3.4 Conservation of Biodiversity Flashcards
Conservation vs preservation
Conservation involves the sustainable use and management of natural resources to meet current and future human needs, while preservation seeks to protect natural resources from use and maintain them in their pristine state
United Nations (The UN)
An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries worldwide
IGOs
An intergovernmental organization, composed of sovereign states , which is established by treaty or other agreement that acts as a charter creating the group.
(Eg. UNEP, IUCN, CBD, IPCC)
GOs
A governmental organization (managed by the State), often funded by taxpayers.
NGOs
A non-governmental organization, which is a group, usually nonprofit, that operates independently of any government. Maintain a public profile, and operate through grants, donations and volunteers.
Ramsar
An international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, aiming to halt their degradation or loss.
(Not an acronym. Ramsar is a city in Iran)
CITES
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Main differences between an NGO and a GO
Funding: GOs are government-funded; NGOs rely on private and public donations.
Autonomy: NGOs operate independently; GOs are state-controlled entities.
Scope of Influence: GOs have national authority; NGOs may have global focus.
Objectives: GOs have broader policy goals; NGOs are issue-specific.
Regulatory Power: GOs can enforce laws; NGOs advocate for policy changes.
Examples of environmental NGOs
WWF, Greenpeace, Bush Heritage
Conservation dependent species
those that require ongoing human intervention and management to prevent them from becoming endangered or extinct.
SLOSS
The SLOSS debate (Single Large Or Several Small) concerns the effectiveness of conservation strategies, questioning whether a single large or several small reserves better preserve biodiversity.
Why “single large” is better than “several small” in conservation
Less edge effect: Minimizes interactions with human-altered environments.
Greater habitat continuity: Supports larger populations and wide-ranging species.
Lower management costs: One large area may be easier to manage.
Enhanced genetic diversity: Reduces the risk of inbreeding in isolated populations.
Why “several small” is better than “single large” in conservation
Multiple habitats: Protects a greater variety of ecosystems and species.
Redundancy: Loss of one site doesn’t doom the species.
Mitigates risk: Spreads risk of disaster across multiple locations.
Threats to the kakapo
Habitat loss, introduced predators, infertility (low genetic diversity), natural disasters (small geographic range), disease.
Predator free 2050
A campaign being undertaken by New Zealand to rid itself of introduced predators by 2050
Eradication
the complete and permanent elimination of all individuals of a particular species or disease from a specific area or globally.
Supplementary feeding
Giving of extra food to wild populations when food resources are scarce
In situ, species-based conservation strategy
Artificial insemination
involves directly inserting sperm into a female’s reproductive tract to facilitate pregnancy without natural mating
Species-based conservation strategy
Artificial incubation
carefully controlling the hatching environment of eggs removed from the wild or bred in captivity
Species brought back from the brink of extinction
California Condor
Bald Eagle
Giant Panda
American Bison
Southern White Rhinoceros
Svalbard Seed Bank
a secure seed bank in Norway, designed to store duplicates of seeds from seed collections worldwide to ensure against the loss of genetic diversity in the event of global crises.
Good things about zoos
Conservation – Protect endangered species and run breeding programs.
Education – Teach visitors about wildlife and ecosystems.
Research – Support scientific studies on animal behavior and health.
Economic Benefits – Generate tourism and funding for conservation efforts
Bad things about zoos
Animal Welfare Issues – Some enclosures are too small or unnatural.
Ethical Concerns – Keeping wild animals in captivity limits their freedom.
Limited Conservation Impact – Many species in zoos are not endangered.
Good things (benefits) about National Parks
Conservation of biodiversity: Protects diverse ecosystems and wildlife.
Recreational opportunities: Offers public access for outdoor activities.
Economic benefits: Boosts local economies through tourism.
