Japan Prize Commemorative Lecture: biodiversity, conservation and sustainability

Scientific Understanding ◽

20Th Anniversary ◽

This lecture was given on 21 April 2004, in Tokyo, Japan, on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Japan Prize. John Lawton was awarded the 2004 Japan Prize for ‘Observational, experimental and theoretical achievements for the scientific understanding and conservation of biodiversity’.

Fire regimes, biodiversity conservation and prescribed-burning programs

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ◽

10.1071/rs12001 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 124 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

A. Malcolm Gill

Keyword(s):

Working Conditions ◽

Prescribed Burning ◽

Fire Regime ◽

Fire Regimes ◽

Royal Commission ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Protection Of Life ◽

Conservation Of Biodiversity ◽

Safe Working

In the trend towards the domestication, or taming, of fire regimes in Victoria, Australia, the level of prescribed burning has been stepped up due to a recommendation from the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. While prescribed burning programs may be instituted for a number of reasons, especially the protection of life and property, they have consequences for the conservation of biodiversity. Not all vegetation types can be prescribed burned because the weather does not always allow it to occur under safe working conditions; where prescribed burning programs are carried out, unplanned fires may still occur. Thus, the general issue is the effect on biodiversity of both prescribed and unplanned fires, neither alone. Here, the importance to biodiversity conservation of all the components of the fire regime– interval, season, intensity and type (peat fire or otherwise) – and their domain of variability is emphasized. If conservation of biodiversity is to be guaranteed in a changing fire world, then much more knowledge about the systems being managed, gained in large part through effective monitoring, is needed. Issues such as targets and some assumptions of management are addressed here.

The Pursuit of Meaning: Placing Biodiversity and Biography at the Center of Biology

Journal of Education ◽

10.1177/00220574211026890 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002205742110268

Author(s):

Joel I. Cohen

Keyword(s):

Role Models ◽

Life Science ◽

Charles Darwin ◽

Life Sciences ◽

Opportunity To Learn ◽

Scientific Understanding ◽

Conservation Funding ◽

Female Scientists

Naturalists enrich our scientific understanding of biodiversity. However, just as countries have fallen behind on commitments to provide biodiversity conservation funding, so has the focus of life science stayed arm’s length. The purpose of this article is to consider why biodiversity should be the center of life sciences education and how biographies of Charles Darwin and the incorporation of female scientists allow important findings, paintings, and journaling as part of standard teachings. The addition of female naturalists will provide role models for diverse, underrepresented student populations. This article suggests that biodiversity and biography become central to hteaching life sciences while supplemented by other practices. Such reallocations provide students an opportunity to learn not only what these scientists discovered but how these individuals “developed” into scientists.

Role of informal institutions in biodiversity conservation: Perspective of the Santhal tribe of India

Journal of Non Timber Forest Products ◽

10.54207/bsmps2000-2021-x5q5v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 139-146

Author(s):

Edwin Murmu ◽

◽

Bhupendra Singh Adhikari ◽

Harsh Bardhan Vashistha ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

West Bengal ◽

Life Stage ◽

Informal Institutions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Informal Institution ◽

Key Informants ◽

Specific Species ◽

The study provides insights into the role of an informal institution of the Santhal tribe of India in the conservation of biodiversity. The data has been collected from 124 Santhal key informants from six tribal districts from the states of Jharkhand (Dumka, Pakur and Sahibganj) and West Bengal (Birbhum, Bankura and West Medinipur) through the methods of stratified sampling, chain-referrals, personal interactions, and focussed group discussions. The taboos associated with biodiversity conservation have been categorized into six categories such as segment taboo, specific-species taboo, life-stage taboo, temporal taboo, habitat taboo and method taboo.

Bioregions in Marine Environments: Combining Biological and Environmental Data for Management and Scientific Understanding

BioScience ◽

10.1093/biosci/biz133 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 48-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Skipton N C Woolley ◽

Scott D Foster ◽

Nicholas J Bax ◽

Jock C Currie ◽

Daniel C Dunn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Resources ◽

Statistical Models ◽

Spatial Representation ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Scientific Understanding ◽

Biological Data ◽

Environmental Data ◽

Marine Environments ◽

Multiple Spatial Scales

Abstract Bioregions are important tools for understanding and managing natural resources. Bioregions should describe locations of relatively homogenous assemblages of species occur, enabling managers to better regulate activities that might affect these assemblages. Many existing bioregionalization approaches, which rely on expert-derived, Delphic comparisons or environmental surrogates, do not explicitly include observed biological data in such analyses. We highlight that, for bioregionalizations to be useful and reliable for systems scientists and managers, the bioregionalizations need to be based on biological data; to include an easily understood assessment of uncertainty, preferably in a spatial format matching the bioregions; and to be scientifically transparent and reproducible. Statistical models provide a scientifically robust, transparent, and interpretable approach for ensuring that bioregions are formed on the basis of observed biological and physical data. Using statistically derived bioregions provides a repeatable framework for the spatial representation of biodiversity at multiple spatial scales. This results in better-informed management decisions and biodiversity conservation outcomes.

