10: Conservation approaches

10: Conservation approaches

1. Threats to biodiversity

   • 1) Land use change
     • Clearing trees through burning is the main threat to forests.
     • Drainage and drying out via canal building is the main threat to peat bogs/swamps.
   • 2) Overexploitation
   • 3) Invasive species
   • 4) Pollution
   • 5) Climate change
   • Factors are largely influenced by food production systems.

2. Economic model transition

   • A) Cowboy economy
     • Open system
     • Unlimited resources and waste disposal capacity
   • B) Spaceship economy (aka. circular economy)
     • Closed system
     • Sustainable resource and waste management
   • Theories suggest that economic transition is possible while maintaining growth.

3. UN sustainable development goals

   • The centre of the '2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development' adopted by all UN states in 2015.
     • Big commitment by countries worldwide.
   • Are a commitment to the spaceship economy.
   • Includes goals on biodiversity.
   • Progress measured using SMART indicators.
     • S-pecificM-easurableA-chieveableR-elevantT-ime-bound.

4. Global cooperation on biodiversity

   • Facilitated by global treaties
     • Provide legal framework for commitment to biodiversity conservation.
       • E.g. the UK's 'Biodiversity net-gain' law for infrastructure.
     • Include funding from HICs to support conservation in LICs.
       • E.g. UK Official Development Assistance ('foreign aid') targeted at biodiversity.
         • Which will only be granted if projects have a positive effect on poverty alleviation (SDG1) and no negative effect on the other SDGs.
   • The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022.
     • Aims to achieve global harmony with nature by 2050.
     • 23 targets must be hit by 2030.
     • Provides mechanisms for directing action and holding countries accountable.

5. Species-level conservation

   • The problem with small populations (extinction vortex)
     • When various threats deplete a population over time, genetic problems arise, causing a spiral towards extinction.
     • Evidence
       • Significant declines in population and egg hatching rate.
     • Solution
       • Increasing the genetic diversity of a population by...
         • A) Building biological corridors between habitats.
         • B) Introducing new individuals into the population.
   • Directed by the IUCN Red List.
     • Categorises species based on standarised criteria.
       • Many species are either 'NE' or 'DD' and therefore are not listed, meaning they don't receive funding for conservation.
     • Highlights threatened species and is often the basis for legal protection.

6. Habitat- and landscape-level conservation

   • E.g. Zoned reserves
     • Are protected areas that cover a diversity of habitat types.
     • Have buffer zones of low-intensity economic activity (e.g. ranching) that reduce the erosion of highly biodiverse habitats.
     • There are connective zones between protected areas.
   • Involves
     • Connecting habitat patches.
     • Maximising habitat diversity in land-/sea-scapes.
   • Better than species-level conservation because it is more likely to promote ecosystem service co-benefits for biodiversity conservation.
     • But; the two methods can work together using 'flagship species' to generate funding for conservation.
   • Case studies
     • A) Kafue National Park, Zambia
       • 'Game Management Areas' of low-intensity economic activity buffer and connect protected areas.
         • Having many GMAs = high connectivity of game reserves in Gambia.
       • The main challenge to conservation efforts is human-wildlife conflict in GMAs.
         • Therefore; conservationists must support communities and provide tools to combat this.
     • B) Kruger National Park, South Africa
       • Low-intensity cattle farms in buffer zones are increasingly being converted into (more lucrative) private reserves.
         • Meaning the economy drives the growth of protected areas (starting with National Parks as the catalyst).
         • Fences separating National Parks and private reserves are then removed, allowing individuals to move freely.