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CHAPTER 2 What is Conservation Biology? An Analysis of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund’s Strategies and Funding Priorities James P. Gibbs Attend a meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology and you are likely to meet economists and ecologists, geneticists and geographers, philosophers, foresters, and fisheries managers. People can wear many different hats and still say, ‘‘I am a conservation biologist.’’ Conservation biology is a remarkably diverse discipline that sits squarely at the intersection of many other fields. Of course, one cannot define a discipline solely in terms of other intersecting disciplines. Conservation biology is best defined by its overarching goal, maintaining the planet’s biological diversity. This focus creates a unique niche for conservation biologists, nestled within the larger arena of environmental management, applied ecology, and natural resources management. More and more people are finding a home in that niche as we become increasingly sensitive to the plight facing most of the earth’s species and ecosystems. But just what is Conservation Biology? Conservation biology is a crisis mission focused on saving life on earth. Despite this noble cause, the discipline still fails to ‘‘ring a bell’’ with much of the general public. One of the reasons is that conservation biology is indeed a mish-mash of many disciplines. Science in general and biology in particular play a big role in conservation biology yet the field extends into many other disciplines. These include finance, law, sociology, organization management, communications, and education; in other words, the ‘‘human dimensions’’ of conser- vation biology ( Jacobson 1990, Soule ´ 1985). Expertise in these latter fields is what gives conservation biologists traction in the real world. It’s been often said that conservation biology is as much about changing people’s habits as it is about saving nature. So what is the precise mix of disciplines? What do conservation biologists actually do? If you are preparing for a career in conservation biology, what skills should you develop? A schematic model developed by Susan Jacobson (1990) has frequently been used to depict the interacting fields that constitute conservation biology (Figure 2.1), Problem-Solving in Conservation Biology and Wildlife Management: Exercises for Class, Field, and Laboratory James P. Gibbs, Malcolm L. Hunter, and Eleanor J. Sterling © 2008 James P. Gibbs, Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr., and Eleanor J. Sterling ISBN: 978-1-405-15287-7

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CHAPTER 2

What is ConservationBiology? An Analysis ofthe Critical EcosystemPartnership Fund’sStrategies and FundingPriorities

James P. Gibbs

Attend a meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology and you are likely to meeteconomists and ecologists, geneticists and geographers, philosophers, foresters,and fisheries managers. People can wear many different hats and still say, ‘‘I am aconservation biologist.’’ Conservation biology is a remarkably diverse discipline thatsits squarely at the intersection of many other fields. Of course, one cannot definea discipline solely in terms of other intersecting disciplines. Conservation biology isbest defined by its overarching goal, maintaining the planet’s biological diversity.This focus creates a unique niche for conservation biologists, nestled within thelarger arena of environmental management, applied ecology, and natural resourcesmanagement. More and more people are finding a home in that niche as we becomeincreasingly sensitive to the plight facing most of the earth’s species and ecosystems.

But just what is Conservation Biology? Conservation biology is a crisis missionfocused on saving life on earth. Despite this noble cause, the discipline still fails to‘‘ring a bell’’ with much of the general public. One of the reasons is that conservationbiology is indeed a mish-mash of many disciplines. Science in general and biology inparticular play a big role in conservation biology yet the field extends into manyother disciplines. These include finance, law, sociology, organization management,communications, and education; in other words, the ‘‘human dimensions’’ of conser-vation biology ( Jacobson 1990, Soule 1985). Expertise in these latter fields is what givesconservation biologists traction in the real world. It’s been often said that conservationbiology is as much about changing people’s habits as it is about saving nature.

