Topic 25: Biodiversity Conservation Flashcards
Biodiversity
The variability among living organisms from all sources
Diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems
Values of biodiversity
Direct use values of species for hunting, new crops, new genes, drugs
Bioprospecting- providing info such as new drugs
Aesthetics and non-use values
Ecosystem services
Bioprospecting
Organisms able to synthesised chemicals that might provide blueprint for future drugs
Gives value for protecting areas of high biodiversity
Aesthetic and non-use values
Evidence from numerous contingent valuation and choice experiment that biodiversity is valued simply for itself
Noah’s library metaphor
Metaphor to explain problem of choosing which species to preserve
Consider species as if library full of books. Each book is gene. Common books (genes) housed in many libraries (species), others in only one
Resources can be used to protect libraries and reduce probability of destruction by fire, but at cost. Problem: how should the fire-fighting resources be distributed amongst different libraries
2 attributes: the building (phenotype of species) and info contained within it (genes).
We value the species for its aesthetic appeal or its value. May value the books (genes) for diversity they bring to species or may place utilitarian value upon them from ideas they may contain for future medicines and food crops
Biodiversity a public good
-> prone to market failure
Tropical nations that host most of biodiversity want to develop through agricultural expansion
Developed world would like to conserve biodiversity
National and local policy
National parks
Contracts with land owners
Payments for ecosystem service schemes
Conservation on private land
Land clearing restrictions
Majority of ecosystem loss is on private land
Laws restricting plus incentive schemes
Offsets as an extension to EPBC Act
Covenants
