reserve is a type of sustainable use protected area in
Brazil. The land is publicly owned, but the people who live there have
the right to traditional extractive practices, such as hunting, fishing and
harvesting wild plants.
 Benefits of All PROTECTED areas

Nature reserves are usually government-protected, while others are

privately owned. ...
 Protects Animals and Plants. ...

 Provides Knowledge and Value. ...

 Safe Habitat for Plants and Animals. ...

 Economy Benefits. ...

 Protects Indigenous People's Land Rights.

EVALUATION OF HABITAT CONSERVATION AND CREATION
AS METHODS OF CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY

 THREATS TO PROTECTED AREAS

 These include logging, poaching of protected
animals, mining, and encroachment by human
settlements and agriculture. Human activities
outside of protected areas are also often a threat –
such as those leading to pollution, climate
change, and the introduction of invasive specie.
EVALUATION OF HABITAT CONSERVATION AND CREATION
AS METHODS OF CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY

 CONS OF NATURE RESERVES

 Humans interfere with the wildlife.

 Garbage is left behind, plant life is destroyed and reserves land is

reduced to fit to human needs.

 Roads and trails are built.

 Take away from the habitats of the organisms.

 ADVANTAGES OF PROTECTED AREAS

Effectively managed protected areas are a critical tool for safeguarding

biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem balance, preserving important
habitats, building resilience to climate change, providing global food
security, maintaining water quality, conserving natural resources, driving
economic success,
CAPTIVE BREEDING & RELEASE/REINTRODUCTON
 Although some species can be very hard to breed, captive breeding has a high success rate.
 19% of all mammals, 10% of all bird species have been bred in captivity.
 90% of all mammals, 74% of all birds added to U.S. zoo collections since 1985 were born in
captivity.
 some species are extinct in the wild but thrive in zoos: Przewalski's horse, Arabian Oryx, Pere
David's deer
 A number of wild populations of species were born in captivity and now live free: Bald Eagle,
Golden Lion Tamarin, Andean condors, red wolves.
 Criticisms of Captive Breeding
 Despite these statistics, captive breeding has its critics.
 It focuses on a few, charasmatic endangered species
 genetic diversity may have sunk too low to be regenerated
 costly, diverts resources from much more cost-effective ecosystem and habitat conservation
measures
 gives false sense that battle against extinction is being won