The value of managing for biodiversity

1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Burton ◽  
A. C. Balisky ◽  
L. P. Coward ◽  
D. D. Kneeshaw ◽  
S. G. Cumming
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Natural Products ◽  
Environmental Ethics ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Ecological Indicators ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Integrated Resource Management ◽  
Management Indicator Species

The concept of biological diversity (biodiversity) is reviewed, with special attention to its measurement and natural trends. While generalizations regarding the necessity of biodiversity need to be interpreted with caution, it is argued that biodiversity should be protected in more ecosystem and landscape reserves, and that biodiversity is a reasonable management objective on timber lands as well. Maintaining biodiversity is important because we cannot always identify which individual species are critical to ecosystem sustainability, nor which species may be useful to mankind in future. Many wild species can provide useful natural products and genetic material, and can serve as ecological indicators. Diversity reduces pest and disease problems, and encourages recovery from disturbance. Uncertainty exists with regard to climate change and future socioeconomic values. It is therefore prudent to maximize flexibility by promoting a wide array of species and potential products. Suggestions are offered on how to promote biodiversity in multiple-use forests. Key words: biological diversity, climate change, environmental ethics, forest inventory, genetic conservation, integrated resource management, indicator species, landscape ecology, multiple-use, natural products, stability, uncertainty.

Modelling ecosystem adaptation and dangerous rates of global warming

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Millington ◽  
Peter M. Cox ◽  
Jonathan R. Moore ◽  
Gabriel Yvon-Durocher
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Diffusion Rate ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Genetic Evolution ◽  
Rates Of Change ◽  
Rapid Climate Change ◽  
Warming Climate ◽  
Intraspecies Competition ◽  
High Trait

Abstract We are in a period of relatively rapid climate change. This poses challenges for individual species and threatens the ecosystem services that humanity relies upon. Temperature is a key stressor. In a warming climate, individual organisms may be able to shift their thermal optima through phenotypic plasticity. However, such plasticity is unlikely to be sufficient over the coming centuries. Resilience to warming will also depend on how fast the distribution of traits that define a species can adapt through other methods, in particular through redistribution of the abundance of variants within the population and through genetic evolution. In this paper, we use a simple theoretical ‘trait diffusion’ model to explore how the resilience of a given species to climate change depends on the initial trait diversity (biodiversity), the trait diffusion rate (mutation rate), and the lifetime of the organism. We estimate theoretical dangerous rates of continuous global warming that would exceed the ability of a species to adapt through trait diffusion, and therefore lead to a collapse in the overall productivity of the species. As the rate of adaptation through intraspecies competition and genetic evolution decreases with species lifetime, we find critical rates of change that also depend fundamentally on lifetime. Dangerous rates of warming vary from 1°C per lifetime (at low trait diffusion rate) to 8°C per lifetime (at high trait diffusion rate). We conclude that rapid climate change is liable to favour short-lived organisms (e.g. microbes) rather than longer-lived organisms (e.g. trees).

scholarly journals Revisiting the Functional Zoning Concept under Climate Change to Expand the Portfolio of Adaptation Options

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 273
Author(s):  
Samuel Royer-Tardif ◽  
Jürgen Bauhus ◽  
Frédérik Doyon ◽  
Philippe Nolet ◽  
Nelson Thiffault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Functional Zoning ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Adaptation Options

Climate change is threatening our ability to manage forest ecosystems sustainably. Despite strong consensus on the need for a broad portfolio of options to face this challenge, diversified management options have yet to be widely implemented. Inspired by functional zoning, a concept aimed at optimizing biodiversity conservation and wood production in multiple-use forest landscapes, we present a portfolio of management options that intersects management objectives with forest vulnerability to better address the wide range of goals inherent to forest management under climate change. Using this approach, we illustrate how different adaptation options could be implemented when faced with impacts related to climate change and its uncertainty. These options range from establishing ecological reserves in climatic refuges, where self-organizing ecological processes can result in resilient forests, to intensive plantation silviculture that could ensure a stable wood supply in an uncertain future. While adaptation measures in forests that are less vulnerable correspond to the traditional functional zoning management objectives, forests with higher vulnerability might be candidates for transformative measures as they may be more susceptible to abrupt changes in structure and composition. To illustrate how this portfolio of management options could be applied, we present a theoretical case study for the eastern boreal forest of Canada. Even if these options are supported by solid evidence, their implementation across the landscape may present some challenges and will require good communication among stakeholders and with the public.

