Steps Toward Conservation
In the past, most conservation efforts focused disproportionately on individual endangered species, particularly large mammals and ?keystone species.? Today, there are a variety of approaches to help conserve species, their habitats, and other valuable resources. Traditional approaches, which continue to be a major factor, include setting aside areas as parks and preserves and passing laws that protect endangered species. Newer efforts focus on the use of market instruments—such as agroforestry, ecotourism, and bioprospecting—to encourage countries and individuals to engage in more sustainable practices, and on scientific methods, such as the reintroduction of species into the wild and the creation of gene ?banks? of known species to help ensure biodiversity into the future.
According to the IUCN, more than 13 percent of the Earth’s land surface is now protected. The United States has often followed a traditional approach to preservation—setting aside large tracts of land as national and state parks and preserves, in addition to establishing laws and economic incentives on which the system relies. Monuments, wildlife and wilderness reserves, game parks, national forests, and scenic rivers and trails are also set aside for the purpose of natural resource and biodiversity conservation, although the areas differ widely in the type and degree of protection, and in human accessibility and use.
Most of the world’s richest areas, in terms of biodiversity, lie within developing countries; yet, preservation efforts can displace indigenous peoples and be costly to administer. Therefore, creating balance in protection with the need to clothe and feed these populations should be taken into consideration. Some believe that there are better, longer-term solutions to helping developing countries protect wildlife and ecosystems in ways that can benefit both human and non-human inhabitants, while taking into consideration the limited resources available. Agroforestry, ecotourism, and bioprospecting are several strategies being used to help extract value and product from natural resources. However, questions persist as to the effectiveness—and ethical implication—of some of these efforts.
Agroforestry is a method used to preserve a functional ecosystem while conserving biodiversity and providing for human use and benefit of natural resources. It is an innovative approach that combines forest and agriculture and/or livestock in order to create a more productive, diverse, and sustainable land-use system. As such, carefully selected tree species with small-scale farming is established, either through interspersing planted trees with short-term crops or by growing crops that are suitable for shady conditions, such as coffee. Agroforestry practices can also enhance ecosystem services, including groundwater recharge and soil health and stability.
Ecotourism joins responsible travel to natural areas with an empowerment and financial benefit to local peoples. It is meant to minimize impact while building environmental and cultural awareness. However, ecotourism can also be concerning, as locals must weigh the benefits of economic gain with the potential threat of greater outsider access to environmentally-sensitive areas.
Bioprospecting is the search for new compounds, microorganisms, and other biological material with potential economic value that can be utilized for commercial purposes. Areas rich in biodiversity are thought to be the most likely prospects for this type of research. Glaxo Wellcome, a British pharmaceutical company, originally funded the Centre for Natural Products Research (now incorporated as MerLion Pharmaceuticals Ltd) which surveys species in Asia for medicinal purposes. Conservation International also initiated a similar agreement between Bristol-Meyers Squib, Suriname, and the National Institutes of Health. Yet, despite the potential, questions remain as to whether the regions themselves receive comparable benefit when discoveries arise. In addition, there is a risk of biopiracy—bioprospecting in secrecy without the sharing of resulting benefits.
In addition to traditional approaches to conservation and the addition of market instruments, governments and other organizations across the globe are increasingly reintroducing species back into the wild. Reintroduction is the release of captive individuals into an area which was once part of that species? historical range. The gray wolf is likely the species most widely recognized; both for being considered a success in recovery and for the controversy surrounding its reintroduction. Like in the case of the gray wolf, attempts are often made to locate healthy populations in which some individuals can be ?relocated? to a previous extension of their habitat or, if remaining populations contain dwindling numbers, some individuals are trapped and entered into a captive breeding program as a way to increase the overall population prior to reintroduction.
Increasingly, zoos are playing a part in reintroduction efforts since they are often able to maintain stable, carefully managed captive populations that can be used as source populations to provide individuals for release into the wild. Successful breeding in captivity can also help increase population numbers to provide individuals for future reintroductions. With more species declining, reintroduction will likely play a vital role in conservation efforts.
