Biodiversity and Environmental ConservationBiodiversity is a concept that is one of the main concerns of conservation effortsBiodiversity and ExtinctionBackground (or Normal) Extinction Rates versus Catastrophic (or Mass) ExtinctionsAttached to deforestation, global warming, agriculture etcExtinction = Loss of speciesFishOther Concepts in Extinction and BiodiversityLegal definitions with the Endangered Species At:Threatened SpeciesCurrently not at risk of extinctionLikely to be Endangered in the FutureEndangered SpeciesAt Risk of ExtinctionSome AmphibiansUS – Endangered Species Act (1973)Nixon administrationGenetic BottlenecksDecreased Genetic Diversity that results from a decreased Population SizeSmall genetic diversityLarge genetic diversityE.g. American bisonTrophic CascadesWhen the Extinction of one species has a profound impact on the entire ecosystemCalifornia Condor too?Main source of food – carcass, etcVulture likeWhy Conserve Biodiversity?Direct Utilitarian ValuesFoodE.g. Conservation of Wild Grain Genetic PoolE.g. New Crops may be Waiting to be FoundTo enhance our cropsMany Indigenous Peoples rely on local biodiversityMedicines and other chemical compoundse.g. Aspirin, Taxol and the Canadian Yew TreeMedical ResearchEx: Armadillos used to research leprosyEcological Service ValuesContribution to Ecological HealthE.g. PollinatorsAesthetic ValuesIt enhances the quality of our lives by providing beautyEcotourism is a growing source of income for many developing countriesCultural and Spiritual ValuesEx: Bison for Native AmericansEthical Values (Bio-Centrism)Other species have a moral right to exist, independent of our need for themWe are Global StewardsDifferent interests/actors get involved by making varied argumentsBiodiversity and Public PolicyOver-Focus on Aesthetic Landscapes instead of Biodiversity LandscapesDramatic landscapes of the Western US get preservedBut, the East and South are much more Biologically DiverseMore productivityEverglades National Park is an example of a park focused largely on BiodiversityBiologically ReproductiveChristmatic Mega-Fauna ten to receive attention and fundingBig, Fluffy WildlifeWhat about those bacteria?Ocean Resource Development, Geopolitics and the Law of the SeaFisheriesOil and Natural Gas (Who owns who uses these resources)EX: BRAZILMagnesium NodulesSea Boundaries and the Law of the SeaTraditional Cannon Shot Rule3 mile territorial sea measured from coastU.N. Conference on the Land of the SeaUNCLOS I (1959)UNCLOS IIUNCLOS III (Negotiated 1972 to 1983, in force 1994)UNCLOS IIIDefines the rights and responsibilities of state in their use of the world’s oceans, establishing guidelines for the management of marine natural resourcesInternal WatersTreated as Sovereign TerritoryNo “Innocent Passage” by other statesException for StraightsBased on the “Base Line”Enclose opening less than 24 milesLow Tide LineE.g. Libya and the Gulf of Sidra in the 1980sAttempted to make the Gulf of Sidra internal watersThe US, as a result, sent ships in the area which led to much conflictArchipelagic statesThey can draw a baseline around their outermost islands.“Innocent Passage” allowedTerritorial Sea12 Nautical Miles (14 miles) from the BaselineSovereignty and Jurisdiction to set laws, use resourcesMust Allow “Innocent Passage” (Boats, not Aircraft)Contiguous ZoneHot pursuit zoneNot important to know everything about contiguous zoneExclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)***Very important to knowExclusive Rights over Ocean and Seabed Resources200 Nautical Miles (230 Miles) from the Baseline that extends 200miOther States have right of Navigation and OverflightAll the resources within the zone are considered yoursEx Fisheries, minerals, oil, etContinental Shelf ProvisionEEZ Can be extended to the end of the continental shelf up to 400 Miles.Exclusive right to minerals in the subsoilExclusive control over living resources “attached” to the continental shelf (e.g. Coral Reefs), not creatures living in the water columnSouth East AsiaAmerica’s Ocean FrontierGeopolitical & Resource DisputesEast AsiaSouth China SeaYellow SeaBig issues: natural gas and oil resourcesMinor disputes between countriesYellow SeaLots of conflictEast China SeaSouth Korea, Japan, ChinaNatural Gas Fields, FishingEEZ vs. Continental ShelfJapan tries to claim their “territory”Who gets to control and exploit these resources in the international community?Huge source of conflictThe South China SeaChina (and Taiwan), Vietnam, Philippines, MalaysiaOil and Natural GasFishingChina’s “Nine-Dashed Line”Falkland IslandsUK and ArgentinaOil and Gas, FishingConflict worsensGlobal Warming and the Artic SeaRussia, USA, Canada, Denmark, NorwayFishing, Fossil Fuels, Transportation RoutesBoundary DisputesUS v. RussiaNatural resourcesIndigenous People and Oil/GasGeography 5 Week 9 Lecture 16← Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation- Biodiversity is a concept that is one of the main concerns of conservation efforts←← Biodiversity and Extinction- Background (or Normal) Extinction Rates versus Catastrophic (or Mass) Extinctions- Attached to deforestation, global warming, agriculture etc - Extinction = Loss of speciesoFish Other Concepts in Extinction and Biodiversity- Legal definitions with the Endangered Species At:oThreatened SpeciesCurrently not at risk of extinctionLikely to be Endangered in the FutureoEndangered SpeciesAt Risk of Extinction Some Amphibians US – Endangered Species Act (1973)Nixon administration- Genetic BottlenecksoDecreased Genetic Diversity that results from a decreased Population SizeSmall genetic diversityLarge genetic diversity- E.g. American bison- Trophic CascadesoWhen the Extinction of one species has a profound impact on the entire ecosystemoCalifornia Condor too?Main source of food – carcass, etcVulture like ←← Why Conserve Biodiversity? - Direct Utilitarian ValuesoFoodE.g. Conservation of Wild Grain Genetic PoolE.g. New Crops may be Waiting to be FoundTo enhance our crops- Many Indigenous Peoples rely on local biodiversity- Medicines and other chemical compoundse.g. Aspirin, Taxol and the Canadian Yew Tree- Medical Research oEx: Armadillos used to research leprosy- Ecological Service ValuesoContribution to Ecological HealthE.g. Pollinators - Aesthetic ValuesoIt enhances the quality of our lives by providing beauty- Ecotourism is a growing source of income for