scholarly journals Pharmaceuticals from natural products: current trends

2002 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER R. SEIDL
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Natural Products ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Pharmaceutical Companies ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Discovery Process ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Principal Source ◽  
Do So

The use of products extracted from plants for medicinal purposes can be traced to the beginnings of civilization and up until the end of the nineteenth century natural products were the principal source of medicines. Since then their relative importance has oscillated according to the strategies of large pharmaceutical companies. Now that these strategies are changing, there are new opportunities for countries like Brazil, in which a large proportion of the world's biodiversity is located. There are, however, new circumstances that must be taken into consideration: material must be collected by groups which are formally authorized to do so and under the conditions of the Convention of Biological Diversity, the discovery process is being successively outsourced to smaller specialized firms and there is a growing integration with producers of cosmetics and phytomedicines.

scholarly journals A protocol for an intercomparison of biodiversity and ecosystem services models using harmonized land-use and climate scenarios

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 4537-4562 ◽  
Author(s):  
HyeJin Kim ◽  
Isabel M. D. Rosa ◽  
Rob Alkemade ◽  
Paul Leadley ◽  
George Hurtt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Global Impacts

Abstract. To support the assessments of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the IPBES Expert Group on Scenarios and Models is carrying out an intercomparison of biodiversity and ecosystem services models using harmonized scenarios (BES-SIM). The goals of BES-SIM are (1) to project the global impacts of land-use and climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services (i.e., nature's contributions to people) over the coming decades, compared to the 20th century, using a set of common metrics at multiple scales, and (2) to identify model uncertainties and research gaps through the comparisons of projected biodiversity and ecosystem services across models. BES-SIM uses three scenarios combining specific Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs) and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) – SSP1xRCP2.6, SSP3xRCP6.0, SSP5xRCP8.6 – to explore a wide range of land-use change and climate change futures. This paper describes the rationale for scenario selection, the process of harmonizing input data for land use, based on the second phase of the Land Use Harmonization Project (LUH2), and climate, the biodiversity and ecosystem services models used, the core simulations carried out, the harmonization of the model output metrics, and the treatment of uncertainty. The results of this collaborative modeling project will support the ongoing global assessment of IPBES, strengthen ties between IPBES and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios and modeling processes, advise the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on its development of a post-2020 strategic plans and conservation goals, and inform the development of a new generation of nature-centred scenarios.

scholarly journals 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica: a breakthrough in scientific research is needed

2020 ◽  
pp. 227-237
Author(s):  
Valery Zhuravel ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Interstate Cooperation ◽  
200Th Anniversary ◽  
Foreign Countries ◽  
Global Problems ◽  
The Russian Federation

The article is devoted to the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica under the guidance of 2nd rank captain F. Bellingshausen and lieutenant M. Lazarev. Analyzing the peculiarities of Antarctica, the author notes that this is one of а few regions of our planet, the resources and territory of which are used by various states jointly and exclusively for peaceful purposes for the benefit of science. The article analyzes in detail the celebration of this anniversary in Russia and foreign countries, while paying special attention to the thematic focus of socio-political and scientific events. Considerable attention is paid to the study of the region by Russia and the European States. Interstate cooperation between countries in Antarctica is aimed at finding effective solutions to global problems facing humanity, such as environmental pollution, climate change and its consequences, and the loss of components of biological diversity. It is concluded that despite the fact that Antarctica is traditionally one of the strategic regions for ensuring the national interests and security of our state, the Russian Federation in its state policy in comparison with the Arctic, does not always respond promptly to the existing challenges, does not pay enough attention to improving the research base and living conditions of polar explorers, which negatively affects Russia's positions in Antarctica.

scholarly journals Vegetation period of genetic resources of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 36-47
Author(s):  
Grażyna Silska
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Linum Usitatissimum ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Cannabis Sativa ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Vegetation Period ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Biological Features ◽  
Beginning Of Flowering

