Biodiversity

Connor Caudill Mike Ciccarone Polly Fairfield

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What is Biodiversity?
"The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems" --Convention on Biological Diversity "Variability within nature" --UK Biodiversity Action Plan "Wide array of ecosystems, ecological processes, species and genes" --Environment Canada

Biodiversity Loss
Species extinction and habitat loss Today, biodiversity loss is 1000 times higher than the rates found in the fossil record

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Causes of Biodiversity Loss

Habitat Destruction Invasive Species Over exploitation Climate Change Overpopulation Pollution

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/about/biodiversity_crisis/

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Why Do We Need Biodiversity?

Ecosystem services - $16-$64 trillion Research - e.g. discovery of new medicine Aesthetic value Food Security

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/about/biodiversity/

How To Fix Biodiversity Loss

What is the market failure? o Under provision of a public good o Lack of information o Externality o incomplete property rights What policies address this? o Command and Control Regulation o Public Education o Permitting o Tax Incentives http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/

US Biodiversity Policy
The USA has no official national biodiversity policy. However, there are key pieces of legislation that help define US biodiversity policy. - US government policy has been primarily focused on conservation efforts for most of history - US Fish and Wildlife Service (http://www.fws.gov/) US government's wildlife and conservation agency - Recent development US government position moving closer to support an international biodiversity agreement. (http://blogs.forbes.com/francisvorhies/2011/07/27/us-getting-seriousabout-international-biodiversity-policy/)

US - Key National Legislation

The Lacey Act (1900) (http://www.fws.gov/news/newsreleases/LACEYACT.html) o The first environmental piece of legislation. Provides the ability for the federal government to regulate invasive species populations. Evolved over the 20th century to reflect the challenges of the time. The Migratory Bird Conservation Act (1929) (http://www.fws.gov/refuges/realty/mbcc.html) Provision provided that allows the Federal government to rent/buy land that can be protected to preserve the natural habitat for migratory bird The Clean Water Act (1948 (http://www.usclimatenetwork.org/policy/resource-database/clean-air-actand-wildlife-fact-sheet) Affects fish and wildlife that are dependent on water for their survival. The Clean Air Act (1963) (http://www.usclimatenetwork.org/policy/resource-database/clean-air-actand-wildlife-fact-sheet) Has helped restore ozone in the atmosphere which is vital to the protection of trees and assisted in the mitigation of acid rain that devatstates natural habitat. Endangered Species Act of 1969 (1973) (http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/ESACT.HTML) o Often cited as the US's landmark biodiversity legislation (more info on the next slide). Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (1980) (http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/FWCON.HTML) o Allocates substantial funding to the states to assist with conservation efforts of natural habitats.

UK's Approach to Biodiversity

Convention on Biological Diversity o International Treaty for the "conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity" (CBD) Biodiversity Action Plan o Inventories potentially threatened species and habitats o Creates plans to protect species and habitats o The 4 countries of the UK have all designed their own Action Plans Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 o Protects wildlife and habitats of the UK o Amended to comply with EU directives www.jncc.defra.gov.uk

EU Biodiversity Policies
Habitat Directive o Protects 1000 animals and plant species and 200 "habitat types" (EU) Bird Directive o Protects birds and their habitats Natura 2000 o EU-wide network of protected areas EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 o Goal to stop biodiversity loss by 2020 o Focus on EU and the globe http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/

Biodiversity in Canada
1973 Canada Wildlife Act o Creates national wildlife areas 1990 Wildlife Policy for Canada o emphasized the restoration of biodiversity and ecological processes Migratory Birds Convention Act 1994 o Protects birds from hunting and trafficking o Establishes Migratory Bird Refuges 1995 Canadian Biodiversity Strategy o produced by a group including federal, provincial and territorial governments o Guide to carrying out Canada's commitments under the Convention of Biodiversity
http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/legislation/legislation.htm

Canadian Provinces
Ontario o The Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program
A voluntary program administered by the MNR to provide lower property taxes to participating landowners who agree to conserve and actively manage their forests.
o

Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program

provides property tax relief to those landowners who agree to protect the natural heritage value of their property

British Columbia o Ecological Services Act Preserves land to protect species and habitats o Wildlife Act Creates wildlife areas, protects endangered species, and regulates invasive species
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Biodiversity/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_166973.html http://wcel.org/sites/default/files/Biodiversity%20law%20and%20policy%20in%20British%20Columbia.pdf

Conclusions
Comparatively speaking, the US has no official national biodiversity plan while the UK and Canada have national long-term biodiversity plans. The most used policies are direct regulation and provision of information We may be going into a 6th mass extinction period, so it is very important to act now!

Questions?