Strategies of Biodiversity Conservation (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Species-based Conservation Strategies

• Alternative approaches to the development of protected areas are species-based conservation strategies that include:

  • The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

  • Captive breeding and reintroduction programmes and zoos

  • Selection of ‘charismatic’ species to help protect others in an area (flagship species)

  • Selection of keystone species to protect the integrity of a food web

CITES

• CITES is an international agreement that regulates the trade of endangered species and their products

• The goal is to ensure that international trade does not threaten the survival of the species

• It provides a framework for cooperation between countries and sets up a system of permits and regulations to control the trade of endangered species

• CITES has helped to protect many species, including elephants, rhinos, and tigers

Captive breeding, reintroduction programmes and zoos

• Captive breeding is the process of breeding animals in controlled environments, such as zoos, aquariums, or wildlife sanctuaries

• It is often used to help restore populations of endangered species that have declined in the wild

• Reintroduction is the process of releasing captive-bred animals into the wild

• Zoos also play a role in conservation by raising public awareness and funding conservation efforts

  • An example of a successful captive breeding and reintroduction program is the California condor recovery program in the United States

Flagship Species

Photo by Paula Robinson on Unsplash 

The mountain gorilla is an example of a flagship species

• Flagship species are charismatic species that are well-known and popular with the public, such as elephants, pandas, or tigers

• They can be used as symbols for conservation efforts and can help to raise awareness and support for conservation efforts

• By protecting charismatic species, their habitats and other species in the same ecosystem may also be protected

  • An example of a flagship species is the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)

  • These primates are found in the Virunga Mountains, which span Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo

  • The mountain gorilla population has faced threats from habitat destruction, poaching, and human conflict

  • By focusing on the conservation of mountain gorillas and their habitat, conservation organisations have been able to protect not only this species but also the many other plants and animals that share their ecosystem

Keystone Species

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Sea otters are a keystone species

• Keystone species are species that have a disproportionate effect on the structure and function of their ecosystem.

• Their removal can cause significant changes in the ecosystem, including the loss of other species

• By protecting keystone species, the integrity of the ecosystem can be maintained, which can in turn benefit other species in the ecosystem

  • For example, the sea otter is a keystone species in the kelp forest ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, as it helps to control the population of sea urchins, which are herbivores that can damage the kelp forests