scholarly journals Are existing biodiversity conservation strategies appropriate in a changing climate?

2016 ◽  
Vol 193 ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom H. Oliver ◽  
Richard J. Smithers ◽  
Colin M. Beale ◽  
Kevin Watts
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Dickson Adom

Biodiversity management in Ghana has been largely driven by scientific conservation models. The time-tested and useful traditional conservation ethos in the Ghanaian cultural and artistic elements such as festivals, proverbs, cosmological belief systems and taboos are often watered down by conservationists in biodiversity conservation schemes. This is due to conservationists’ lack of clear-cut guidelines on how to effectively utilize the traditional knowledge systems in complementing the scientific conservation models they are well versed. The developed traditional biodiversity strategy was based on the findings from a robust phenomenological study conducted among purposively and randomly sampled key stakeholders in biodiversity management in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The document aims at offering comprehensive information and guidelines to conservationists on effective ways of implementing traditional knowledge systems in biodiversity conservation issues in Ghana. It ultimately aims at filling the dearth in traditional knowledge systems that have been an age-long problem for the conservation ministries and agencies in Ghana. The informative directions in the developed traditional biodiversity strategy would offer another lens to addressing conservation issues in Ghana while acting as a viable complement to the scientific models. This would ultimately maximize and enrich the conservation strategies for managing Ghana’s biodiversity.


PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra Hernández-Terán ◽  
Ana Wegier ◽  
Mariana Benítez ◽  
Rafael Lira ◽  
Tania Gabriela Sosa Fuentes ◽  
...  

One of the best ex situ conservation strategies for wild germplasm is in vitro conservation of genetic banks. The success of in vitro conservation relies heavily on the micropropagation or performance of the species of interest. In the context of global change, crop production challenges and climate change, we face a reality of intensified crop production strategies, including genetic engineering, which can negatively impact biodiversity conservation. However, the possible consequences of transgene presence for the in vitro performance of populations and its implications for biodiversity conservation are poorly documented. In this study we analyzed experimental evidence of the potential effects of transgene presence on the in vitro performance of Gossypium hirsutum L. populations, representing the Mexican genetic diversity of the species, and reflect on the implications of such presence for ex situ genetic conservation of the natural variation of the species. We followed an experimental in vitro performance approach, in which we included individuals from different wild cotton populations as well as individuals from domesticated populations, in order to differentiate the effects of domestication traits dragged into the wild germplasm pool via gene flow from the effects of transgene presence. We evaluated the in vitro performance of five traits related to plant establishment (N = 300): propagation rate, leaf production rate, height increase rate, microbial growth and root development. Then we conducted statistical tests (PERMANOVA, Wilcoxon post-hoc tests, and NMDS multivariate analyses) to evaluate the differences in the in vitro performance of the studied populations. Although direct causality of the transgenes to observed phenotypes requires strict control of genotypes, the overall results suggest detrimental consequences for the in vitro culture performance of wild cotton populations in the presence of transgenes. This provides experimental, statistically sound evidence to support the implementation of transgene screening of plants to reduce time and economic costs in in vitro establishment, thus contributing to the overarching goal of germplasm conservation for future adaptation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (14) ◽  
pp. 1039-1050
Author(s):  
Rafael Alves Esteves ◽  
Ronilson José da Paz

Invertebrates constitute a megadiverse animal group and abundant in virtually every terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem, performing functions and providing services indispensable to the environment. In this paper, we evaluated how terrestrial invertebrates were treated in the Environmental Impact Assessments submitted to the environmental agency in Rio de Janeiro, state fully inserted at Atlantic Rainforest biome. We analyzed environmental studies developed by companies with new industrial projects presenting potential environmental impact in the period of 2008 to 2018. Only ten (14%) studies considered terrestrial invertebrates in the biotic diagnostic assessments of fauna. Arthropoda was the only one Phylum considered as terrestrial invertebrates in the studies analyzed, with Class Insecta present in all of them, and Arachnida present in two studies. The insects of the Orders Diptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidopetra, Hemipetra, Orthopetra and Odonata were the most frequent in the studies. The lack of interest in the conservation of terrestrial invertebrates demonstrates the fragility of the public authorities in issues related to biodiversity conservation strategies of these animals and exposes the urgent need for investment in the formation of human resources specialized in biodiversity conservation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 124048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuyoung Choi ◽  
Chul-Hee Lim ◽  
Hye In Chung ◽  
Jieun Ryu ◽  
Seong Woo Jeon

Oryx ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Shepheard-Walwyn ◽  
Shonil A. Bhagwat

AbstractThe exploitation of natural resources by people generally has detrimental effects on nature but in some cases anthropogenic activities can result in changes to the natural environment that produce new habitats and increase biodiversity. Understanding and supporting such cultural aspects of land use is an important part of effective conservation strategies. The UK has a range of cultural landscapes that contribute to the landscape matrix and are often important for biodiversity. However, little research has been conducted on the relationship between various types of cultural landscapes or their effects on biodiversity. We examined the interaction between semi-natural sacred sites and lowland heathland in Cornwall, and the contribution these sites make to the overall biodiversity within the habitat. We found that semi-natural sacred sites had significantly higher levels of biodiversity compared to surrounding heathland; the existence and use of the sites created new and important habitats for rare and threatened heathland species; and the spiritual and cultural use of the sites aids the management of heathland. Promoting the use of semi-natural sacred sites could therefore contribute to biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, the cultural and spiritual importance of such sites potentially increases the availability of volunteer resources for their management. We highlight the importance of an integrated management approach for achieving effective biodiversity conservation in areas containing multiple types of cultural landscapes.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Thani Ibouroi ◽  
Said Ali Ousseni Dhurham ◽  
Aurelien Besnard ◽  
Nicolas Lescureux

The Comoros archipelago is a biodiversity hotspot by virtue of its high level of endemism. However, it suffers one of the highest rates of forest loss worldwide, mainly due to strong anthropogenic pressures. As Comorian populations depend on forest resources for subsistence, establishing relevant conservation strategies for their sustainable management requires the consideration of multiple stakeholders perspectives toward biodiversity and habitat conservation. To better understand the relationships between humans and nature; how comorian people use natural resource and the relevance of a protected area for long-term biodiversity conservation, we used Q-methodology to assess local people s perceptions regarding biodiversity and conservation actions. Three discourses are identified during analysis: Pro-environment discourse, Keeping things as usual and Social and environmental concerns. According to the results, employed respondents, were favorable to long-term forest and biodiversity conservation. In contrast, unemployed respondents were in favor of more immediate benefits while unemployed but educated respondents were in favor to both long-term forest conservation and immediate benefits from forests. This suggests that the lack of livelihoods for rural people is the main factor leading them to overharvest natural resources. These results suggest that biodiversity conservation of the Comoros archipelagos may benefit for plan aiming at (1) developing tourism and maintaining sustainable production of crops and livestock that could allow enhancing the livelihoods and well-being of all social groups, (2) developing projects such as local markets that could allow villagers to sell their agricultural production, (3) setting up awareness campaign for tree-planting and reforestation. Reforestation could allow re-establishing natural plants and make large trees available for long-term purposes.


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