Abstract Introduction Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants (INF&MP) is involved in gathering and evaluation of genetic resources of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and medicinal plants, because Poland has signed the Convention on Biological Diversity. Field trials were carried out in 1990–2001 in the Experimental Station in Wojciechów located in Opolskie region. The research material was accessions of genetic resources from the collection of flax, stored at the Institute of Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute in Radzików near Warsaw. Objective The aim of the publication was to evaluate the following biological features of flax: time of beginning of flowering and vegetation period to yellow maturity. Methods The characteristics data for flax accessions are presented according to the methodology of development of the International Flax Database. Each flax accessions from the world collection of flax genetic resources received one of the following assessments of two vegetation periods: very short, short, medium, long and very long. Descriptors of biological features of flax were used, presented in “List of flax descriptors (L. usitatissimum L.)” edited by Janka Nozkova, published in 2011. These descriptors are used to develop the International Flax Database, which in turn helps in the rapid evaluation of the L. usitatissimum genetic resource collection. Carrying out a detailed characterization of biological features of L. usitatissimum accessions is very helpful for breeders in selecting genetic material for breeding new varieties of flax. Results The following results were obtained from the time of the beginning of flowering and the vegetation period to yellow maturity. Time of beginning of flowering was the following: very short – 0 accessions, short – 97 accessions, medium – 20 accessions, long – 2 accessions and very long – 0 accessions of flax. The genotypes tested were characterized by the following results in terms of vegetation period from sowing to yellow maturity: very short – 0, short – 37, medium – 62, long – 0 and very long – 0 accessions of flax. Conclusions Time of beginning of flowering and the vegetation period to yellow maturity shall be revalorised to the International Flax Database for those L. usitatissimum accessions that did not receive the same assessment of the biological features tested in the two or three years of the study.

scholarly journals The Ugency of the Greening of Ethics

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 592
Author(s):  
Anna Malavisi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Ethics ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Environmental Policies ◽  
Environmental Philosophy ◽  
Effective Practice ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Environmental Situation ◽  
Salient Features

Richard Sylvan, a vanguard in the field of environmental philosophy published a book in 1994 with David Bennett titled The Greening of Ethics. Nearly twenty-five years later, where the environmental situation of our world is even more serious, and where some governments deny the existence and negative effects of human caused climate change, the greening of ethics is even more urgent. In this paper, I revisit Sylvan’s and Bennett’s work arguing that their approach to environmental ethics should be one that is advocated. I consider the most salient features of their approach, how this translates into practice but also offer an analysis as to why some governments have reached an impasse in regard to implementing environmental policies, and why environmental ethics still remains on the margins. In the final section of this paper, I discuss what an effective practice would mean.

Buddhist Environmental Ethics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Kaza
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Ethics ◽  
Social Ethics ◽  
Human History ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Current Thinking ◽  
Moral Dimensions ◽  
Ethical Response ◽  
Promising Avenue

Global pressures on human–environment systems are higher than ever before in human history, generating broad ethical engagement in many quarters. Citizen calls for moral response from world religious and political leaders have grown more urgent as pressures mount. Buddhist philosophy contains a wealth of insight and moral guidance regarding human–environment relations, offering a promising avenue for ethical response. This chapter reviews work to date in Buddhist environmental ethics, noting influences from and on Western ethics and areas of tension in current thinking. Arguments are made for complementary development of both individual virtue ethics and constructivist social ethics. Moral dimensions of consumerism and climate change are examined as case studies, drawing on Buddhist values such as non-harming, compassion, meditative awareness, and skilful means.

scholarly journals Structure, Diversity, and Carbon Stocks of the Tree Community of Kumasi, Ghana

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertrand Nero ◽  
Daniel Callo-Concha ◽  
Manfred Denich
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Structure Diversity

Urban forestry has the potential to address many urban environmental and sustainability challenges. Yet in Africa, urban forest characterization and its potential to contribute to human wellbeing are often neglected or restrained. This paper describes the structure, diversity, and composition of an urban forest and its potential to store carbon as a means of climate change mitigation and adaptation in Kumasi. The vegetation inventory included a survey of 470,100-m2 plots based on a stratified random sampling technique and six streets ranging from 50 m to 1 km. A total of 3757 trees, comprising 176 species and 46 families, were enumerated. Tree abundance and species richness were left skewed and unimodally distributed based on diameter at breast height (DBH). Trees in the diameter classes >60 cm together had the lowest species richness (17%) and abundance (9%), yet contributed more than 50% of the total carbon stored in trees within the city. Overall, about 1.2 million tonnes of carbon is captured in aboveground components of trees in Kumasi, with a mean of 228 t C ha−1. Tree density, DBH, height, basal area, aboveground carbon storage, and species richness were significantly different among green spaces (p < 0.05). The diversity was also significantly different among urban zones (p < 0.0005). The DBH distribution of trees followed a modified reverse J-shaped model. The urban forest structure and composition is quite unique. The practice of urban forestry has the potential to conserve biological diversity and combat climate change. The introduction of policies and actions to support the expansion of urban forest cover and diversity is widely encouraged.

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