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Biodiversity Section 3 Objectives • List and describe four types of efforts to save individual species. • Explain the advantages of protecting entire ecosystems rather than individual species. • Describe the main provisions of the Endangered Species Act. • Discuss ways in which efforts to protect endangered species can lead to controversy. • Describe three examples of worldwide cooperative efforts to prevent extinctions. Biodiversity Section 3 Saving Species One at a Time • People sometimes make extraordinary efforts to save the last few individuals of a species – hope a stable population may be restored Biodiversity Section 3 Captive-Breeding Programs • Breeding species in captivity, with the hopes of reintroducing populations to their natural habitats – successfully with the Californian condor – uncertain if populations will reproduce in the wild Biodiversity Section 3 Preserving Genetic Material • Germ plasm: hereditary material (chromosomes and genes) usually contained in the protoplasm of germ cells – may be stored as seeds, sperm, eggs, or pure DNA. • Germ-plasm banks store germ plasm in controlled environments for future use in research or speciesrecovery efforts Biodiversity Section 3 Zoos, Aquariums, Parks, and Gardens • zoos now house the few remaining members of some species, their last chance for survival • rarely have enough resources or knowledge to preserve more than a fraction of the world’s rare and threatened species. Biodiversity Section 3 More Study Needed • Saving a few individuals often doesn’t save species – species may not reproduce or survive again in the wild – small populations are vulnerable to infectious diseases , and genetic disorders – strategies are a last resort • Urgent need for more serious study of the workings of species and ecosystems Biodiversity Section 3 Preserving Habitats and Ecosystems • most effective way to save species is to protect their habitats. • often means preserving or managing large areas to provide needed resources Biodiversity Section 3 Conservation Strategies • Priority to protecting entire ecosystems rather than individual species – saves most of the species in an ecosystem, not just endangered species • Focus on the hotspots • Identify areas of native habitat that can be preserved, restored, and linked into large networks • Promote products that have been harvested with sustainable practices Biodiversity Section 3 Legal Protection for Species • National laws and regulations to prevent the extinction of species and – those in the United States among the strongest –. Biodiversity Section 3 1973, Endangered Species Act designed to protect any plant or animal species in danger of extinction • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) compiles list of all endangered and threatened species – 983 species listed as of 2002 • protects listed species from human harm. • prevents the federal government from starting a project that jeopardizes a listed species Biodiversity Recovery Plans • provision of the Endangered Species Act – plan for each listed species. – plans often propose to protect or restore habitats for • restrict human uses of land, can be controversial Section 3 Biodiversity Habitat Conservation Plans • A form of compromise between human uses and conservation Section 3 Biodiversity Section 3 International Cooperation • International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) formed – IUCN publishes Red Lists of species in danger of extinction around the world – advises governments on ways to manage their natural resources – works with groups like the World Wildlife Fund Biodiversity Section 3 International Trade and Poaching • created treaty called CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). • work to ban on all sales, imports, and exports of ivory, other exotic products Biodiversity Section 3 The Biodiversity Treaty • United Nations Conference on Environment and Development: also known as the first Earth Summit. – international agreement aimed at strengthening national control and preservation of biological resources. Biodiversity Section 3 The Biodiversity Treaty • Goals – preserve biodiversity – ensure the sustainable and fair use of genetic resources in all countries. • Slow to adopt into law by the U.S. government. Biodiversity Section 3 Private Conservation Efforts • Often more effective than government agencies • Examples – World Wildlife Fund encourages the sustainable use of resources and supports wildlife protection. – The Nature Conservancy has helped purchase millions of hectares of habitat preserves in 29 countries. – Conservation International helps identify biodiversity hotspots. – Greenpeace International organizes direct and sometimes confrontational actions. Biodiversity Section 3 Balancing Human Needs • Protecting species often conflicts with the interests of the world’s human inhabitants. – endangered species might represent a source of food or income – species may not seem valuable to those who do not understand the species’ role in an ecosystem • Many conservationists feel than an important part of protecting species is making the value of biodiversity understood by more people.