So what is the precise mix of disciplines? What do conservation biologists actuallydo? If you are preparing for a career in conservation biology, what skills should youdevelop? A schematic model developed by Susan Jacobson (1990) has frequently beenused to depict the interacting fields that constitute conservation biology (Figure 2.1),

Gibbs / Problem-Solving in Conservation Biology 9781405152877_4_002 Final Proof page 13 11.10.2007 1:16pm Compositor Name: PAnanthi

Problem-Solving in Conservation Biology and Wildlife Management: Exercises for Class, Field, and LaboratoryJames P. Gibbs, Malcolm L. Hunter, and Eleanor J. Sterling© 2008 James P. Gibbs, Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr., and Eleanor J. Sterling ISBN: 978-1-405-15287-7

and gives us a starting point for analyzing just what conservation biologists do. Thismodel indicates that students seeking a career in conservation biology need todevelop an unusually broad outlook, marrying a focus on basic biological sciencesand its application via the natural resources to a human-centered focus on economics,politics, law, and communication, which together represent the political arena inwhich all conservation efforts must operate. Conceptual models are useful butperhaps most useful is breaking down what conservation biologists are doing rightnow to stem the loss of biological diversity. In this exercise you will evaluate currentstrategies used by one of the largest and most ambitious conservation programsoperating around the world. In analyzing the strategic emphases of this program,we hope to provide you with a timely view of what conservation biology is all about.

Objectives

. To learn what conservation biologists do

. To generate an appreciation of the complexities that underlie most conservationissues

. To identify the diverse skills required for a career in conservation.

Procedures

In this exercise we focus on the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). TheCEPF advances biodiversity conservation at the global scale. Its main goal is to

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

PHYSICALENVIRONMENT

SOCIALENVIRONMENT

IMPLEMENTATIONALENVIRONMENT

BASICBIOLOGICAL

SCIENCES

APPLIEDMANAGEMENT

SCIENCES

ChemistryGeography

e.g. e.g.

GeologyPhysics

AnthropologySociology

EconomicsPhilosophy

Political Science

e.g.

LawPlanningEducation

EngineeringPublic Health

CommunicationVeterinary Sciences

e.g.

BiologyZoologyBotanyEcology

e.g.

WildlifeForestryRange

Fisheries

Fig. 2.1 Schematic depicting the interaction of disciplines that together represent the fieldof conservation biology (redrawn after Jacobson 1990).

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catalyze interactions among diverse groups working in the conservation and therebydevelop a comprehensive, coordinated approach to conservation problems. Becausethe CEPF seeks to achieve the highest returns on conservation investments it focusesprimarily on regions that are considered biodiversity ‘‘hotspots.’’ These are the 25 orso regions that cover just 1.4 percent of the Earth’s land surface yet host more than60 percent of the planet’s terrestrial species diversity. To be eligible for fundsprojects must be (i) within a biodiversity hotspot, (ii) within a developing countrythat has ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity, and (3) undertaken byapplicants that represent nongovernmental organizations, community groups, orprivate-sector partners.

CEPF is a joint initiative of Conservation International, the Global EnvironmentFacility, the Government of Japan, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthurFoundation, and the World Bank, with some $125 million committed to date. Fundsare administered by the non-profit conservation group Conservation International.Funds are provided in the form of grants to individual recipient organizations consist-ent with overall CEPF strategy. An immense amount of thought has gone into settingpriorities and strategy to ensure that the many millions of dollars allocated to the effortproduce tangible benefits for biodiversity and the local people associated with it.Because the CEPF represents a direct manifestation of the field of conservationbiology it can be illuminating to focus on what strategies it has devised.

As a tool to organize your thinking, Jacobson’s (1990) schemata shows graphicallythe relationship between conservation biology and other disciplines (Figure 2.1).To see how this model plays out in reality we will use it as the starting basis foran analysis of the CEPF strategies. The procedure is straightforward. We will crosswalkJacobson’s figure (and any variations of it that you can come up with) with theconservation directions and investment priorities established by the CEPF for fiverecognized global biodiversity hotspots: Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forestsof Tanzania and Kenya (Box 2.1), Cape Floristic Region (Box 2.2), Caucasus (Box 2.3),Southern Mesoamerica (Box 2.4), and the Mountains of Southwest China (Box 2.5).

