Conservation outside of Protected Areas

Question 1

Why are PAs insufficient to safeguard species long term?

Answer 1

• too small in size
• many sp leave them bc resources exist outside the areas
• many sp migrate between PA seasonally to avoid climatic extremes, to access mates and other resources; might rely on unprotected areas during migration
• as PA increases so to does dependency on unprotected areas nearby for long term maintenance of biodiversity
• also it is unlikely that all of Earths’ land will be protected …estimates >80% will be unprotected

Question 2

T/F areas that are amazed for human activities can still maintain much / most of their biodiversity?

Answer 2

T
L> many SAR are found outside of PA
- to conserve BD we need to account for both the benefits of these areas and the risks if we do not find ways to preserve them

Question 3

What is the Aichi Target 11?

Answer 3

• CBD
• By 2020, at least 17 percent of Terrestrial and inland water and 10% of marine areas will be protected , especially those areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services , via connected systems of proceeded areas and other effective area based conservation measures and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes

Question 4

What is the pathway team?

Answer 4

• led by Parks Canada
• goal is to make plans for achieving Target 11
• also includes an indigenous circle of experts, a national advisory panel and a local government advisory group

Question 5

What is reconciliation ecology?

Answer 5

• development of urban places
  where people and biodiversity can coexist
• goal is to find ways to promote and protect biodiversity in human dominated landscapes
• ex: landfills (filled and turned into wildlife habitat), city parks, green roofs, privately owned backwards golf courses

Question 6

What is the red sea star restaurant?

Answer 6

• underwater restaurant in Isreal
• created frames outside of underwater viewing windows to support coral nursery
• touristy area where activities damage reefs
• area around the restaurant sue to have healthy reefs
• marine biologists design frames to create new coral reef habitat and restore local BD
• underwater garden is maintained each day by divers that clean and stock nursery of growing coral
• workers at the restaurant report the dolphins often come by to peer through windows

Question 7

How can protect4ed areas offer a false sense of security?

Answer 7

• “we’ve done enough”
• can lead to areas being isolated within a sea of human dominated habitats
• areas around these can become inhospitable due to failure of protecting them stemming from this false sense of security
• pollution from surrounding area can degrade PA
• surrounding areas that are human dom can be barriers to dispersal or a source of invasive into PAs via edge effects
• these surrounding areas might have resources important to species within the PA
• We need to manage surrounding ands to promote BD in PA

Question 8

What is the value of unprotected lands?

Answer 8

• significant portion of areas not intensely used can still maintain some, if not most of their OG BD
• sp within a protected area can also be found in adjacent unprotected areas
• protected areas can be damaged due to human activities on unprotected areas (experience habitat degradation)

Question 9

What are examples of unprotected lands?

Answer 9

• government and private lands managed for resources
• privately owned farms and ranches
• privately owned estates of the v rich
• urban and suburban areas
• aquatic systems from which resources are harvested

Question 10

Whats going on with the Florida panther?

Answer 10

• habitat: hardwood forests and cypress swamps in mountain areas of Florida
• current PA is way too small for long term survival
• 31% of the species distribution falls into private land
• panthers that are found to spend most of their time on private land have better diet s and are healthier, private land has more prey sp, better soil
• SO we need to work with landowners o min habitat frag/loss within private land
• underpasses have been constructed to increase connectivity between these areas and PA and reduce road kill

Question 11

Yellowstone national park is an area that is protected due
to its uniqueness, among other factors. In the past we’ve
discussed the fact that wolves within this park (which were
recently re-introduced) are a keystone species whose
impacts have changed the entire ecosystem.
While in the park, these wolves are protected, however
many wolves routinely travel outside of the park and onto
farmlands and ranch lands.
Why might this be of concern to conservationists?
What is something we can do to help mitigate this issue?

Answer 11

Human-wildlife conflicts
incentivize land owners to protect wolves
Education
Stewardship

Question 12

What are the two options in collab with landowners that could be utilized to protect the Florida panther over the long term?

