Salit Kark Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology

Conservation Biology (Ecology) Lecture 1 – what is conservation biology? Oct 2009 Salit Kark Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The course will deal with two directions: Conservation biology: theory Conservation biology in practice

What is your personal experience (with conservation biology)?

Human impact on the environment – long North America – extinctions Africa – fires Mediterranean Basin and Levant – domestication, grazing, agriculture… Traditional and modern society – urbanization

Approaches to nature and biodiversity: Traditional native societies Religions Modern “Western”

Approaches to nature and biodiversity: Traditional Native American Societies (Touch the Earthpg. 15, 23, 47, more)

Some religious approaches: In many religions we find humans physically and spiritually connected with nature Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese Tao, Japanese Shinto philosophy: wilderness areas and natural settings are protected for their ability to provide intense spiritual experiences. Direct connection between the natural world and the spiritual world, which humans need to protect.

Approaches to nature: Biblical Jewish approaches בראשית פרק א' וב' Third Century Fresco, Rome

בראשית א', כ"ו-ל"א "ויאמר אלהים נעשה אדם בצלמנו כדמותנו וירדו בדגת הים ובעוף השמים ובבהמה ובכל-הארץ ובכל-הרמש הרמש על-הארץ. ויברא אלהים את-האדם בצלמו בצלם אלהים ברא אתו זכר ונקבה ברא אתם.ויברך אתם אלהים ויאמר להם אלהים פרו ורבו ומלאו את-הארץ וכבשה ורדו בדגת הים ובעוף השמים ובכל-חיה הרמשת על-הארץ.ויאמר אלהים הנה נתתי לכם את-כל-עשב זרע זרע אשר על-פני כל-הארץ ואת-כל-העץ אשר-בו פרי-עץ זרע זרע לכם יהיה לאכלה.ולכל-חית הארץ ולכל-עוף השמים ולכל רומש על-הארץ אשר-בו נפש חיה את-כל-ירק עשב לאכלה ויהי-כן.וירא אלהים את-כל-אשר עשה והנה-טוב מאד ויהי-ערב ויהי-בקר יום הששי."

בראשית "ויקח ה' אלוקים את האדם ויניחהו בגן עדן לעבדה ולשמרה")בראשית ב', ט"ו)"בשעה שברא הקדוש ברוך הוא את האדם הראשון, נטלו והחזירו על כל אילני גן עדן, ואמר לו: ראה מעשי כמה נאים ומשובחין הן, וכל מה שבראתי בשבילך בראתי. תן דעתך שלא תקלקל ותחריב את עולמי, שאם תקלקל אין מי שיתקן אחריך"(קהלת רבה, ז')

Wilderness Originated in the old English word "wildeornes", which meant "the place of wild deer“ (wildeor meaning wild beast (wild + deor = beast, deer). Effort to protect nature was made by the kings of England in the Middle Ages. Motivated by a desire for private hunting preserves. Needed to protect the wildlife from poachers and the land from the villagers who would cut down the trees for firewood.

Some history of modern conservation thinking European Colonialism, explorers and governors: Mauritius French Colonials (1769) set aside 25% of forest landholdings for preventing erosion, protected allk forests 200m from water and planted trees in degraded areas… Tobago Caribbean island: British officers set aside 20% of land as “reserved in wood for rain”

Europe – some conservation history Establishment of the: Commons, Open Spaces and footpaths Preservation Society (1865) in England National Trust for Places of Historic Interest and Natural Beauty (1895) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (1899) Preserved together over 5 million dunam (500,000 ha) of open lands More in other countries, such as Poland.

British Mandate: Jerusalem Valleys preserved as open areas…

Some history of modern conservation thinking Two opposing views had emerged within the environmental movement by the early 20th century: the conservationists and the preservationists. The conservationists (such as Pinchot) focused on the proper use of nature, whereas the preservationists (suchas Muir)sought the protection of nature from use.

Some history of modern conservation thinking Environmental thinkers and leaders in the US: Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau (mid 19th century): Transcendental Conservation Ethic. Nature has uses besides economic gain. John Muir: Preservationists Ethic, natural areas have great spiritual and artistic values, as well intrinsic value. Countered by Pinchot’s Resource Conservation Ethic (early 20th century). Multiple uses of nature and fair resource distribution.

Some history of modern conservation thinking Environmental thinkers and leaders in the US: Aldo Leopold (government officer, early-mid 20th Century): evolutionary-ecological land ethic maintain natural ecosystems and processes, with humans taking a part, ecosystem management. The idea of protecting nature for nature's sake began to gain more recognition in the 1930s with him calling for a "land ethic" and urging for wilderness protection.

Some history of modern conservation thinking Early perception of equilibrium and later of nonequilibrium, dynamics.

Some history of modern conservation thinking Environmental movements – public, NGOs (Sierra Club, Audubon Society, SPNI) Conservation Biology – scientists First meeting in San Diego by Michael Soulé, Paul Ehrlich, Jared Diamond (1978)

What is Conservation Biology? A new, quickly advancing scientific discipline textbooks Scientific journals

Dynamic ecology nonequilibrium The human role Conservation biology Principles – the scene:(Meffe): Evolutionary processes

Conservation biology (Soulé): Aim to conserve (Meffe): • Diversity of organisms • Ecological complexity • Evolutionary processes • Biotic diversity (has inherent value)

Conservation biology (Primack): • Three aims: • “To document the full range of biological diversity… • To investigate human impact on species, communities and ecosystems… • To develop practical approaches to prevent extinction of species, maintain diversity within species and to protect and restore biological communities and their associated ecosystem functions”

Conservation Biology – some characteristics: • Multidisciplinary – combines natural and social sciences • Combines applied management with theoretical approaches

(Primack Fig. 1.1)

Conservation Biology – some characteristics: • Ties “pure” science and practice (“real world”) • Value-laden, mission oriented…but methodology is based on good, objective science • A “crisis” discipline, decision making with incomplete knowledge

Salit Kark Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology