Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
WWF GLOBAL 200 APROACH ECOREGION CONSERVATION FOR FRESHWATER AND TERRESTIAL ECOSYSTEM • An approach for biodiversity conservation at large scales What is an Ecoregion? An ecoregion is defined as a large area of land or water that contains a geographically distinct assemblage of natural communities that: (a) share a large majority of their species and ecological dynamics; (b) share similar environmental conditions, and; (c) interact ecologically in ways that are critical for their long-term persistence. Ecoregions • Biodiversity ignores national and other political boundaries, so a more relevant conservation planning unit is required • WWF addresses this need with ecoregions. Freshwater ecoregions • Are based primarily on the historic distribution of fresh water species Why should we use ecoregion planning Ecoregion enable; • An analysis of ecological process that shape and maintain patterns of biodiversity • The consideration of wide ranging species or that require large area habitat • The representation of all naturally occurring biological communities within a system of protected or managed areas • A coherent analysis of threats to biodiversity operating across the whole entire ecoregion rather than ad hoc site by site basis • identification of key species and places for conservation investment • A better understanding of the role of specific projects can and should play in long term biodiversity conservation What is an ecoregion The Conservation Science Program has identified; - 825 terrestrial ecoregions across the globe, and - a set of 426 freshwater ecoregions has just been completed. - WWF has recently launched an analogous global framework of 229 coast and shelf marine ecoregions in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy. Priority Ecoregions • • WWF has assessed these ecoregions and identified the Global 200 -- the most biologically distinct terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecoregions of the planet. This global assessment has been built in part through a series of more detailedregional assessments that the Conservation Science Program continues to undertake. What is ecoregion conservation? The cornerstone of ecoregion conservation is biodiversity vision The vision is built around conservation targets: • Distinct communities, habitats, and species assemblages • Large expanses of intact habitats , and intact biotas • Keystone habitats, species ,and processes • Other species of specially concern • Large -scale ecological phenomena Representation- capturing the full range of biodiversity of a biogeographic unit within a system of protected –is a key component of ecoregion conservation How to develop a biodiversity vision? A vision is builds on the findings of a biological assessment A biological assessment is a record of the distribution of: • Species, communities, and habitats in the ecoregion • Ecological process sustaining that biodiversity; and • Current and future threats to its maintanance See map showing a simplified biological assessment Primary distinguishing features of ecoregions conservation for fresh water systems • • • • • Mantaining connectivity within and between aquatic habitats, conectivity with the riparian zone and flood plains, and conectivity with subtearan system is essential Because aquatic habitats are linked, focusing solely on the protection of discrete sites will be generally an in complete solution to developing a bidiversity vision The recovery of disturbed habits can depend on the presence of adjacent or connected undisturbed habitats – called spatial refugia-that can save a a source of recolonisation. Within a basin, effects, effects of land based activities are propagetad downhill , and downstream and downstream impacts can propagate upstream A vision must aim to protect hydrologicla process operating over large spatial scales. In alterd systems this may include alteration of local hydrograph