4.3: Conservation and Biodiversity
4.3.1 - State the arguments for preserving species and habitats.
Conservation of biodiversity has become very popular in last 20 years. Concerns are raised because of unsustainable human activity in different parts of the world. There are different values by which the necessity of conservation is measured. They are categorized as direct and indirect values.
Direct values are easier to calculate because they mainly consist of private goods which are easy to follow and record economic data.
Examples:
Indirect values are harder to calculate because they might consist of processes or services which do not have any record at all.
Example:
Majority of biologists today, are divided into the conservational or preservational beliefs. Both of these methods of saving diversity are very popular and have enough supporters to be used in real life.
Conservation biology is the sustainable use and the management of the natural resources. This method allows humans to interact with nature, hunt and harvest as long as the processes are sustainable. This method has been very successful because it is difficult to exclude humans from habitats. And also nature is needed to help people out of the poverty. For example, any family in a village that uses traditional farming method, potentially is conserving biology.
Preservation biology attempts to exclude human activity in areas where humans have not yet encroached. Some ecologists agree that, whatever the cost, species should be preserved regardless of their value or usefulness to human. For example, a national park of Borjomi in Georgia is fully protected place, where unpermitted human intervention counts as a crime. Ecosystem regulates itself and every type of specie has a chance to recover and be a part of the cycle.
Direct values are easier to calculate because they mainly consist of private goods which are easy to follow and record economic data.
Examples:
- Food sources,
- Natural products
Indirect values are harder to calculate because they might consist of processes or services which do not have any record at all.
Example:
- Ecosystem Productivity
- Scientific and educational values
- Biological control agents
- Genes
- Recreational tourist destinations (human recreation, ecotourism, leisure)
- Human health
- Human rights
- Ethical/intrinsic values (humans acting as stewards for animals)
- Biorights self-perpetuation (diverse ecosystems protecting their selves)
Majority of biologists today, are divided into the conservational or preservational beliefs. Both of these methods of saving diversity are very popular and have enough supporters to be used in real life.
Conservation biology is the sustainable use and the management of the natural resources. This method allows humans to interact with nature, hunt and harvest as long as the processes are sustainable. This method has been very successful because it is difficult to exclude humans from habitats. And also nature is needed to help people out of the poverty. For example, any family in a village that uses traditional farming method, potentially is conserving biology.
Preservation biology attempts to exclude human activity in areas where humans have not yet encroached. Some ecologists agree that, whatever the cost, species should be preserved regardless of their value or usefulness to human. For example, a national park of Borjomi in Georgia is fully protected place, where unpermitted human intervention counts as a crime. Ecosystem regulates itself and every type of specie has a chance to recover and be a part of the cycle.
4.3.2 - Compare and contrast the role and activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in preserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
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NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
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GREENPEACE
Greenpeace is a Canadian non-governmental organization which is active in over forty countries. The company is fast responsive and is known for its direct actions. The company has raised many environmental issues that were covered by different governments. It has really improved many public and private sectors. Greenpeace is also famous for visibility of their actions. Some of its aims are: Oil conservation, Nuclear power reduction, decrease of deforestation, protection of ancient trees, forcing governments to really protect national parks, abolish genetically modified products,abolish golden rice programs. |
Greenpeace has been very active for last 30 years. Sometimes it’s been criticized for exaggeration. Organization owns five ships for fast response in the seas. Also they have offices nearly in every over polluting country. By the advertisements and influences they have in region, they force governments to compromise for them.
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature is an international organization, made up of both intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations dedicated to finding "pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges". The organization publishes the IUCN Red List, compiling information from a network of conservation organizations to rate which species are most endangered. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network—a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by more than 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. The Union’s headquarters are located in Gland, near Geneva, Switzerland. |
WWF
The World Wide Fund for Nature is non-governmental organization founded in 1961. WWF’s main goal is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:
The project aimed to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in Madagascar and resulting greenhouse gas emissions. Fully integrate the conservation of the unique biodiversity of Madagascar. |
UNEP
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1972 Their main goals are Assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends.
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