Transcript Wildlife Resources  What is happening to the wildlife

Wildlife Resources
What is happening to the wildlife
and plant resources around us today?
U.S. Species Diversity
Decreasing Biodiversity
10-20% of species alive in 1975 were
extinct in 2000
Mostly plants, invertebrates in tropical
rain forests (many undescribed species)
40% of all species live in tropical areas
Disappear along with forests
Extinction Not New
99% of all species have gone extinct
Gradual environmental changes have
been responsible for most extinctions
Rapid environmental changes from
asteroids, etc. also have been important
in many extinctions
Extinction Rates
Background (natural) rate of extinction
Mass
extinction
Why Should We Care About
Extinctions and Biodiversity?
1) economics
2) aesthetics
3) ecological
4) ethics
Cinchona
Cinchona ledogeriana,
South America
Quinine for malaria treatment
Rauvolfia
Rauvolfia sepentina,
Southeast Asia
Tranquilizer, high
blood pressure
medication
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea,
Europe
Digitalis for heart failure
Pacific yew
Taxus brevifolia,
Pacific Northwest
Ovarian cancer
Human Impacts on Biodiversity
Causes of Premature Extinction of
Wild Species
Human Activities That May
Cause Extinctions
Habitat disturbance/destruction
Commercial hunting
Predator and pest control
Collecting for pets, zoos, research
Pollution
Introductions of exotic species
Habitat Disturbance and
Destruction
California Condor
Commercial Hunting
Black Rhino
Range in 1700
Range today
(about 2,400 left)
Predator and Pest Control
African Elephant
Probable range 1600
Range today
(300,000 left)
Collecting for Pets, Zoos,
Research
Pollution
Bald Eagle
- DDT
Species Introductions
Dodo Bird
Zebra Mussel
Threats from Nonnative Species
Strategies for
Protecting
Biodiversity
Species approach
Ecosystem
approach
Protecting Wild Species: The Legal
Approach
 International Treaties: CITES
- Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species
 National Laws: ESA
- Endangered Species Act
Protecting Wild Species: The
Sanctuary Approach
 Wildlife refuges and protected areas
- e.g. whooping cranes
 Gene banks, botanical gardens, and farms
 Zoos and Aquariums
- captive breeding programs
The Ecosystem Approach
Biosphere reserves
U.S. has >30 reserves
- Yellowstone National Park
- Great Smoky Mtns. National Park
Other countries have similar reserves
Bird Success Stories
California Condor
Whooping Crane
Peregrine Falcon
Canada Goose
Wild Turkey
Economics and the Environment
Sustaining economic growth?
- Is growth necessary for progress?
- Limited natural resources
- Limited capacity to deal with wastes
Redirecting Economic Growth
Reduce polluting growth, and growth
dependent on nonrenewable resources
Encourage “clean” and efficient
growth, and growth dependent on
renewable resources
Harmful External Costs and FullCost Pricing
External costs - need to eliminate
waste in the economy
Full-cost pricing - pay true cost for
goods and services
- recycling fee and pollution
tax to cost of new tires, oil
changes
Politics
Orderly distribution of resources
Political systems designed to
accomplish this goal
United States Political System
Legislative: enact laws to ensure
equitable distribution of resources
Clean Air & Water Acts, Water
Pollution Control Act, RCRA,
Endangered Species Act, National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NEPA
Environmental impact statement
Short- and long-term effects of
project on the environment
Examine alternatives
United States Political System
Executive: enforce the laws
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)
Enforce environmental regulations
Distribute federal money for
environmental purposes (Superfund)
United States Political System
Judicial: interpreting the laws
Environmental law
- Who “speaks for the trees”?
The
Lorax
Factors Hindering Democracies in
Dealing with Environmental Problems
 Lack of long-range planning
(usually focus on short-term issues)
 Special interest groups have too much
influence
 Too much bureaucracy
Religion and the Environment
 Most environmental degradation has been
the result of human attitudes and values.
 Self-centered view of nature
Religion and the Environment
 All major religions emphasize humans as
a part of nature
 Steward of nature
 A steward is a caretaker
Religion and the Environment
 Most people do not practice their religious
or philosophical beliefs when it relates to
the environment (not acting as stewards)
 Human population growth
 Resource problems
 Pollution problems
 More emphasis is being placed on
environmental concerns now by the world’s
religious leaders.
Ecological Crisis?
 Gloom and doom?
 Technological optimism?
 “Good old days”?
 An important beginning
 Lots more to accomplish