Factors Affecting the Success of Conserving Biodiversity in National Parks: A Review of Case Studies from Africa

International Journal of Biodiversity ◽

10.1155/2013/798101 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Moses Muhumuza ◽

Kevin Balkwill

Keyword(s):

Case Studies ◽

National Parks ◽

Search Engines ◽

Human Dimension ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Successful Case ◽

Metadata Analysis ◽

The Creation ◽

National Parks are a cornerstone for biodiversity conservation in Africa. Two approaches are commonly used to sustain biodiversity in National Parks. Past and current studies show that both approaches are generally ineffective in conserving biodiversity in National Parks in Africa. However, there are a handful of cases where these approaches have been successful at conserving biodiversity in National Parks. The question this paper attempts to answer is why in some cases these approaches have been successful and in other cases they have failed. A metadata analysis of 123 documents on case studies about conservation of biodiversity in National Parks in Africa was conducted. A series of search engines were used to find papers for review. Results showed that all factors responsible for both the success and failure of conserving biodiversity in National Parks in various contexts were socioeconomic and cultural in nature. The highest percentage in both successful case studies (66%) and unsuccessful cases studies (55%) was associated with the creation and management of the park. These results suggest that future conservation approaches in National Parks in Africa should place more emphasis on the human dimension of biodiversity conservation than purely scientific studies of species and habitats in National Parks.

Essential Indicators for Measuring Area-Based Conservation Effectiveness in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

10.20944/preprints202003.0370.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jonas Geldmann ◽

Marine Deguignet ◽

Andrew Balmford ◽

Neil D. Burgess ◽

Nigel Dudley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Area ◽

Quantitative Data ◽

Essential Elements ◽

Biodiversity Monitoring ◽

Biodiversity Indicators ◽

Ecological Values ◽

Fit For Purpose ◽

Global Biodiversity ◽

Work has begun in earnest to formulate a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework which will outline the vision and targets for the next decade of biodiversity conservation and beyond. However, the performance of the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity suggests that even a meaningful target can fail to deliver if not accompanied by fit-for-purpose indicators. Here we provide a review of how ‘protected area’ effectiveness was addressed in the 2011-2020 plan and based on this, provide recommendations for fit-for-purpose indicators that will measure how such efforts contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. Indicators need to be built on quantitative data from site-level biodiversity monitoring of species and ecosystems combined with measurements of the state of nature in near-time, informed by remote-sensed products and other technologies. Additionally, indicators need to capture whether the essential elements of good management are in place including the identification of ecological values, threats, and objectives, equitable governance, and sufficient management resources and capacity. These fit-for-purpose indicators will require multilateral collaboration to galvanize support for, and resources to develop, the necessary infrastructure to collate and store information from countries.

CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY AND SOCIO-CULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF SACRED GROVES OF KANNUR DISTRICT, KERALA

Kongunadu Research Journal ◽

10.26524/krj185 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 96-106

Author(s):

Sekaran S ◽

Nisha Raj S

Keyword(s):

Local Communities ◽

Cultural Dimensions ◽

Sacred Groves ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Ecosystem Integrity ◽

Different Types ◽

Performing Art ◽

Insight Into ◽

Sacred groves are small patches of forests, protected by local communities on religious grounds, rituals and culture. It represent a tradition of nature worship by dedicating patches of forests to deities and providing protection to such forest patches. They have immense value from genetic and ecological point ofview. Results of studies conducted in eleven sacred groves in Kannur district of Kerala are compiled in this paper. Two hundred and three plant species including 10 true mangroves give an insight into the bioecological and socio cultural dimensions of sacred groves in helping and conserving the biological diversity.Kaliyattam a performing art with different forms of ‘theyyam’ is conducted every year offering to propitiate the deity by different communities in the villages. ‘Devakooth’ a theyyam performed by women in Thekkumpad kavu. is noteworthy among the performative rituals. These ritualistic practices centred aroundthe sacred groves substantially contribute to the conservation and day- to-day management of ecological balance by sacred groves. The different types of roles played by sacred groves in maintaining the ecosystem integrity and biodiversity conservation are also presented in this paper.