Answer 12

1. educate landlopers on the value of conservation (esp to educate them on the role of their lands in anther conservation)
2. pay willing landowners not to sell land, to not allow logging or other resource acquisition inlands and to practice panther management options (eg to protect lands that contain preferred pantry habitat, to allow researchers to track panthers etc)

Question 13

How does government land with restricted access play a role in conservation on non PAs?

Answer 13

• often gov and military facilities have security zones with restricted access that can preserve bd
• these areas often surround the facilities and are left undeveloped, can offer habitat to sp as a result

Question 14

Role of USA Department of Defence in conservation in the past before 2018?

Answer 14

• Ex; USA Department fo Defense : ~420 threatened sp on area managed by them
  L> military training can actually create suitable habitat, ex Karner blue butterfly and shot plants prefer open habitat this department actually has a conservation budget….they refolded wetlands along red river creating habitat for wading birds

*ex of gov restricted access land being good for cons

Question 15

Is military action always good for sp?

Answer 15

• no obv
• can also damage habitats via toxic waste, chemical pollution, damage from artillery explosions
• benefits and harm depend on the sp and context
• tanks and other heavy vehicles can also negatively impact wildlife , can take decades to recover even after military vehicles have been removed from area

Question 16

Explain the situation around unprotected forests and their role in conservation.

Answer 16

• Forests that are selectively logged on a long cutting
  cycle or that are managed via shifting cultivation can
  maintain much of their biodiversity
• Especially true if soil is not too damaged by fires, soil
  erosion, or nutrient leaching -> which can lead to
  desertification
• Nearby undisturbed habitats can act as a source of
  colonists for unprotected forests, acting as a rescue
  effect (preventing species from disappearing)
• Potential sources of colonists: steep hillsides, swamps,
  river forests, other areas that are not suitable for human
  land use

Question 17

Explain the situation around unprotected grasslands and their role in conservation.

Answer 17

• The mown edges of roadways can provide critical
  grassland habitat for many species
• Wildflowers, insects, other species rely on this habitat
• Similar habitats are created by mown powerline fields ->
  especially for infrequently mown areas that are not
  treated with pesticides
• Remaining prairie habitat in North America (not
  converted to agricultural lands, etc.) is also important
  for many grassland species

Question 18

Explain the situation around unprotected waters and their role in conservation.

Answer 18

• Heavily altered aquatic ecosystems can still be
  valuable habitat for many species
• Most marine plants (e.g. sea grasses, mangrove
  trees) occur outside of MPAs
• Many marine animals migrate long distances
  through unprotected waters (e.g. whales, salmon,
  sea turtles)
• These waters can therefore be an important part
  of the long-term persistence of these species ->
  need to take this into account with management
  plans

Question 19

What is the role of managed aquatic habitats in conservation?

Answer 19

• Estuaries and seas managed for
  commercial fisheries are protected from
  chemical / physical damage -> habitat
  for native species as well
• Watersheds near towns / cities
  protected to maintain water quality ->
  can also protect biodiversity
• Dams, reservoirs, canals, etc. -> can be
  harmful to many native species, but can
  also maintain habitat for species that
  can tolerate these alterations
• MPAs are still essential part of
  conservation because many species will
  likely have higher abundances in
  protected waters

Question 20

Whats up with lands that are deemed undesirable to humans or have currently low human impacts occurring on them?

Answer 20

- Areas where human
population sizes are small
can maintain biodiversity
because human activities
have low impact

• Ex) desert and tundra
  communities, other areas
  inaccessible or inhospitable
  to humans
• Ex) borders between
  countries, especially ones
  with strict border control

Question 21

What is the value of high elevation ecosystems wrt conservation and disaster prevention?

Answer 21

• Governments can manage
  montane regions as valuable
  watersheds

-These areas often too steep /
remote for development

-Protecting these areas
(especially if forested) can
help with disaster prevention
L>  Trees hold onto soil ->prevents
landslides
L>Forested / intact ecosystems
can absorb water -> prevents
flooding downstream

• In landslide / flood prone areas
  L> Reforestation / prevent deforestation in areas that are
  not useful for development
  L> Laws passed in Chile, Brazil & Thailand after major
  disasters to restore forests / protect remaining forests

Question 22

What are the goals of management surrounding high elevation ecosystems and disaster prevention?

