Download CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered

Endangered Species
What is biodiversity?
Why is biodiversity
important?
What are the five major
threats to biodiversity?
Treaties and
legislations
What efforts are being
made to slow the loss
of biodiversity?
Endangered Species
Teacher Packet
• Background information
• List of Endangered Species at Woodland Park Zoo
• List of Species Survival Plans at Woodland Park
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Zoo
List of Species of Concern in Washington
Vocabulary
Resources
Activities
Plant and Animal Fact Sheets
What does it mean to be
endangered?
a species that is in danger of
extinction if nothing is done to
prevent it
Biodiversity
What is biodiversity?
Biological diversity or biodiversity:
• diversity of species
• diversity of genes within species
• diversity of ecosystems on the planet
Why is biodiversity important?
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Aesthetic value of biodiversity
Moral responsibility to protect biodiversity
Species interrelationships: the web of life
Medicinal value of genetic diversity
Agricultural value of genetic diversity
Ecosystem health maintained by biodiversity
Threats to
Biodiversity
Threats to biodiversity
Scientists agree that the following five factors are
the major problems contributing to the current
loss of biodiversity:
1. habitat destruction
2. introduced species
3. pollution
4. overexploitation
5. population growth
Habitat Destruction
• Demand for land: agriculture, development,
extraction of natural resources
 development includes roads, buildings, homes
 extraction of natural resources includes mining,
logging, hydroelectric power (dams)
• Habitat destruction can result in habitat
fragmentation
 populations isolated from one another
 inability to access resources to fulfill basic
needs
Habitat fragmentation
Pygmy rabbit: a species affected by loss of
sagebrush steppe habitat in eastern Washington
Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Lion-tailed macaque: a species affected by
habitat fragmentation in the Ghat Mountains
of India
Ghat Mountains
Photo by Gerry Ellis
Introduced Species
• Introduced species have been moved
from their native habitats to new habitats
- usually by humans, accidentally or
intentionally.
• Some introduced species become invasive
in their new habitats = successfully
reproduce and spread
Introduced Species
• Invasive species can have a multitude of
impacts:
 prey on or outcompete native species
 ecosystem impacts (change hydrology,
encourage fire)
 agricultural/natural resource losses
(pests, diseases)
• Invasive species, once established, are
very difficult to eradicate = prevention of
invasions is key
Western pond turtle: populations have
declined, in large part due to predation by
introduced bullfrogs
Photo by Kate Slavens
Pollution: air, land and water
• Industrial
• Agricultural
• Household
• Noise, light and heat pollution
• Global climate change
Biomagnification
Overexploitation
• Unsustainable trade
live animals/plants  pet trade
 parts/products  medicinal use, adornment,
decoration
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• Unsustainable hunting and harvesting of animals
and plants for food
Human population growth
• Threats are all intensified by the rapid
growth of human populations
• However, it is not population growth
alone that has these impacts:
(population)
(consumption)
(impact)
Lifestyle Choices
Endangered Species
Treaties and Laws
IUCN
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(World Conservation Union)
Mission: “to influence, encourage and assist
societies throughout the world to conserve the
integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that
any use of natural resources is equitable and
ecologically sustainable.”
The IUCN Red List uses a set of criteria to evaluate
the extinction risk of species and subspecies.
The overall aim of the Red List is to convey the
urgency and scale of conservation problems to the
public and policy makers, and to motivate the
global community to try to reduce species
extinctions.
www.iucn.org
CITES
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Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora
An international agreement, drafted by
IUCN (World Conservation Union) which
aims at regulating wildlife trade.
Perhaps the most effective conservation
treaty in existence, with 150 countries
participating.
CITES
Appendix I
Commercial trade prohibited.
Appendix II
Commercial trade permitted under special
circumstances.
Trade highly regulated.
Appendix III
Commercial trade permitted but regulated.
Species specific to a region.
This is what CITES regulates:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered Species Act
• Provides a means whereby the ecosystems upon
which endangered species and threatened
species depend may be conserved.
