conservation lecture 1 - biodiversity

conservation lecture 1 - biodiversity

1. definition: “the variety among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexities of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems."

   • Was coined at the Rio earth summit 1992. All signed up to the basic principles to support biodiversity at this meeting

2. Several UN biodiversity conferences

   • convention on biological diversity
   • convention on trade in endangered species of wild flora and fauna
   • convention on the consevation of migratory species of wild animals
   • conventions on wetlands
   • international treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture
   • these conventions led onto biodiversity TARGETS
     • conference of the parties regularly meet
       • decided at the Hague conference in 2002 that by 2010 they wanted to achieve a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth
         • First time that a target was suggested that had self interest
         • These targets were missed. Aichi 2011 Japan, new targets
           • GOAL A - mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society
           • GOAL B- reduce direct pressure on biodiversity and promote sustainable use
           • GOAL C - safeguard ecosystems, species and genetic diversity
           • GOAL D - enhance benefits to all from biodiversity
           • GOAL E - enhance implementation through planning, knowledge, management and capacity building
           • In addition to these aims - Nagoya protocol Japan 2010 - promoting fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources
           • In order to meet these targets we need KNOWLEDGE
             • There are numerous recording schemes
               • Best involve repeated annual surveys along fixed transects (so you know an increase is numbers is not just because you are looking somwhere else
                 • e.g. UKBMS. RSPB
                 • The countries with the most biodiversity are often least able to record it
                 • we need data on vital rates
                   • BTO - nest record scheme - data on abundance, productivity and survival rates
                   • JNCC - seabird monitoring system - monitors parametres such as breeding numbers at key sites
               • Does collating this data work?
                 • YES - species with protected habitat for 2/ more years were more than twice as likely to be increasing in number
                   • The longer it was listed as threatened the more likely it was to be improving
                 • Predicting future changes
                   • Model on impacts of climate change on european birds
                     • as europe warms up, species are likely to go north
                       • Must remain within their climate envelope
                         • based on climate predictions to can see where this will have moved to
                           • Theres no point trying to preserve the habitat in places where the climate won't be suitable
                       • most species predicted to have smaller ranges in the future
                         • Future suitable climate must have overlap with current suitable climate
                           • otherwise they can't get there
                         • predicted that by 2050, 15- 37% of species will be committed to extinction - as a result of reductions in range size
                           • Is this the next mass extinction? - 7.5 million species need to go extinct