Environmental Sustainability and Conservation in Asia

and Africa

Feb 24 Conservation Spotlight - Conner Bradley

Originally, the term “environmentally responsible development” was used Subsequently, “environmentally sustainable development” was employed

Principles of Environmental Sustainability:• long-term perspective (without any designated time limit);• understanding of the non-linear evolution of complex systems (tipping points,

thresholds, sudden unpredictable changes);• taking feedbacks into account (in particular the positive ones);• regard for different scales (in time and space);• flexibility (the ability to react to a changing situation, learning by doing);• key importance of local conditions; and• respect for living nature in general and for biological diversity in particular.

Environmental Sustainability:

Environmental Sustainability:

Sustainability Challenges in Africa:

The survival of Africa’s wildlife depends on its relationship with people- Reduce conflict between people and wildlife (competition)- Overexploitation – Tragedy of the Commons

Modernization and Deforestation- Continued development threatens vital ecosystems

Poaching“The poaching of wildlife—such as gorillas for meat, elephants for ivory, and rhinos for their horn—is on the rise” - AWF

Vulnerable Species

STOP POACHING!!

South Africa – home to more than 80% of Africa’s rhino populations – is losing hundreds of rhinos each year. In this country alone: 122 rhinos were killed in 2009, 333 rhinos were killed in 2010, 88 rhinos have been killed so far in 2012.- WWF

Solutions used by AWF

Prevent Poaching with Sniffer Dogs- Dogs can locate ivory products or poachers themselves

- GPS tracking used on wildlife

Create Community Conservancies- Work with people who agree to protect their natural resources

Reserves for protection- Prevent poaching and habitat loss as well as extend corridors.

Research/ Education- Tagging elephants to discover conservation locations

- Educating public about Environmental sustainability

Sustainability Challenges in Asia:

Political Investment- Governments are investing far too little in conservation

- “Few Asian governments have taken the necessary steps to assess the economic value and role of species and ecosystems in human life.”

Overexploitation- Fisheries

- Timber

Climate Events- Tsunamis/ Earthquakes

Vulnerable Species

Progress in Afghanistan

"The communities in Band-e Amir love it," says Zahler. "[The park] has brought attention, tourists, and jobs. [So] the communities in Wakhan are really enthusiastic.“

“Thanks to an agreement with the Afghan government, the locals will be allowed to stay in the park. They will co-manage it with the federal government, and many will get jobs as rangers, managers, and other park personnel.”– National Geographic

Wakhan National Park—the country's second such sanctuary—protects mountains, snow leopards, and indigenous people

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7OVHjUphBE

Conclusion

“Conservation biologists need to ensure that our research reaches out beyond our circle of colleagues and peers, towards and into the corridors of power.”

“If we stay in our comfortable meeting rooms and give inadequate attention to what is happening in the larger world, we are both doing a disservice to conservation biology and missing a significant opportunity to make our world a better place.”

- Conservation Biology in Asia

Literature Cited:

• http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation Conservation in Africa website• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X11001282

sustainability definition• http://epi.yale.edu/files/2012_epi_report.pdf Environmental index• http://

www.conbio.org/images/content_groups/Asia/Chapter%2028_McNeely_Thinking_Creatively.pdf Asia conservation (conclusion)• http://

www.academia.edu/2386539/Conservation_Biology_in_Asia_the_Major_Policy_Challenges Asian Conservation bio - politics• http://www.wcs.org/saving-wild-places/asia.aspx - WCS ecosystems to protect• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140404-wakhan-national-pa

rk-afghanistan-kyrgyz/ nat geo on afghanistan