Biodiversity
What is Biodiversity?
• "The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems" --Convention on Biological Diversity
• "Variability within nature" --UK Biodiversity Action Plan
• "Wide array of ecosystems, ecological processes, species
and genes" --Environment Canada
Biodiversity Loss
• Species extinction and habitat loss• Today, biodiversity loss is 1000 times higher than the rates
found in the fossil record http://www.glogster.com/media/4/12/37/46/12374610.gif
Causes of Biodiversity Loss
• Habitat Destruction• Invasive Species• Over exploitation• Climate Change• Overpopulation• Pollution
glaciermt.comhttp://www.iucn.org/iyb/about/biodiversity_crisis/
Why Do We Need Biodiversity?
• Ecosystem services - $16-$64 trillion• Research - e.g. discovery of new medicine• Aesthetic value • Food Security
http://www.iucn.org/iyb/about/biodiversity/
How To Fix Biodiversity Loss
• What is the market failure?o Under provision of a public goodo Lack of informationo Externalityo incomplete property rights
• What policies address this? o Command and Control Regulationo Public Educationo Permittingo Tax Incentives
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/
US Biodiversity Policy
The USA has no official national biodiversity policy. However, there are key pieces of legislation that help define US biodiversity policy. - US government policy has been primarily focused on conservation efforts for most of history - US Fish and Wildlife Service (http://www.fws.gov/)• US government's wildlife and conservation agency
- Recent development• US government position moving closer to support an international biodiversity
agreement. (http://blogs.forbes.com/francisvorhies/2011/07/27/us-getting-serious-about-international-biodiversity-policy/)
US - Key National Legislation • The Lacey Act (1900) (http://www.fws.gov/news/newsreleases/LACEYACT.html)
o The first environmental piece of legislation. Provides the ability for the federal government to regulate invasive species populations. Evolved over the 20th century to reflect the challenges of the time.
• The Migratory Bird Conservation Act (1929) (http://www.fws.gov/refuges/realty/mbcc.html) Provision provided that allows the Federal government to rent/buy land that can be protected
to preserve the natural habitat for migratory bird The Clean Water Act (1948 (
http://www.usclimatenetwork.org/policy/resource-database/clean-air-act-and-wildlife-fact-sheet) Affects fish and wildlife that are dependent on water for their survival.
The Clean Air Act (1963) (http://www.usclimatenetwork.org/policy/resource-database/clean-air-act-and-wildlife-fact-sheet)
Has helped restore ozone in the atmosphere which is vital to the protection of trees and assisted in the mitigation of acid rain that devatstates natural habitat.
• Endangered Species Act of 1969 (1973) (http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/ESACT.HTML)o Often cited as the US's landmark biodiversity legislation (more info on the next slide).
• Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (1980) (http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/FWCON.HTML)o Allocates substantial funding to the states to assist with conservation efforts of natural habitats.
UK's Approach to Biodiversity
• Convention on Biological Diversityo International Treaty for the "conservation and sustainable
use of biological diversity" (CBD) • Biodiversity Action Plan
o Inventories potentially threatened species and habitatso Creates plans to protect species and habitatso The 4 countries of the UK have all designed their own
Action Plans • Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981
o Protects wildlife and habitats of the UKo Amended to comply with EU directives
www.jncc.defra.gov.uk
EU Biodiversity Policies
• Habitat Directiveo Protects 1000 animals and plant species and 200
"habitat types" (EU) • Bird Directive
o Protects birds and their habitats • Natura 2000
o EU-wide network of protected areas • EU biodiversity strategy to 2020
o Goal to stop biodiversity loss by 2020o Focus on EU and the globe
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/
Biodiversity in Canada• 1973 Canada Wildlife Act
o Creates national wildlife areas • 1990 Wildlife Policy for Canada
o emphasized the restoration of biodiversity and ecological processes
• Migratory Birds Convention Act 1994o Protects birds from hunting and traffickingo Establishes Migratory Bird Refuges
• 1995 Canadian Biodiversity Strategyo produced by a group including federal, provincial and
territorial governmentso Guide to carrying out Canada's commitments under the
Convention of Biodiversity
http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/legislation/legislation.htm
Canadian Provinces
• Ontarioo The Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program
A voluntary program administered by the MNR to provide lower property taxes to participating landowners who agree to conserve and actively manage their forests.
o Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program provides property tax relief to those landowners who agree to protect
the natural heritage value of their property• British Columbia
o Ecological Services Act Preserves land to protect species and habitats
o Wildlife Act Creates wildlife areas, protects endangered species,
and regulates invasive species
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Biodiversity/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_166973.htmlhttp://wcel.org/sites/default/files/Biodiversity%20law%20and%20policy%20in%20British%20Columbia.pdf
Conclusions
• Comparatively speaking, the US has no official national biodiversity plan while the UK and Canada have national long-term biodiversity plans.
• The most used policies are direct regulation and provision of information
• We may be going into a 6th mass extinction period, so it is very important to act now!
Questions?