How do we protect biodiversity?

How do we Protect Biodiversity?

• One-species at a time:– Captive Breeding Program– Germ Plasm

• Ecosystem Preservation– National and State Parks– Wilderness

• Legal Protection– Endangered Species Act– CITES

One Species at a time: Captive Breeding

How it works?• Breeding a species in

captivity with the hope of releasing it into the wild.

Disadvantage• It is not guaranteed that

a released species will survive or reproduce.

California Condor

• Habitat loss, poaching and lead poisoning caused all but 9 individual birds to die.

• In 1986 a captive breeding program was started.

• By 2005, 121 Condors existed in the wild. Long-term survival remains doubtful.

One Species at a time: Preserving Genetic Material

How it works?• We can save genetic

material from reproductive cells that can be later used for research or recovery programs.

Disadvantage• Genetic Bottlenecks if

we rely on the genetic material for recovery.

• Science of creating living organisms from genetic material is not easy, fast or cheap.

What are the Pros and Cons of Zoos and Aquariums?

Brainstorm and Create a T-chart with a partner nearby

One Species at a time: Zoos, Parks, Aquariums and Gardens

How it works?• These areas often house

the few remaining members of a species in a protected environment.

Disadvantage• Zoos, etc. can only

preserve a small fraction of the world’s biodiversity.

• Genetic bottlenecks are still likely. Often species could no longer survive in their native habitats.

Ecosystems and Habitats

• Preserving an entire ecosystem rather than one species. This helps preserve all the organisms in that ecosystem, not just the one labeled as endangered.

• EXAMPLE:Protecting the entire forest vs. protecting the

spotted owl

Legal Protection of Species and Habitats: Parks and Reserves

Yosemite National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Death Valley

http://exposedplanet.com/index.php?showimage=143

Denali

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The U.S. Wilderness Act

• This law was passed in 1964 and designated certain lands as wilderness areas.

Wilderness: A region that is not cultivated and that is not inhabited by

humans. These areas are open to hiking, fishing, and camping. Building roads or structures and using motorized equipment is not allowed in wilderness areas.

• Protected areas often provide the only place where unspoiled forests, deserts, or prairies remain. Without these parks and wilderness areas, the plants and animals that can survive only in these ecosystems would disappear.

Wilderness Areas

Legal Protection of Species and Habitats: Endangered Species Act

• This law was passed in 1973 by congress and is designed to protect any plant or animal species in danger of extinction within the United States.

1st Provision: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

must compile a list of all endangered and threatened species in the US

2nd Provision: protects listed species from human harm.3rd Provision: prevents the federal government from

carrying out any project that jeopardizes a listed species

4th Provision: USFWS must prepare a species recovery

plan for each listed species.

Legal Protection of Species and Habitats: International Cooperation

• http://www.iucn.org/what/biodiversity/

• Helps coordinate efforts with both government agencies and private organizations

Legal Protection of Species and Habitats: International Cooperation

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

• http://www.cites.org/

Legal Protection of Species and Habitats: International Cooperation

• This treaty was the result of the first Earth Summit (1992).

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Summit_(1992)

Legal Protection of Species and Habitats: International Cooperation

Why might people not want to preserve biodiversity?

Balancing Human Needs

• Protecting biodiversity sometimes conflicts with human needs when that diversity represents food, resources or income.

• People are often unaware of the significance an organism has to its ecosystem.

• Conservationists feel that education and awareness are key to protecting biodiversity.

What can you do?

Go to parks

Volunteer Programs

Be a Conscious Consumer!

• Know where your products come from!