Ecosystem Management and Reasons for Protection Flashcards
What are the reasons for managing an ecosystem? INHUG
The maintenance of genetic diversity
Utility value (both current and potential)
Intrinsic Value
Heritage value
The need to allow natural change to proceed
Why protect an ecosystem - genetic biodiversity?
Ecosystems should be protected for their genetic and biodiversity (whether low or high) due to:
The resilience it provides to ecosystems and the proper functioning of ecosystems
The potential for species to need to adapt to changes which is aided by diversity
A strong genetic diversity is linked to the survival of ecosystems to current and future changes
Why protect an ecosystem - heritage value?
It is extremely important to manage and protect ecosystems which have:
Existing examples of unique flora, fauna and physical processes
Existing examples of cultural significance
Examples of evolutionary processes
What is the most important reason to protect an ecosystem?
Heritage value includes the future use of ecosystems and their components and leans towards all other values in this sense (Utility, Diversity, Intrinsic, Change)
It is therefore one of/the most important reasons to manage and protect ecosystems due to their future need
Why protect an ecosystem - intrinsic value?
Ecosystems should be protected due to their inherent intrinsic values:
The right for ecosystems and species to exist even without an economic or utility value. The right for species for existence
The social aspect of ecosystems which includes recreation and aesthetic value
Ecosystems have an ethical right to exist and should be managed and protected for their own and human benefit
Why protect an ecosystem - utility value?
It is extremely important to manage and protect ecosystems which provide:
Provisioning services; things – providing food
Regulating services – cleaning pollution from air
Cultural services – recreation
Without protecting ecosystems and managing them in a sustainable way we may lose the vital services and products they supply humans with
Why do we need to all ow for natural change to happen?
It is extremely important to protect ecosystems to ensure:
Natural evolution and other ecological processes can occur
Examples of ecosystems and the species in them are present in the future and have adapted to this future
All ecosystems have potential and must be protected and managed so that evolution and natural selection can occur. Natural ecosystems must be protected from rapid human changes
