Nature Reserves
žMaybe called preserves, reserves, parks, or biospheres.
žLand legally set aside in a large enough area to prevent or minimize harm from human activities.
›Currently 12% of earth’s land area is protected.
›Only 5% is strictly protected from harmful human activities.
›Conservation biologists call for full protection of at least 20% of earth’s land area representing multiple examples of all biomes.
Problems with Nature Reserves
›Local people invade park for wood, cropland, and other natural resources.
›Loggers, miners, and wildlife poachers also deplete natural resources.
›Many are too small to sustain large-animal species.
›Many suffer from invasive species.
›High levels of visitors disrupt the ecosystem.
–Air pollution due to vehicles
–Noise pollution from guests
–Animals become adapted to humans’ resources (trash) rather than their natural resources.
žSuggestions for sustaining and expanding the national park system in the U.S.
žCountries have established more than 1,100 national parks, but most are threatened by human activities.
žLarge and medium-sized reserves with buffer zones help protect biodiversity and can be connected by corridors.
žA model biosphere reserve that contains a protected inner core surrounded by two buffer zones that people can use for multiple use.
žMultiple-Use Area- human settlements; roads; farming
›Scientists work with locals to train them to conserve resources and value the biodiversity in their area
žBuffer zone- creates a buffer between humans activities and nature- research and ecotourism
žCore area- ideally, no human activities take place here
žGeographic Information System (GIS) mapping can be used to understand and manage ecosystems.
›Identify areas to establish and connect nature reserves in large ecoregions to prevent fragmentation.
›Developers can use GIS to design housing developments with the least environmental impact.
žWe can prevent or slow down losses of biodiversity by concentrating efforts on protecting global hot spots where significant biodiversity is under immediate threat.
žConservation biologists are helping people in communities find ways to sustain local biodiversity while providing local economic income.
žWilderness is land legally set aside in a large enough area to prevent or minimize harm from human activities.
žOnly a small percentage of the land area of the United States has been protected as wilderness.
žWilderness is land legally set aside in a large enough area to prevent or minimize harm from human activities.
žOnly a small percentage of the land area of the United States has been protected as wilderness.
WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THERE IS NO LAND TO PRESERVE?
žRestoration: trying to return to a condition as similar as possible to original state.
žRehabilitation: attempting to turn a degraded ecosystem back to being functional.
žReplacement: replacing a degraded ecosystem with another type of ecosystem.
žCreating artificial ecosystems: such as artificial wetlands for flood reduction and sewage treatment.
žFive basic science-based principles for ecological restoration:
›Identify cause.
›Stop abuse by eliminating or sharply reducing factors.
›Reintroduce species if necessary.
›Protect area form further degradation.
›Use adaptive management to monitor efforts, assess successes, and modify strategies
Problems
with
Restoration
Land
rights issues- Who owns the land and can the government demand it to be restored?
žLocal usage- Locals may continue to use the land in the same ways, preventing full restoration
žFinancial- Who will pay for it?
žSoil degradation may prevent natural succession from occurring
