Biodiversity and
Conservation
Lecture 12
CC: ENV 309
By: Fatima Imtiaz
Introduction to Conservation
• What is Conservation?
• Conservation refers to the preservation, protection, and management of
biodiversity.
• It aims to maintain species, genetic diversity, and ecosystems in the face
of human activities and environmental challenges.
• Why is Conservation Important?
• Biodiversity is vital for ecosystem services such as pollination, water
purification, climate regulation, and food production.
• Loss of biodiversity can lead to ecosystem collapse and diminished
human well-being.
• Species Level Conservation
• Population level conservation
• Community level conservation
• Ecosystem level conservation
Species Level Conservation
•Definition: Efforts aimed at protecting individual species from extinction.
•Why Focus on Species?
•Each species has a unique role in the ecosystem.
•Protecting threatened species prevents the loss of valuable genetic diversity.
•Key Approaches to Species Conservation:
1. Habitat Protection: Establishing protected areas (e.g., national parks, reserves).
2. Captive Breeding: Breeding endangered species in controlled environments to increase population size.
3. Legal Protection: Enacting laws (e.g., CITES) to prevent illegal hunting and trade.
Threats to Species
•Habitat Destruction and Fragmentation: Deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture.
•Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade: Targeting high-value species (e.g., elephants for ivory, rhinos for horn).
•Climate Change: Altering habitats and disrupting migration patterns.
•Invasive Species: Competition, predation, and disease spread by non-native species.
Population Level Conservation
•Definition: Focusing on maintaining viable population sizes of species to ensure long-term survival.
•Why Population Level Matters?
•Small populations are more vulnerable to genetic bottlenecks, inbreeding, and extinction.
•Ensuring population health can prevent extinction and allow species to recover.
•Approaches to Population Conservation:
1.Genetic Management: Ensuring genetic diversity within populations.
2.Habitat Restoration: Reintroducing species to restored habitats or creating corridors for migration.
3.Monitoring Populations: Tracking population trends and adjusting conservation strategies accordingly.
Case Study: The California Condor
•Background: One of the world’s most endangered bird species, with
only 27 individuals left in the wild in the 1980s.
•Conservation Efforts:
• Captive breeding programs.
• Reintroduction to the wild.
• Ongoing monitoring and protection of habitats.
•Results: Population recovery to over 400 individuals today.
Community-Level Conservation
• ‘‘Efforts to protect biodiversity in which the local community participates as much as possible.
Focuses on the active involvement of local communities in the protection and sustainable use of
natural resources.’’
• Scientists and the people who live in a certain place work together to save species living there.
• Importance:
• Empowers local people to take ownership and responsibility for conservation efforts.
• Helps balance economic development with environmental protection.
• Key Approaches:
• Participatory Management: Involvement of local communities in decision-making processes.
• Sustainable Livelihoods: Integrating conservation with community development by promoting eco-
friendly practices.
• Education and Awareness: Enhancing knowledge about the benefits of conservation within local
populations.
• Examples of Community-Level Conservation
• Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM)
• Local communities are given the responsibility to manage forests sustainably.
• Example: Nepal's Community Forestry Program.
• Wildlife Conservation with Local Involvement
• Local communities involved in wildlife protection, anti-poaching efforts, and
tourism.
• Example: The Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies in Kenya.
• Agroforestry Initiatives
• Combining agricultural practices with forest conservation to increase food security
and protect biodiversity.
• Example: Agroforestry projects in Central America.
Ecosystem-Level Conservation
•Definition:
•Conservation efforts that target larger ecosystems and the interconnections between species, habitats, and
natural processes.
•Importance:
•Protecting ecosystems ensures the survival of biodiversity and the continuity of essential ecosystem
services like water filtration, carbon storage, and climate regulation.
•Key Approaches:
1.Protected Areas: Establishing national parks, reserves, and marine protected areas (MPAs).
2.Landscape Connectivity: Ensuring wildlife corridors and ecological networks between protected areas.
3.Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems: Rehabilitation of ecosystems that have been damaged by human
activities (e.g., deforestation, pollution, land conversion).
• Examples of Ecosystem-Level Conservation
• The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
• One of the largest marine protected areas globally, focused
on coral reef conservation and sustainable tourism.
• The Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) Conservation Initiative
• A trans-boundary conservation project in North America
that connects wilderness areas across national parks for
wildlife migration.
• Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR)
• Restoring degraded forests to improve biodiversity, water
management, and climate resilience.
• Example: Ethiopia's Forest Landscape Restoration
Initiative.
Challenges in Conservation at Both Levels
Challenges in Conservation at Both Levels
1.Human-Wildlife Conflict
Local communities often face challenges when wildlife negatively impacts agriculture or livelihoods.
2.Funding and Resources
Limited financial resources and lack of infrastructure for community-based or ecosystem-scale
projects.
3.Policy and Governance
Lack of supportive policies and legal frameworks to ensure the success of conservation initiatives.
Key Strategies for Success
1.Collaboration and Partnerships
Partnerships between governments, NGOs, businesses, and local communities are crucial for sustainable
conservation.
2.Inclusive Decision-Making
Ensuring that all stakeholders, particularly local communities, are involved in conservation planning and
management.
3.Long-Term Monitoring and Adaptation
Regular monitoring and flexibility to adapt strategies based on changing environmental conditions.
• The Role of Genetic Diversity
• Importance of Genetic Diversity:
• It allows populations to adapt to changing environments.
• Reduces the risks of inbreeding depression, where genetic problems arise from closely related
individuals mating.
• Conservation Strategies:
• Genetic Rescue: Introducing individuals from other populations to increase genetic diversity.
• Minimizing Fragmentation: Ensuring gene flow between isolated populations through
habitat corridors.
Integrated Conservation Approaches
•Combining Species and Population Strategies:
• Effective conservation requires addressing both species-specific needs and broader population-level
dynamics.
• Collaboration between governments, NGOs, local communities, and scientists is crucial.
•Examples of Successful Integrated Strategies:
• The Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the U.S.
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• Ecosystem-based Approaches (e.g., maintaining functional landscapes that support multiple species).
The Role of Humans in Conservation
•Positive Impacts:
• Advocacy and awareness campaigns.
• Funding for research and conservation programs.
• Ecotourism providing economic incentives for local communities.
•Negative Impacts:
• Habitat destruction, pollution, and over-exploitation of resources.
• Climate change due to human activities.
•Conservation at both the species and population levels is essential to preserving biodiversity.
•Protecting species ensures ecosystem health and the survival of future generations.
•Monitoring and managing population size and genetic diversity are key to long-term conservation success.
•Call to Action:
•Support and engage in conservation initiatives.
•Advocate for stronger environmental policies.
•Encourage sustainable practices in daily life.