The creation of gene banks of known species is expected to help ensure biodiversity into the future. In this process, a seed or other specimen with a complete DNA sequence is sent to a repository which is typically housed in a reinforced structure designed to withstand extreme temperatures or impacts. Crop seeds currently make up the majority of banked genes since continued diversity is essential to global food supply. Seeds from around the world are stored on a remote island near the Arctic Circle in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, although smaller seed collections are located throughout the world. As certain species continue to struggle, appeals are growing to bank genes from endangered species with the hope that, if needed, the DNA might be used to prevent extinction.
The conservation of land, natural resources, and biodiversity has become a major focus across the globe. Often, disagreements abound over whether to preserve areas, resources, and species by protecting them from human activities or to conserve and manage them to include for human use. However, now that much of the Earth’s terrain is under human management, conservation strategies are increasingly aimed to balance the protection of biological diversity with human need for land and natural resources.
In 2005, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment assessed the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being. Their findings provide a state-of-the-art scientific appraisal of the condition and trends in the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide, as well as the scientific basis for action to conserve and use them sustainably.
Developed by Dr. Peter J. Bryant of the University of California, Irvine, this online textbook describes the issues surrounding preserving biological diversity on Earth, reasons for being concerned about the depletion and extinction of organisms, and what can be done to preserve some of what is left.
World Conservation Monitoring Centre
An independent non-profit organization established by the World Conservation Union, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, and the United Nations Environment Programme, the Centre has vast resources, including databases of endangered species, statistics on marine and forest resources, country maps and profiles.
World Conservation Union (IUCN)
One of the world’s oldest international conservation organizations, the IUCN is a union of governments, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Their site describes the many conservation programs in countries around the globe.
NatureServe is a network of natural heritage programs and conservation centers in the Americas. Look up the conservation status and distribution maps for various species using ?NatureServe Explorer? and ?InfoNatura,? or investigate local conservation efforts with ?LandScope America.?
Protected Areas Worldwide
The U.N. Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Center compiles information on protected areas, along with providing interactive maps and a database of information resources.
U.S. National Park Service (NPS)
The NPS provides extensive information about every national park within the United States, including its history, geology, and natural resources.
TIES is the world’s oldest and largest ecotourism organization whose goal is to unite conservation, communities, and sustainable travel by promoting the principles of ecotourism and responsible travel.
Founded in 1868, the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Illinois is a leading institution for wildlife conservation, community education, and recreation. The zoo has also played an integral role in the reintroduction of a variety of species.
The Frozen Ark
The Frozen Ark Project is made up of an international consortium of museums, zoos and university laboratories with a mission to collect, preserve and store DNA and viable cells from animals in danger of extinction.
Laws & Treaties
Convention on Biological Diversity
International conservation efforts led to this Convention established at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio “Earth Summit”).
Digest of Federal Resource Laws
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers a comprehensive list of federal laws and international treaties related to conservation.
Laws, Executive Orders & Regulations
The National Park Service hosts a list of links to regulations governing protected areas in the U.S., including the National Park Service Organic Act which established the National Park Service in 1916.
Data & Maps
The University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology presents this site on individual species with information on their distribution, natural history, conservation efforts, and pictures and sounds (when available). Teaching materials are also available for all levels.
For the Classroom
Save the Moonflower
Based on the life and work of Margaret Mee, this EconEdLink lesson challenges students to identify alternative uses for natural resources and think about how markets can be used in conservation. [Grades 9-12]
Why Preserve Biodiversity?
In this National Geographic Xpeditions lesson, students discuss the different reasons biodiversity is valued by those seeking to preserve it. [Grades 6-8]
Prairie Restoration and Prairie Ecology
Students collect real data as they identify and classify native prairie plants and insects in this Access Excellence project by Gloria Latta that culminates in a small-scale prairie restoration. [Grades 9-12]
Microbial Educational Resources: Yellowstone Bioprospecting
Part of the National Science Digital Library, Microbe Life features online resources and an educators’ guide with lessons on bioprospecting in Yellowstone National Park.