Policy and Practical Considerations in Land-Use Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation

Last Stand ◽

10.1093/oso/9780195095548.003.0009 ◽

1997 ◽

Author(s):

Katrina Brandon

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Use ◽

Rural Poverty ◽

Popular Media ◽

Success Stories ◽

Development Organizations ◽

Global Environmental ◽

Biodiversity Convention ◽

Much attention has been given to the issues of sustainable use, sustainable development, and biodiversity conservation, as well as to the relationships among them. Some observers express a sense of optimism that implementing sustainable activities worldwide will lead to the conservation of biodiversity. In the popular media, there are examples almost daily of conservation success stories. But publicity for conservation and attention on biodiversity are being mistaken for solutions. What is perhaps more sobering than equating publicity with actions, or actions with solutions, is that the entire rubric of sustainability, in the rural context, has a set of questionable assumptions that underlies the portfolio of activities being implemented to conserve biodiversity. These assumptions have had a major impact in shaping the range of activities that have been developed to address the conservation of biodiversity— from policies (such as the Biodiversity Convention adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit) to projects implemented by conservation and development organizations worldwide (such as the Global Environmental Facility). The questionable assumptions fit into the following seven broad categories: • Method. Biodiversity conservation can best be accomplished through field-based activities, such as establishing parks and reserves. • Use. Sustainable use is possible under a variety of management regimes ranging from private to communal. Dependence on wildlands resources is most likely to ensure their long-term conservation. • Incentives. Appropriate sets of incentives can be readily defined and will influence people to conserve biodiversity. • Management. Management should be devolved to local control whenever possible. • Technology. Technical and organizational solutions exist to improve resource management and production activities in areas with great biodiversity. • Poverty Mitigation and Development. Rural poverty-mitigation and development strategies will lead to conservation and maintain biodiversity. • Social. Local people are cooperative and live in harmony with one another and with nature. These assumptions, and their implications, are increasingly being questioned as concern mounts that their implementation may lead to serious loss of biodiversity (see Ludwig et al., 1993; Robinson, 1993).

Issues in Biodiversity Conservation Including the Role of Local Communities

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s0376892900010614 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 216-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Clement A. Tisdell

Keyword(s):

Local Communities ◽

Rational Decision ◽

Minimum Standard ◽

Rational Decision Making ◽

Diversity Issues ◽

Natural Living ◽

Further Development ◽

Although many publications have appeared in recent years purporting to address the economics of conservation of biodiversity, most do not address the diversity issues as such. This shortcoming appears only to have been recognized recently. Furthermore, from the literature it is clear that natural living areas — apart from conserving biodiversity — jointly give rise to other conservation benefits, and therefore, their conservation needs to be evaluated holistically.It is suggested that when constraints are placed on available resources for biodiversity conservation, some criteria for species preservation such as those associated with SMS (safe minimum standard) may exhibit unsatisfactory features. While imperfection of knowledge is a serious limitation on rational decision-making about conservation of biodiversity, we have some knowledge and we may be able to use that to determine rational probabilities. In addition, it is important to scrutinize ecological claims about biodiversity. For example, ecosystems containing greater biodiversity may not be more sustainable than those with less diversity. It is also argued that the SMS criterion needs further development because there may be no standard which ensures the survival of any species.

ECOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE OF COASTAL COMMUNITY ON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION (Case Study of Bajau Coastal Communities, Gorontalo)

Metamorfosa Journal of Biological Sciences ◽

10.24843/metamorfosa.2017.v04.i01.p09 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 54

Author(s):

Ramli Utina

Keyword(s):

Human Behavior ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Coastal Communities ◽

Ecological Crisis ◽

Way Of Life ◽

Coastal Community ◽

Fishing Behavior ◽

Human behavior is a part of the ecological system, therefore overcoming the ecological crisis and living resources need to explore human traditions, way of life and human behavior toward natural resources. Understanding and translation of human harmonious relationship with all elements along with other living beings is a form of human ecological intelligence. The objective of this study was to describe the traditions and coastal communities behavior that contains the value of ecological intelligence in coastal biodiversity conservation. The study was based on observation, focus group discussion and identification of Bajau coastal community tradition in their lives and livelihoods on fishing, as well as the behavior toward biological resources. Bajau coastal communities settled in three villages in Pohuwato regency, Gorontalo. There are two themes that contains the value of ecological intelligence of Bajau communities in the conservation of biodiversity, namely; mamia kadialo in tradition of fishing, and fishing behavior. The prohibition in the tradition of mamia kadialo contains the value of conservation of biodiversity. Usage of simple equipment on fishing activities provide a positive ecological consequences for the conservation of coastal biodiversity.