Box 2.1 CEPF strategic funding directions and investment prioritiesin the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Tanzania and

Kenya (2003–2008)

1. Evaluate community-based forest management initiatives in the hotspot todetermine best practices.

2. Promote nature-based, sustainable businesses that benefit local populationsin the hotspot.

3. Explore possibilities for direct payments and easements (ConservationConcessions) for biodiversity conservation in the hotspot and supportwhere appropriate.

4. Build the capacity of community-based organizations in the hotspot foradvocacy in support of biodiversity conservation at all levels.

5. Support cultural practices that benefit biodiversity in the hotspot.6. Research and promote eco-agricultural options for the local populations of

the hotspot.

(Continued )

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Box 2.1 (Continued )

7. Assess potential sites in the hotspot for connectivity interventions.8. Support initiatives that maintain or restore connectivity in the hotspot.9. Monitor and evaluate initiatives that maintain or restore connectivity in the

hotspot.10. Support best practices for restoring connectivity in ways that also benefit

people.11. Refine and implement a standardized monitoring program across the

160 eligible sites.12. Support research in the less studied of the 160 eligible sites in the hotspot.13. Monitor populations of Critically Endangered and Endangered Species in the

hotspot.14. Support research in the hotspot to facilitate Red List assessments and

re-assessments for plants, reptiles, invertebrates and other taxa.15. Compile and document indigenous knowledge on hotspot sites and species.16. Support awareness programs that increase public knowledge of biodiversity

values of the hotspot.17. Support targeted efforts to increase connectivity of biologically important

habitat patches.18. Support efforts to increase biological knowledge of the sites and to conserve

critically endangered species.19. Establish a professional resource mobilization unit, within an appropriate

local partner institution, for raising long-term funds and resources for thehotspot.

20. Utilize high-level corporate contacts to secure funding from the privatesector for the hotspot.

21. Train local NGOs and community-based organizations in fundraising andproposal writing.

Box 2.2 CEPF strategic funding directions and investment priorities in theCape Floristic Region (2003–2008)

1. Identify and design innovative mechanisms and strategies for conservation ofprivate, corporate, or communal landholdings within biodiversity corridors.

2. Support private sector and local community participation in the developmentand implementation of management plans for biodiversity corridors.

3. Especially within the Gouritz and Cederberg corridors, identify prioritylandholdings requiring immediate conservation action.

4. Promote civil society efforts to establish and support biodiversity-basedbusinesses among disadvantaged groups, in particular in areas surroundingthe Gouritz and Baviaanskloof corridors.

5. Implement best practices within industries affecting biodiversity in the CFR,e.g. the wine and flower industries.

(Continued )

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Box 2.2 (Continued )

6. Support civil society efforts to consolidate data to support appropriate landuse and policy decisions.

7. Integrate biodiversity concerns into policy and local government proceduresin priority municipalities.

8. Improve coordination among institutions involved in conservation of CFRbiodiversity corridors through targeted civil society interventions.

9. Support internships and training programs to raise capacity for conservation,particularly targeting previously disadvantaged groups.

10. Support initiatives to increase technical capacity of organizations involvedin CFR conservation, particularly in relation to the priority geographicareas.

Box 2.3 CEPF strategic funding directions and investment prioritiesin the Caucasus (2003–2008)

1. Promote transboundary cooperation by carrying out joint initiatives andharmonizing existing projects to conserve border ecosystems and speciesand site outcomes.

2. Support existing efforts to create new protected areas and wildlife corridorsthrough planning processes and co-financing efforts.

3. Develop and implement management plans for model protected areas withbroad participation of stakeholders.

4. Provide funding for research and implementation of the Caucasus RedList re-assessments, particularly for poorly represented taxas such as plants,invertebrates, reptiles, and fish.