Answer 22

• Restore forests on slopes (landslide prone areas)
• Protect upstream forests (flood prone areas)

-Protect downstream forests (slow advancing
floodwaters)

Question 23

What is the deal with privately owned lands and conservation efforts?

Answer 23

• large tracts of land owned by the wealthy
• quality of these areas varies based on the owners sense of stewardship
• Education of owners and encouragement of stewardship will likely play big part of conservation of sp and ecosystems in the future
• some lands have even been deliberately purchased with conservation in mind
• ex: Royal families privately own lands for generations, so they reserve unique old growth forests that are lost elsewhere

Question 24

Are only large tracts of privately owned land beneficial for cons?

Answer 24

• nawww man
• even small tracts can ahem an important role
• ex:

A) National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard wildlife program
L> certificates to recognize landowners who protect wildlife in their property

B) Project FeederWatch, Bird Studies Canada
L> citizen science -> people collect data from birds that visit their feeders, educates public and gets em involved in sci
L> encourage people to ensure their yards meet the req of migratory birds aka stepping stone habitat

Question 25

Why are unprotected areas useful for conservation purposes?

A. Most of the world’s biodiversity exists outside of protected
areas, and these areas are essential for long-term biodiversity
preservation

B. Areas managed for human purposes can sometimes retain a
bit of their biodiversity, but this is rare (mostly, biodiversity is
lost)

C. Much of the world’s at-risk species only exist in protected
areas, but these areas can be buffered by surrounding
unprotected areas

D. Privately owned lands can be managed for biodiversity
protection, especially if we educate landowners on
conservation needs and proper stewardship

E. Both A and D

Answer 25

E. both A and D

• Most of the world’s biodiversity exists outside of protected
  areas, and these areas are essential for long-term biodiversity
  preservation

-Privately owned lands can be managed for biodiversity
protection, especially if we educate landowners on
conservation needs and proper stewardship

Question 26

How can conservation in urban areas happen?

Answer 26

• Urban areas, green roofs, suburban yards, public parks, streams /
  ponds / other less altered habitats can all contain species
• Preserving biodiversity in these regions challenging -> good
  opportunity to educate public about biodiversity & conservation
  issues
• These areas can also lead to problems -> disease transmission (e.g.
  lyme disease), antagonistic interactions between humans and wildlife
  (e.g. small pets that are killed / eaten by coyotes)
• Zoning and building regulations, policies to protect endangered
  species or regulate air and water -> useful guidelines to protect
  biodiversity

-Nonprofit conservation organizations and policy makers can also
work together to educate public and offer incentives to encourage
pro-conservation behaviours

**nest platforms and boxes for birds

Question 27

How can conservation occur in agricultural areas?

Answer 27

• Well-managed, low intensity agricultural systems, grazing lands, hunting
  preserves, forest plantations, and recreational areas can maintain much of
  original biodiversity
• Traditional farming -> less exposure to harmful chemicals, are more
  heterogeneous than modern farming landscapes
• Farmlands that use organic methods can also support higher biodiversity
  (e. g. more insects as prey for other organisms)

Question 28

Examples of successful conservation in agricultural areas?

Answer 28

• Natura 2000 – European governments offer incentives to encourage traditional
  farming practices to maintain wildflower and insect biodiversity
• USA compensates farmers who manage lands to increase grassland bird
  populations
• Japan subsidizes farmers with traditional rice fields because these maintain
  higher winter bird abundances than modern practices

Question 29

What are three methods of conservation in agricultural areas?

Answer 29

1. Land sharing
2. Land sparing
3. Payments for ecosystem services (PES)

Question 30

What is land sharing?

Answer 30

• low intensity human activities (e.g.
  traditional farming) coexisting with some elements
  of biodiversity

Question 31

What is land sparing?

Answer 31

• intensive human activities on part

of land, and other parts are left undisturbed

Question 32

What is PES?

