Download Sustaining Biodiversity – The species and Ecosystem approaches

Chapter 8 - 9
SUSTAINING BIODIVERSITY – THE
SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEM APPROACHES
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By 2050, the polar
bear population is
likely to decline by
30-35% due to
climate change
Melting of ice floes
POLAR BEAR
HUMAN ACTIVITY

From ¼ to ½ of the world’s known plant and
animal species will disappear due to human
activity
EXTINCTIONS

Biological Extinction

When a species is no
longer found anywhere
on earth

Mass Extinction

The loss of a large number
of species over a short
period of geological time
MASS EXTINCTION

????
CURRENT RATES OF EXTINCTION

Only 1% per year
 At
this rate, at least 25% up to 50% of the world’s
plants and animals will be lost by the end of the
century
ENDANGERED SPECIES

A species with so few
individuals that the species
could become extinct
THREATENED SPECIES

A species that still has
enough individuals to survive
the short term but can
become endangered in the
near future
AS OF JANUARY, 2011, THE STATE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST CONTAINED 46
ANIMALS THAT WERE LISTED AS ENDANGERED, AND 35 ANIMALS THAT WERE LISTED
AS THREATENED. CALIFORNIA ANIMALS PROTECTED UNDER THE FEDERAL ESA
INCLUDE 88 ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND 40 ANIMALS THAT ARE OFFICIALLY
THREATENED
.
HIPPCO
Habitat destruction
 Invasive species
 Population Growth
 Pollution
 Climate change
 Overexploitation

HAWAII – EXTINCTION CAPITAL OF AMERICA

63% of its species are at risk
KUDZU VINE
From Japan
 Introduced to SE U.S. for erosion control
 Taking over
 Releases NO

 Creates
ozone smog
ARGENTINE FIRE ANT
Accidently released in Alabama
 Kill 90% of native ant species
 Can kill humans (80 people have died)

SNAKES IN FLORIDA

Burmese and African Pythons in Florida
CITES

Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (adopted by 175
countries)
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973
Designed to identify and protect endangered
species in the U.S. and abroad
 U.S. list has gone from 92 species (1973) to
1371 (2011).

PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE

When there is significant scientific uncertainty
about potentially serious harm from chemicals
or technologies, decision makers should act to
prevent harm to humans and to the
environment
FORESTS

Old Growth Forest

Uncut or regenerated
forest that has not been
seriously disturbed by
human activity for more
than 200 years

Secondary Growth Forest

Results from secondary
succession. These result
after the old growth
forests have been
removed by human
activity
FORESTS

Tree Plantations
 Or
a tree farm, has only one or two species of trees
that are all the same age.
NATURE’S ECOLOGICAL SERVICES

Constanza’s estimates
 Monetary
value of ecological services = $4.7 trillion
per year
 Hundreds of times more valuable than the lumber
and paper
DEFORESTATION

Almost half of the world’s forest have been cut
down
TROPICAL DEFORESTATION
GRAY WOLF IN YELLOWSTONE
Reduced Elk, Moose and Deer
 More Eagles / Ravens
 Less Coyotes
 Problems???

COSTA RICA
PROTECTION OF ECOSYSTEMS
Map and inventory the world’s terrestrial
ecosystems and the natural services they provide
 Locate and protect the most endangered
ecosystems and species
 Seek to restore as many degraded ecosystems as
possible
 Made development biodiversity friendly by
providing financial incentives to those who help
protect endangered ecosystems

GLOBAL HOTSPOTS