Restoration ecology, approaches,

re-introduction of species and

Conservation of Biodiversity

Presented by ,
Vanitha, S. M.
PAL 0007
1st PhD
Ecology: It is the study of organisms in relation to the surroundings

in which they live.

The word ‘Ecology’ was first used by Ernest Haeckel in 1869.

Ecosystem: Any geographical area that includes all of the organisms and
nonliving parts of their physical environment.
 Division of ecology

Autecology Synecology Habitat ecology

Autecology Population Community ecology Ecosystem ecology Biome ecology

of a species ecology

Natural ecosystem Artificial ecosystem

Terrestrial ecosystem Aquatic ecosystem

Fresh water ecosystem Marine ecosystem

Lotic Lentic
 Restoration ecology

• Conservation is an appropriate aim when there is something to conserve,

but in many cases, species or the whole communities have disappeared or
been destroyed. Hence the word restoration seems to be more appropriate.
• Restoration ecology is the scientific study and practice of renewing and
restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the
environment by active human intervention and action or its an effort to
return degraded ecosystems to conditions as similar as possible to their
natural state
• The science of Restoration Ecology is focused on developing the tools and
practices necessary to help rehabilitate impaired ecosystems and return
them to a level of greater ecological function.
• Its an interdisciplinary approach

• Restoration also involves removing and not just adding species.

Limitations of restoration ecology

o There must be a clear idea about the authentic, original species.

o The natural pattern of establishment may take long years.

o Short-cutting these natural processes would require detailed

knowledge of the ecologies of many species.
 Scientific-based restorations follow:

 Explicitly stated goals

 A restoration design informed by ecological knowledge

 Quantitative assessment of systems responses, pre- and post-

restoration data collection
 An adaptive process: when analysis and application of results are
used to inform subsequent efforts
 Reintroduction of species
 Re-introduce the endangered species back into the wild.

 Re-introductions can be made into an existing wild population to boost

their numbers.
 Re-introductions can be made through captive breeding.

Captive breeding: breeding of any species in controlled conditions of

environment
 Example:

In 1930, Hibiscus tree died in Hawaii due to destruction of its habitat by

lava flows.

Fortunately, these plants were grown in cultivation and the species was re-
introduced into its original locality by 1968.
Disadvantages

Re-introductions can sometimes be a failure when ecology of species,

knowledge of their true habitat and original reasons for their decline is
not known.

Taking in very rare animals or species can be risky if they fail to breed
in captivity, even if they do breed, genetic loss is inevitable.
 Rules for a successful reintroduction

You need a self-sustaining captive population.

Require a suitable amount of adequate and protected habitat.

Effective techniques to prepare the species for reintroduction.

Post-release monitoring and evaluation.

Professional and public education.

Sufficient long-term funding potential.

Side benefits.

Successful examples.
 Biodiversity

Defined as 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 in species, between species and
ecosystems.

Source: CBD
• Biodiversity has three main components

 Genetic diversity: The genetic variation within a population or between

populations
 Species diversity: Is the variety of species in an ecosystem

 Ecosystem diversity: Identifies the variety of ecosystems in the

biosphere
• Rich biodiversity is an indicator of the health of a particular habitat and its
potential to sustain life.
• Broadly there are 3 main causes of biodiversity loss viz.,
 Development pressure
 Market failure
 Intervention failure
 Reasons for loss of Biodiversity
Destruction of forests
Overexploitation of bio-resources
Overgrazing
Shifting cultivation
Urbanization
Industrialization
Illegal trade and smuggling
Soil degradation and erosion
Drought and famine
Desertification
Tourism business
Unequal globalization
Greed rather than need
 Conservation of biodiversity
What should we do?
 There is a need to protect all the threatened species.

 Wild relatives of all the economically important organisms are to be

identified and conserved in protected areas.
 All protection programmes should be integrated with international
programmes.
 Unique ecosystems should be preserved on priority basis.

 Reserves and protected areas should be developed.

 There is a need to control the introduction of exotic species.

 To develop public awareness

 Limiting the use of pesticides, herbicides and other chemical pollutants.

 Effective management and restoration of habitats and ecosystems

 Creating incentives and finance for conservation.

 Conservation of biodiversity
According to Dr. M. S. Swaminathan (1983),

There are mainly two techniques of conservation of biodiversity,

 In situ conservation: includes conservation of plant and animals in their
native ecosystems where they naturally occur. This applies to only wild
flora and fauna and not for domesticated ones. It includes a system of
protected areas of different categories viz, National parks, Sanctuaries,
National monument, Cultural landscapes, Biosphere reserves etc
 Ex situ conservation: includes conservation of sample genetic diversity
away from their field habitats. Ex. Gene banks, Genetic resource centres,
Zoo’s, Botanical gardens, Culture collections etc. There are two ways in it,
Conventional method by seeds and by biotechnological aspect.
 Institutions involved in biodiversity conservation

1972: UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm.

1972 : Wildlife Protection Act

1980: Forest Conservation Act

1983: International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources (IUPGR)

1986: Environment Protection Act

1993: UN Convention on Biodiversity came into force

Main objectives

1. The conservation of biological diversity

2. The sustainable use of components of biodiversity

3. The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of
genetic resources.
1996: International Union for the Conservation of Natural resources (IUCN)

Major activities of IUCN are

1. Helps to save endangered animal and plant species

2. Works with communities to achieve sustainable development

3. Creation of national parks and other kinds of protected areas

4. Assessing the status of ecosystem

5. Participating in writing of the draft of international conventions such as

the convention on biodiversity and the conservation on International
Trade in Endangered Species

6. Promoting the importance of people-oriented conservation and the

sustainable use of resources

1997: UNEP identified conservation as a priority area.

Conclusion

 A variety of human influences have made species rare and have increased their
probability of extinction.
 All endangered species are usually rare but not all rare species are endangered.

 Some species are at risk for a single reason but often a combination of factors is
at work.
 A collaborative efforts by the government institutions, NGOs, private
organizations and as individual citizens is very much necessary in conserving our
natural resources and Environment.