Biodiversity: Biodiversity Conservation Biodiversity Conservation: Biodiversity

The term 'biodiversity' refers to the various life forms that we experience around us. Biodiversity conservation has to do with the protection of biodiversity with the aim of ensuring that the environment remains capable of meeting the needs of current and future populations. This text provides answers to a series of discussion question touching on the concepts of biodiversity and biodiversity conservation in Canada.

Conservation of Biological Diversity

List at least three major threats to biological diversity in Canada. Which of these is the most significant and why?

The term 'biological diversity' basically refers to the various life forms that we experience around us. In Canada, it is threatened by a variety of factors that include human activities, pollution, and competing land uses. In my view, human activities is the most significant threat to biodiversity given that almost every single human activity causes some form of alteration to the natural environment. Conversion of natural habitats to farmlands owing to increased food production demands has, for instance, resulted in the loss of over 80% of prairie habitat (Conservation Issues, n.d.). Moreover, agriculture continues to result in the extirpations and reduction of wild-pollinating insects, scrublands, grasslands, and other fauna. Poor agricultural practices continue to cause the loss of top soil and to degrade soil quality. What is even worse is that the trend is expected to continue as our population grows larger.

2. Briefly explain the basic approaches that Canada is taking to involve different stakeholders in its effort to conserve biodiversity

Canada is using two main approaches to get all stakeholders involved in the conservation of biodiversity. The first is responsibility-sharing -- the federal government recognizes the conservation of biodiversity as a joint effort requiring the collaboration of all the different stakeholders. For this reason, it has shared the conservation responsibility among itself, provincial and territorial governments, wildlife management boards, local communities, and individuals, each one with a specific part to play in the conservation efforts (Environment Canada, 2015). A second approach that the country has adopted is the formation of strategic partnerships with stakeholders in both the private and the public sector to aid the conservation efforts (Environment Canada, 2015). A perfect example of a partnership bringing together various stakeholders was formed between the federal government, municipal governments, residents, ranchers and farmers to help restore the rangelands in western Canada, which had been severely destroyed by human activities.

3. Explain why non-native species are considered a threat to the conservation of biological diversity. What strategies are being used to counter the effects of this threat?

Non-native species can be defined simply as species that are not native to a particular area, but which arrive with the help of humans and then spread on their own. They are considered a threat to the conservation of biodiversity because they often cause damage or even extinction to native species through habitat modification, predation, hybridization and competition for resources. A perfect example of a non-native species acting as a threat to biodiversity is that of the brown tree snake, an invasive species that has almost wiped out all the native bird and lizard species in Guam Island in the Pacific Ocean. A number of strategies are currently being implemented to curb the threat posed by these species. Strategies at the prevention level include providing access to information on the risk and dangers posed by such species, increasing public awareness on how the species spread to minimize the risk of the same by humans, and developing risk-assessment processes to be used by stakeholders and other working groups. At the operational level, strategies include using chemical and laboratory-generated techniques to control the spread of the species (for instance, taking eggs to laboratories to prevent them from hatching, injecting the species with drugs that prohibit reproduction, and so on), and establishing refuge for the native species under threat.

4. List and describe the biological features of a species that contributes to its vulnerability and extinction

A species that contributes to its own vulnerability and extinction is characterized by a number of traits, including:

i) Low reproductive rates -- the continuity of a species is best reflected through its reproductive...

A species with a low reproductive rate make themselves less likely to progress and recover if their habitat is destroyed, and this makes them more vulnerable to habitat modifications and hence, extinction. This is particularly the case with species that require specific conditions to breed, such as birds that will only breed after they have displayed courtship behavior in front of other males.
ii) Low natural mortality rates -- a low natural mortality rate implies that new members are being born, and very few (if any) are dying. Such a species makes itself vulnerable to competition, and consequently extinction if their habitat is destroyed

iii) Specialization of diet or habitat -- species that depend on a particular type of food source or habitat alone make themselves unable to adjust to alterations and are consequently, prone to extinction

iv) Altruism -- this refers to the unselfish care for members of one's own species; members of an altruistic species will often not their wounded or fallen mates when confronted by predators. This trait makes them vulnerable to predation themselves and increases their chances of extinction.

v) Colony breeding -- species that prefer to breed in colonies for protection or survival make themselves vulnerable to easy predation and are prone o extinction.

5. What classification levels have been developed to protect species internationally, nationally, and provincially? Consider the peregrine falcon; how is it classified on a global, regional, national and provincial basis. Why are the classifications different or the same at the various levels?

The conservation of a species is dependent on the level of risk that it is considered to be in. In Canada, four different categories for ranking species at risk exist -- the provincial status, the national status, the regional status, and the global status. At the provincial level, species identified as being at risk by the NS Species at Risk Working Group are classified into three levels i) Endangered -- facing imminent extinction or extirpation, ii) Threatened -- likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not corrected, and iii) Vulnerable -- of special concern because its qualities and characteristics make it sensitive to natural events or human activities.

At the national level, species identified as being at risk by the COSEWIC are also classified into the three classification levels used at the provincial level.

At the regional level, species are classified into 5 classifications: S1- extremely rare throughout the region (5 or fewer occurrences), S2- rare throughout its range in the province (between 6 and 20 occurrences), S3- uncommon throughout its range in the province (21 to 100 occurrences), S4 --usually widespread; fairly common throughout its range in the region (100 plus occurrences), and S5 -- demonstrably widespread, abundant and secure.

At the international global ranks (G-Ranks), species are classified at 5 levels: i) G1- critically imperiled, with extreme rarity (5 or fewer individuals), ii) G2 -- imperiled globally because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences), iii) G3- very rare (21 to 100 occurrences), G4- apparently globally secure, and G5- demonstrably secure globally

The Peregrine falcon is classified as threatened at the national and provincial levels, G4 at the global level and S4 at the regional level. The difference in classification is because different levels have different categorization systems and definitions for classifying the risk level of species. The definition used at the national and provincial levels differs from that used at the global and regional levels, hence the difference in classification levels for the same species.

Part 2: Ecosystem Management

6. Define the term ecosystem management and describe how it is useful in the conservation of biological diversity

Ecosystem management can be defined simply as the process of conserving natural and ecological resources while meeting the needs of both current and future generations.

7. Briefly describe the 5 steps the ecosystem management process and indicate difficulties that may be encountered at each step

The process of ecosystem management comprises of five major steps. The first step is the determination of the main stakeholders (all people with an interest in the ecosystem of interest) and the development of the relationship between the identified stakeholders and the ecosystem area (Shepherd, 2013). Here, one will need to perform stakeholder analysis to be able to determine who the primary and secondary stakeholders are, and what their interest in the ecosystem is. One of the main challenges that could be encountered at this stage is how to accurately identify all stakeholders involved particularly when the ecosystem is large. It may also be rather difficult organizing the identified stakeholders and assessing their level of commitment to the project. Once stakeholders have been identified, the next step is to characterize the function, setting and structure of the ecosystem, that is the characteristics that the ecosystem needs to be able to deliver key goods and services (Shepherd, 2013). This would require the help and input of all identified stakeholders. A key feature of this stage is the decentralization of management to different levels…