3-20 protected areas

Question 1

best protection for biodiversity

Answer 1

protected areas

Question 2

How much already protected?

Answer 2

About 15% of Earth, but
only 6% in 1st four
IUCN categories
Only a few % in marine
areas, but climbing
more rapidly than
terrestrial as more is
available
Local people often resist
because fear loss of
jobs or revenue. But a
review of 171 cases 
more likely to have a
positive effect in all
IUCN categories

Question 3

Problems with protections

Answer 3

• “Rocks and Ice” ———- >
• Migrations: birds, whales, monarchs:
  routes and multiple areas need
  protection
• Areas need surrounding buffer areas
  with some protection
• “Paper Parks” – no continuing
  protection or maintenance

Question 4

book that popularized idea of saving 50% of earth for nature and author

Answer 4

Half-Earth, Edward Wilson

Question 5

why would saving 50% of earth for nature protect about 83% of species?

Question 6

Convention on Biological Diversity 2020 goal

Answer 6

goal of reserving only 17%
of terrestrial area

Question 7

Convention on Biological Diversity 2022 goal

Answer 7

goal raised to reserve 30% of terrestrial area

Question 8

Species-area Curve (or Species-accumulation Curve)

Answer 8

Based on the rate of discovery of additional species as an area is inventoried.
* Can be viewed from the reverse: as area is reduced, the number of individuals
decreases proportionately, but the number of species decreases more slowly.
* That reflects the fact that as population levels diminish, the number of individuals per
species can decrease before the species completely disappears.

Question 9

Edward Wilson’s Hopes for Success

Answer 9

1. Worldwide drop in fertility  peak 9.5-12 billion people
2. Rural to urban migration
3. Improvement in agricultural efficiency
4. Reduction in ecological footprint – less material/ energy
   consumption due to technological advances
5. Evolutionary (cultural) shift from extensive economy (material
   wealth) to intensive economy (quality of life)
6. Shift in moral attitude toward nature

Question 10

Dinerstein et al. study

Answer 10

An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the
Terrestrial Realm
Identified 846 ecoregions in 12 major categories of terrestrial Earth and assessed for degree
and potential for preservation in each region
Assessments based on 6 IUCN categories [= wilderness to sustainably exploited (e.g.
National Forests)] + community conservancies, aboriginal lands, and private lands
1. More than 50% already protected
2. Less that 50% protected but protected + unprotected natural habitat >50%
3. Impacted – 20-50% of above – would need restoration
4. Nature imperiled – <20% remaining