ecosystem approaches to conservation
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Ecosystem Approaches To Conservation. Photo from Wikimedia Commons. Ecosystem. “ A community of organisms interacting among themselves and with their physical environment ”. Photo from Wikimedia Commons; definition from Groom et al . (2006). Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Ecosystem Approaches To Conservation
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Photo from Wikimedia Commons; definition from Groom et al. (2006)
Ecosystem
“A community of organisms interacting among themselves and with their physical environment”
From Groom et al. (2006)
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
An approach to maintaining or restoring the composition, structure, and function of natural and modified ecosystems
for the goal of long-term ecological and human sustainability
It is based on a collaboratively developed vision of desired future conditions that integrates ecological, socioeconomic, and institutional perspectives, applied within a geographic framework defined primarily by natural ecological boundaries
…entails considering interacting human and natural systems on large spatial and temporal scales
Redrawn & modified from Groom et al. (2006)
Ecologicalperspective
Socioeconomic(and political)perspective
Biotic factorsAbiotic factors
Stakeholders’concerns, needs &values
Who are stakeholders?
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
Modified from Groom et al. (2006)
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
Stakeholders – people who want to or should be involved in a decision or action because they have some interest or stake in it
Have a real or perceived interest in a resource about which decisions are being made; its use, its protection, or its users
Are dependent on a resource
Believe that management decisions will affect them
Are located in or near the areas about which decisions are being made
Pay for the decision or action
Are in a position of authority to review the decisions
Redrawn & modified from Groom et al. (2006)
Ecologicalperspective
Institutionalperspective
Socioeconomic(and policital)perspective(individuals,
gov’t. agencies,academic
institutions,NGOs, etc.)
Biotic factorsAbiotic factors
Laws & mandates
Staffing & funding
Stakeholders’concerns, needs &values
Target forecosystemapproach
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
From McLeod & Leslie in Groom et al. (2006)
List of U.S. federal agencies
U. S. policies historically have been implemented in response to crises in a piecemeal fashion, considering
only a single sector, activity, or threat at a time
The result is a fragmented patchwork of… laws… that are interpreted by dozens of federal agencies
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
Quotes from Groom et al. (2006); Smokey Bear image from Wikimedia Commons; Rancher photo from NGS
Effective ecosystem approaches involve a willingness to give up some degree of control
+ + etc.
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
Much of the history of natural resource management is a history of control and domination: of people,
of resources, of other organizations
Modified from Groom et al. (2006)
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
Key elements
Shared vision for ecosystem condition & its uses (i.e., goals),agreed upon through partnerships & collaboration, coupled with coordinated
approaches to achieve & maintain targeted ecosystem condition
Respect & ensure private property rights
Establish baseline conditions, then monitor changes to help evaluate if goals & objectives are being achieved
Integrate the best science available into the decision-making process, while continuing scientific research to improve the knowledge base
Support actions that incorporate sustained economic, environmental,socio-cultural, and community goals
Use an adaptive approach to management, to achieve goals & advance an ever-better understanding of the ecosystem
Modified from Groom et al. (2006)
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
Adaptive management
Management that is approached as an experiment, and that responds in creative and innovative ways to changes
Breaks the “chain-of-command” top-down model of resource management
Modified from Groom et al. (2006)
Clarify mission & goals
Develop conceptual
model of system
Develop management
plan (goals, etc.)
Develop monitoring plan
Implement management &
monitoring plans
Analyze data & discuss results
Adapt & learn
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
Adaptive management
Photo from www.fs.fed.us
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
Adaptive management
E.g., FirePrescribed burns are important management tools, since they mimic natural
disturbance processes for many ecosystems and help reduce risks of catastrophic events to human property and lives
Getting the fire “regime” right depends on adaptive
management
Logo from www.ccamlr.org
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
E.g., Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) – part of the Antarctic Treaty System
“The aim of the Convention is to conserve marine life of theSouthern Ocean. However this does not exclude harvesting
carried out in a rational manner.”
Map of member nations from www.ccamlr.org
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
E.g., Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) – part of the Antarctic Treaty System
Multiple stakeholders collaborate through this treaty to manage the fisheries surrounding Antarctica
Photo from: www.makinglifebetter.com
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
E.g., The Everglades (where a principal resource is water)
Photo from: www.millersoap.com
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
E.g., U.S. Pacific Northwest Forests (where a principal resource is timber)
Photo from: www.panoramio.com
Ecosystem (or Ecosystem-Based) Management
E.g., Mississippi River Drainage and Delta