Biodiversity and Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Conservation Biology

ProgrammeProgramme

Presented by Presented by Dept. Biodiversity & Conservation Biology,Dept. Biodiversity & Conservation Biology,University of the Western Cape,University of the Western Cape,Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535

The birth of The birth of civilization has civilization has seen the seen the unprecedented unprecedented destruction of destruction of wildlifewildlife

Pharaoh Ramses Pharaoh Ramses hunted and “killed hunted and “killed 102 wild-eyed lions” 102 wild-eyed lions” in a single hunt!in a single hunt!

Emperor Trajan Emperor Trajan to celebrate a to celebrate a victory organized victory organized a circus which a circus which saw 11 000 saw 11 000 animals animals butchered!butchered!

Even today the Even today the killing continues in killing continues in the name of sport the name of sport hunting, medical hunting, medical science or during science or during wars!wars!

resulting in loss resulting in loss of highly of highly endangered endangered species.species.

So what does So what does the future hold the future hold for the earth’s for the earth’s species?species?

Global deforestation Global deforestation

e.g. Exmoore used e.g. Exmoore used to be forestedto be forested

Air PollutionAir Pollution

CFCs have been CFCs have been linked to the linked to the destruction of the destruction of the Ozone layer above Ozone layer above Antarctica.Antarctica.

Changes to Changes to global weather global weather patternspatterns

e.g. 2001 floods e.g. 2001 floods of Mozambiqueof Mozambique

Desertification – Desertification – through through unsustainable unsustainable grazinggrazing

e.g. Sahele.g. Sahel

Invasions of Invasions of introduced speciesintroduced species

e.g. Pampas Grass e.g. Pampas Grass along the Californian along the Californian coastcoast

OverpopulationOverpopulation

The human The human population has population has doubled in the last doubled in the last 40 years.40 years.

Water PollutionWater Pollution

Deep Water Horizon - Deep Water Horizon - largest marine pollution largest marine pollution eventevent

The Treasure – largest The Treasure – largest successful evacuation of successful evacuation of marine birdsmarine birds

Rapid UrbanizationRapid Urbanization

Cape Town is Cape Town is predicted to have a predicted to have a population of 5.8 population of 5.8 million by 2010!million by 2010!

Nuclear WarNuclear War

Both developed and Both developed and developing countries developing countries have the potential to have the potential to unleash a nuclear unleash a nuclear winter for the entire winter for the entire earth!earth!

Or will an asteroid Or will an asteroid destroy the earth destroy the earth before mankind before mankind does so?does so?

We need to plan We need to plan for our future!for our future!

This is why the This is why the merged Botany merged Botany and Zoology and Zoology departments at departments at UWC have UWC have introduced the introduced the BCB programme – BCB programme – Biodiversity and Biodiversity and Conservation Conservation Biology.Biology.

Here are some Here are some issues to issues to consider..consider..

Almost 25 Almost 25 Million people Million people die each year die each year due to a lack of due to a lack of clean water clean water and adequate and adequate sanitation.sanitation.

One-third of the One-third of the world’s population world’s population have no access to have no access to commercial energy.commercial energy.

In Africa, 340 In Africa, 340 million people or million people or half of the half of the population, live on population, live on less than US$1 a less than US$1 a day.day.

The richest 1% The richest 1% of the world’s of the world’s people receive people receive as much income as much income as the poorest as the poorest 57% in 1993.57% in 1993.

The world has The world has 600 million 600 million sheep and sheep and goats, 360 goats, 360 million cattle million cattle and 6.1 billion and 6.1 billion people!people!

The Earth’s The Earth’s temperature could temperature could increase by 6 increase by 6 degrees Celsius by degrees Celsius by 2100!2100!

37% of the 37% of the world’s world’s population are population are vulnerable to vulnerable to the effects of the effects of rising sea rising sea levels.levels.

UK customs UK customs confiscated confiscated some 1600 live some 1600 live animals and animals and 1800 plants 1800 plants that are on the that are on the endangered endangered species list!species list!

A quarter of A quarter of the planet’s the planet’s mammal mammal species are species are now at risk of now at risk of extinction.extinction.

One-third of One-third of global global biodiversity is biodiversity is concentrated concentrated into 1% of the into 1% of the Earth’s surface.Earth’s surface.

A quarter of all A quarter of all plant species in plant species in the world could the world could be extinct by be extinct by 2025!2025!

Half of the Half of the world’s coral world’s coral reefs are now reefs are now at risk of at risk of extinction.extinction.

70% of 70% of fisheries are fisheries are depleted or depleted or fully exploited.fully exploited.

The time has The time has come to leave come to leave the crystal the crystal balls and get balls and get out the silicon out the silicon chips to chips to develop develop conservation conservation plans…plans…otherwiseotherwise

Extinction is for Extinction is for KeepsKeeps

Why study Biodiversity Why study Biodiversity and Conservation Biology and Conservation Biology at UWC?at UWC?

The Biodiversity and The Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Conservation Biology Department has a Department has a established excellent established excellent reputation for teaching and reputation for teaching and research.research.

• B.Sc. Degree – 3~4 yearsB.Sc. Degree – 3~4 years

•B.Sc. Hons. - 1 yearB.Sc. Hons. - 1 year

• MSc. Degree – 1~3 yearsMSc. Degree – 1~3 years

• PhD. Degree – 3~5 yearsPhD. Degree – 3~5 years

What degrees are offered What degrees are offered in the BCB programme?in the BCB programme?

Main areas of teaching and researchMain areas of teaching and research

A ssessm en t an d su s ta in ab le u seo f b iod ive rs ity an d its

m an ag em en t

E xp erim en ta l P h ys io log y In fo rm ation , com m u n ica tionan d tra in in g

B IO D IV E R S ITY A N D C O N S E R V A TIO N B IO L O G Y

• Biodiversity and Ecology of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems

• Reproductive Biology of ecologically and economically important species

• Experimental Nutritional Physiology

• Systematics and Taxonomy

• Nutritional Ecophysiology of Angiosperms

• Landscape Ecology and Information Management

• Biological Education

Our Expertise is in…Our Expertise is in…

Career opportunities are Career opportunities are as…as…

•Environmental Officers & Consultants

•Oceanographers

•Researchers - Academic & Government

•Educators – Universities, Colleges & Schools

•Curators – Museums & Herbariums

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology,Biodiversity and Conservation Biology,University of the Western Cape,University of the Western Cape,Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535http://www.bcb.uwc.ac.za

Music Credits

King Crimson

Picture Credits

Alpha Centauri's UniverseArgus NewspaperBBC Walking with DinosaursFred Voetsch – Clipartguide.comSouth African National ParksThomas D. Mangelsen

Contacts:Contacts:

The Programme LeaderThe Programme Leader

Biodiversity and Conservation Biodiversity and Conservation BiologyBiology

Tel: 021-959-2521Tel: 021-959-2521

Fax: 021-959-1237Fax: 021-959-1237

Email: gmaneveldt@uwc.ac.zaEmail: gmaneveldt@uwc.ac.za