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We can help to sustain terrestrial biodiversity by identifying and protecting severely threatened areas.
By studying how natural ecosystems recover, scientists are learning how to speed up repair operations using a variety of approaches, including the following four: Restoration: Returning a particular degraded habitat or ecosystem to a condition as similar as possible to its natural state.
Replacement: Replacing a degraded ecosystem with another type of ecosystem. Creating Artificial ecosystems: For example, creating artificial wetlands to help reduce flooding or treat sewage.
Science Focus
Ecological Restoration of a tropical dry forest in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is the site of one of the worlds largest ecological restoration projects. Daniel Jansen professor of biology at the University of Pennsylvania and a leader in the field of restoration ecology. Jansen recognizes that ecological restoration and protection of the park will fail unless the people in the surrounding area believe they will benefit from such efforts.
We can help to sustain aquatic biodiversity by establishing protected sanctuaries, managing coastal development, reducing water pollution, and preventing overfishing.
First The human ecological footprint and fishprint are expanding so rapidly into aquatic areas that it is difficult to monitor the impacts. Second much to the damage to the oceans and other bodies of water is not visible to most people. Third many people incorrectly view the seas as an inexhaustible resources that can be absorb an almost infinite amount of waste and pollution and still produce all the seafood we want. And Fourth, most of the worlds ocean area lies outside the legal jurisdiction of any country.