conservation biology and legislation - willis'...
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Conservation Biology and
Legislation
A Little History…
• U.S. Lacey Act of 1900: prohibits trade
in wildlife, fish, and plants that have
been illegally taken, transported or sold.
• 1st federal law protecting wildlife
• Research an org. to find best way to
protect the species and its
surrounding habitat.
Conservation Biology
In-Situ Conservation
• “In the field” conservation
• Done by protecting them in their habitat.
Ex-Situ Conservation
• “Out of the field” when few individs left
• Conserving/ helping the population
repopulate in a lab, zoo, aquarium.
Bald Eagle Conservation
• 1963= 417 nesting pairs
• Loss of habitat, hunted, DDT
• Ex-Situ rehab.
• Aug 8, 07: off End Species List!
Seed Banks
• Ex-Situ: Saves plants from destruction
• Cryogenically frozen for future
• Stored in duplicate locations
Botanical Gardens
• Ex-Situ: Breed plants and educate
Aquariums: Ex-Situ
• Grow corals
• Rehab injured animals
• Raising public awareness
Zoos: Ex-Situ
• Artificial Insemination
• Embryo Transfer
• Education
• Audubon Society
• American Cetacean Society
• National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, Tree People
National Conservation Orgs
International Conservation Orgs• World
Conservation Union (IUCN)
• World Wildlife Fund
• Nature Conservancy: Buys land to establish reserves
• 1973 -illegal to import or trade products of E.S.
unless used for science (USFWS)
• Species on list cannot be “taken”, threatened,
killed, harmed: habitat can’t be harmed
• Decision must be made on biological basis
– Must develop a recovery plan
– 1350 species listed (4000 candidates)
Problems w/ ESA• Encourages people to
destroy land before
listing
• No focus on ecosystem
• Is inflexible and
political
• Focus on charismatic
megafauna
• Only 8 species de
listed
International Laws
• CITES - Convention on the International
Trade of Endangered Species
–Created by IUCN
–Prohibits trade of live specimens or
products of 900 species on list
CITES
• Uses appendices
for classification.
• Appendix 1:
endangered.
• Appendix 2:
threatened.
• An org. can be on
both CITES and US
ESA!
Squirrel Monkey: App II
Ring-Tailed Lemur: App I
IUCN’s
Red List
• Assess
conservation
status of global
species.
• Use Critically
Endangered,
Endangered,
and
Vulnerable.
Common Hippo: Vulnerable
Angel Shark: Crit. Endang.
International
Whaling Commission
• Regulates whaling
• Bans on gill-netting, purse seines
• Japan/Finland/Iceland no sign!
Marine Mammal Protection Act
• 1972, All marine mammals are protected • Prohibits "take” of marine mammals in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas
How to Save End. Species
Establish parks, preserves and
wilderness areas that are not
fragmented!
Enforce legislation such as US ESA
and CITES.
Support $$ env. organizations.
How to Save End. Species
Control human population and
consumption!
How to Save End. Species
• Restore damaged habitats
• Reforest
• Regulate private land use.
How to Save End. Species