Questions of importance to the conservation of biological diversity: answers from the past

S. A. Bhagwat,K. J. Willis

doi:10.5194/cp-6-759-2010

Abstract

Abstract. Paleoecological records are replete with examples of biotic responses to past climate change and human impact, but how can we use these records in the conservation of current and future biodiversity? A recently published list of (One Hundred Questions of Importance to the Conservation of Global Biological Diversity) (Sutherland et al., 2009) highlights a number of key research questions that need a temporal perspective. Many of these questions are related to the determination of ecological processes in order to assess ecosystem function and services, climate change-integrated conservation strategies, and ecosystem management and restoration. However, it is noticeable that not a single contributor to this list was from the paleo-research community and that extremely few paleo-records are ever used in the development of terrestrial conservation management plans. This lack of dialogue between conservationists and the paleo-community is partially driven by a perception that the data provided by paleoecological records are purely descriptive and not of relevance to the day-to-day management and conservation of biological diversity. This paper illustrates, through a series of case-studies, how long-term ecological records (>50 years) can provide a test of predictions and assumptions of ecological processes that are directly relevant to management strategies necessary to retain biological diversity in a changing climate. This discussion paper includes information on diversity baselines, thresholds, resilience, and restoration of ecological processes.

Highlights

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity entered into force in 1993 and set the scene for conservation of the variety of life on Earth including genes, species and ecosystems
Many of the questions regarded as being important to the conservation of biological diversity require an understanding of the dynamic processes of species and their interactions with their environment (Sutherland et al, 2009)
Amongst the majority of conservation organisations there is still a lack of appreciation of the relevance of ecological processes to conservation planning and there still are few methodologies available to incorporate them into strategic conservation planning

Summary

Introduction

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity entered into force in 1993 and set the scene for conservation of the variety of life on Earth including genes, species and ecosystems. Through a series of case-studies and examples it examines their use in: (i) determining ecological processes important for maintaining target ecosystems; (ii) understanding thresholds and building ecosystem resilience in response to climate change; (iii) restoration of ecological processes in degraded landscapes; and (iv) identification of regions important for conservation of evolutionary processes.

Results

Conclusion