ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

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HUMAN RESOURCE USE

• ecological (carbon) footprint: how much we impact the environment

• sustainability: the ability to meet human needs

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

What happens if you remove a species?• Can lose biodiversity• Unbalance a food web• Areas already with low richness are most at

risk

PROTECTING ECOSYSTEMS

• Biodiversity hotspots: regions with the highest diversity that are most in danger

FIELDS OF STUDY

• Conservation biology: identify, protect, and maintain natural areas at risk

• Restoration biology: rebuild the damaged ecosystems

• Use bioindicators (species especially sensitive to change) as early warning signals of environmental problems

CASE STUDY:Saving the whooping crane

GOVERNMENT LAWS

• Debt-for-nature swap; richer countries or private companies pay smaller/poorer countries for undeveloped land or education programs

PRIVATE EFFORTS

• Ecotourism: tourism and conservation biology working together

MAINTENANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

• utilitarian value: economic values of biodiversity

• nonutilitarian value: life-forms have value