Endangered Species =
any species which is in danger
of extinction throughout all or a
significant portion of its range
Threatened Species =
any species which is likely to
become an endangered species
within the foreseeable future
Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife
• Maintains a Species of Concern list
(includes endangered, threatened,
sensitive and candidates for listing)
Washington Natural Heritage
Program of the Department of
Natural Resources
• Produces a list of “Endangered, Threatened,
and Sensitive Vascular Plants of Washington
with Working Lists of Rare Non-Vascular
Species”
Woodland Park Zoo’s working
definitions:
• Endangered = refers to a species that is listed as
endangered on the IUCN Red List, as endangered
on the USFWS Endangered Species List, or on
Appendix I to CITES
• Endangered in Washington state = refers to a
species that is listed as endangered by the WDFW
(animals) or the Washington Natural Heritage
Program (plants)
Conservation of
Biodiversity
Conservation:
What is being done for endangered species?
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
(AZA) Programs
• AZA, established in 1972, aids North
American zoos through the coordination
of conservation, education, scientific
study and recreation
• AZA accredits North American zoos to
ensure that they meet certain standards
Conservation Action Partnerships
(CAPs)
• Regional programs developed for
the purpose of coordinating
conservation efforts in a
particular country.
Example: Madagascar CAP
Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs)
Programs focusing on the conservation
needs of entire taxa, or groups of
related species.
Example: Felid TAG
Species Survival Plans (SSPs)
Programs that ensure the
survival of selected species. SSPs
focus on habitat preservation,
maintenance of healthy captive
populations, scientific research,
and public education. In some
situations efforts are made to
reintroduce species into the wild.
Example: Humboldt penguin SSP
Photo by Gerry Ellis
SSP Species at WPZ
as of June 2007
BIRDS
REPTILES
• Aruba Island • Bali mynah
• Humboldt
rattlesnake
INVERTEBRATES
• Dumeril’s boa penguin
• Partula snail
Photo by Karen Anderson
• Keel-billed
• Komodo
toucan
dragon
• Red-crowned
• Louisiana
crane
pine snake
• Victoria
crowned pigeon
• Radiated
tortoise
• White-naped
crane
SSP Species at WPZ
as of June 2007
MAMMALS
• African lion
• African wild dog
• Black and white
colobus
• Clouded leopard
• DeBrazza’s guenon
• Elephant (African
and Asian)
• Fennec fox
• Goeldi’s monkey
• Gibbon (siamang)
• Golden lion tamarin
• Jaguar
• Lion-tailed
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macaque
Matschie’s tree
kangaroo
North American
river otter
Ocelot
Orangutan
Pallas’s cat
Pygmy loris
Red panda
Red ruffed lemur
Reticulated
giraffe
Photo by Gerry Ellis
• Rodrigues fruit
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bat
Sloth bear
Snow leopard
Sumatran tiger
Sun bear
Western lowland
gorilla
What can you do?
Reduce, reuse, recycle.
Use a lunchbox instead of a paper bag.
Support organizations
Pick up litter.
like zoos and
Pulling weeds = less chemicals
aquariums.
Use sweaters and blankets instead Know the issues.
of turning up the heat inside.
Create your own
backyard or
Try to buy recycled
schoolyard habitat.
items.
Be an expert on wild things
around you.
www.wa.gov/wdfw
Practice using less water.
Save electricity.
The End
Developed by Woodland Park Zoo
Education Department, 2000
All photos by K. Remine/ M. White,
except where noted.
Photos property of Woodland Park Zoo.
All rights reserved.
Other photos:
Slide 10: US Fish and Wildlife Service/Claire Dobert
Slide 12: Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
Slide 16: Kate Slavens
Slide 17: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Slide 19: US Fish and Wildlife Service (tiger bone glue), US Fish
and Wildlife Service/ Steve Hillebrand (seized parrot shipment)
Slide 26: US Fish and Wildlife Service/ J&K Hollingsworth
All photos used with permission.