Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Presentation Working version, December 2003 prepared by M.F. Laverty and E.J. Sterling
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This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under the Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement program (NSF 0127506), and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Grant Agreement No. 98210-1-G017). Any opinions, findings and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Museum of Natural History, the National Science Foundation, or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Oil company
Government agency
Aquaculture company
Environmental group
Intrinsic/inherent value
The value of something independent of its value to anyone or anything else A philosophical concept
Source: Frey AMNH-CBC
Categorizing Values
Direct Use Value(Goods) Food, medicine, building material, fiber, fuel Indirect Use Non-Use Values Value (Services) Atmospheric and Potential (or Option) Future value either climate regulation, Value as a good or service pollination, nutrient recycling Cultural, Spiritual and Aesthetic Existence Value Value of knowing something exists
Bequest Value
Food
Today, most people rely on ~20 types of plants, and only 3 to 4 are staple crops. Diversity is critical for developing new strains and breeds, i.e. that suit a particular environment or are resistant to pests or disease and as a source of new crops
Source: AMNH-CBC
Source: AMNH-CBC
Fiber
Industrial Products
Originating plant or animal Cork oak (Quercus suber) PAR RUBBER TREE (HEVEA BRASILIENSIS) Lac insect (Laccifer spp.) CARNAUBA PALM (COPERNICIA CERIFERA) Wax plant (Euphorbia antisyphilitica) Jojoba plant (Simmondsia chinensis) Cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus) Product/End use Cork Rubber shellac
CARNAUBA WAX
Medicine
About 80% of the people in developing countries use plants as a primary source of medicine. 57% of the 150 mostprescribed drugs have their origins in biodiversity
Source: AMNH-CBC
Nutrient Cycling
Biodiversity is critical to nutrient cycling and soil renewal
Decomposers such as algae, fungi, and bacteria
Medical Models
Hibernating bears may improve the treatment of:
Source: New Jersey Fish and Wildlife
Aesthetic Value
Not all species are critical to an ecosystems function; many fill redundant roles; basis for community resilience and integrity If too many species or keystone species are lost, eventually it leads to the failure of ecosystem function
Acknowledgements
Mac Hunter (University of Maine), Georgina Cullman, Nora Bynum, and Ho Ling Poon (American Museum of Natural History) provided assistance for production of images and accompanying text This is a product of the Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (NCEP) http://research.amnh.org/biodiversity/ncep/