Answer 32

• payments for ecosystem services
• government programs in the USA that compensate
  farmers and rural land owners for maintaining
  unimproved pastures

Question 33

What is an example of climate smart agriculture?

Answer 33

• Agroforestry

- cultivation and incorporation of trees

Question 34

What are examples of agroforestry (climate smart agriculture?)

Answer 34

• Shade coffee plantations
  L> can maintain high variety of insect and bird sp, can slow deforestation pace
  L> less vulnerable to temp increases in face of cc (reduces water req of coffee plants by shading them from sun)
  L> programs exist to encourage and subsidize farmers BUT no global regulations , making it hard to identify “true shade grown coffee”
• Humba, Ethiopia
  L> farmers allow trees to regrow from stumps/seed bank
  L> protects soils form erosion and improves its capacity to hold moisture, shades crops
  L> maintains habitat for woodland sp
  L> ES provided by forests without needing to replant anything

Question 35

Explain multi-use lands and their regulation.

Answer 35

• Lands managed by governments to provide goods and services while
  maintaining biodiversity

-  Need to reconcile competing demands on lands: logging, mining, tourism,
and conservation (among others)

• Even if one of these demands (e.g. logging) would not severely impact
  biodiversity, there is a risk that multiple demands can lead to overuse and
  species losses
• USA Endangered species act, and similar legislature in Canada requires all
  landowners (including the government) to avoid any activities that would
  threaten an endangered species certification of timber that was sustainably
  harvested, has led to many buyers requiring this type of certification before
  they purchase lumber
• There can be push-back -> Major industrial organizations are lobbying to set
  up their own set of requirements for certification, ones that would likely be
  far less restrictive

Question 36

What is ecosystem management?

Answer 36

-System of large-scale management that involves multiple
stakeholders (e.g. private land owners, governmental agencies,
conservation groups)

• Goal: preserve ecosystem components and processes over the long
  term while still satisfying the current needs of society

Question 37

What are the major themes one ecosystem management?

Answer 37

1. Use best science available to develop and coordinate a sustainability
   plan that includes biology, economics, and social considerations
2. Protect viable populations of all species, biological communities,
   successional stages, and ecosystem functions
3. Understand connections between all levels and scales within an
   ecosystem and within greater landscape
4. Monitor components of ecosystem to collect data that can be used to
   determine if management plants need to be changed (i.e. adaptive
   management)

Question 38

What is the Malpai Borderlands Group?

Answer 38

• Nonprofit cooperative enterprise of ranchers / landowners

-Work with conservation groups, private landowners, scientists and
governmental agencies to preserve and manage a unique landscape

-Goal: create a healthy, unfragmented landscape within Malpai
Borderlands

• created the Malpai planning area , which protects a lot of bird, mammal and lizard fauna, most diverse bee assemblage in the world
• managed via controlled burning, working to reintroduce native grasses, cattle grazing
• sci research is sued in management plans, conservation easements re being discussed to prevent habitat fragmentation

Question 39

Many USA farmers have multiple fields and intensively manage some of
these fields while allowing others to grow ‘wild’ for a year or two. This is
typically done to allow nutrients in the soil to build back up again. These
fields tend to have high biodiversity of wildflowers and native grasses,
when compared to the other agricultural fields.
One way to increase the biodiversity in farm lands is to provide farmers
with incentives to leave some of these fallow fields on a longer-term
basis, thereby increasing their biodiversity even further.
This is an example of…

A. Land sharing

B. Land sparing

C. Likely some form of PES

D. Both A and C

E. Both B and C

Answer 39

E. Both B and C

• Land sparing
• Likely some form of PES

Question 40

Compare and contrast conservation in managed
urban areas and rural areas: how is conservation
in these two types of human ecosystems similar?
How is it different?

Answer 40

Similar:

Education
Stakeholder engagement
co-existence

Different:

rural areas there is more of a base to work on..like restoring what is there vs in a city you are creating new habitat

Scale…farmland is much large vs small city parks

In cities, to create a suitable habitat you have to involve a lot more land owners vs in rural areas

In cities you’re not just dealing with private landowners vs rural areas