5. Focus small grant efforts on supporting efforts to conserve 50 globallythreatened species in the hotspot.

6. Provide support to conservation agencies specifically to improve imple-mentation of international conventions such as the Convention on BiologicalDiversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species andthe Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

7. Evaluate and implement models for sustainable forestry, water use and rangemanagement.

8. Focus small grant efforts on supporting existing NGOs to undertake projectsfocused on developing alternative livelihoods, such as ecotourism, collectionof non-timber forest products and sustainable hunting and fishing.

9. Support civil society efforts to mitigate, participate in, and monitor develop-ment projects.

10. Develop local capacity to train environmental journalists and developincentives to write on environmental issues, targeting decisionmakers inparticular.

11. Develop a communications campaign to increase environmental awareness.

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Box 2.4 CEPF strategic funding directions and investment priorities inSouthern Mesoamerica (2003–2008)

1. Create a coordinating group, led by the NGO community, that will guideconservation actions in the Cerro Silva-Indio Maiz-La Selva Corridor.

2. Support NGO efforts to evaluate modalities for establishing additionalprivate conservation areas to integrate connectivity among key areas.

3. Support civil society efforts and community efforts to establish best practicesin coffee, cocoa, and tourism in areas of potential connectivity.

4. Implement awareness programs focused on flagship species in order toimprove public understanding of the value of biodiversity.

5. Establish an emergency fund to support projects that will help protectcritically endangered species.

6. Create participatory management plans in target areas and provide oppor-tunities for civil society to participate in government led planning processes.

7. Establish the Maquenque National Park in northern Costa Rica.8. Support civil society efforts to establish protected areas within the Ngobe-

Bugle indigenous territory.9. Support efforts by the NGO and private sector community to provide finan-

cial incentives for private reserves and conservation set-asides.10. Support targeted civil society efforts to implement discreet elements of

existing management plans.

Box 2.5 CEPF strategic funding directions and investment priorities in theMountains of Southwest China (2003–2008)

1. Define 5- and 10-year map-based conservation outcomes for the hotspotthrough a collaborative, participatory approach.

2. Support projects that utilize scientific tools to evaluate changes in land cover,spatial relationships, and ecosystem health.

3. Establish a mechanism to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the site-specific projects and ensure adaptive management and sharing of lessonslearned.

4. Provide resources to track human-induced environmental trends and high-resolution monitoring to report on site-specific impacts.

5. Conduct scientific research and socioeconomic analysis to better understandbiodiversity and conservation issues and threats in the region.

6. Improve the credibility and scientific methodology used for biodiversityconservation research in this hotspot.

7. Enact effective nature reserve and community resource management.8. Develop ecotourism and environmental education as a tool to support

biodiversity conservation.9. Undertake ecosystem restoration, especially filling in the gaps in existing

governmental programs.10. Projects to reduce illegal and other unsustainable wild animals and plants trade.

(Continued )

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These are merely examples drawn from biodiversity hotspots around the world togive you a sense of the complexities involved in actually implementing conservationbiology. Inspecting these priorities will enable you to elucidate just which topicsamong the many that fall under the umbrella of conservation biology are mostgermane to its practice. Review all available information about the strategies forthe selected hotspots with a copy of the Jacobson figure at hand and make a list of allthe topics that are relevant to each hotspot. Tally these in a summary table toexamine the overall distribution of priorities among topic areas.

For example, your table might array the hotspots (Eastern Arc Mountains andCoastal Forests of Tanzania and Kenya, Cape Floristic Region, Caucasus, SouthernMesoamerica, and Mountains of Southwest China) as column headers and strategicareas as rows. You should devise your own topic areas based on Figure 2.1 as astarting point but here are some suggestions: Biodiversity research, assessment, ormanagement, Communications, Community-based activities, Conservation finance,Economic enterprise, Information management, Inventory and monitoring, Organi-zations and policy, and Protected areas and corridors. Note that some hotspot-specific strategies can have multiple foci and as such are best tallied more thanonce; for example, a project to boost sustainable livelihoods of farmers in potentialbiological corridor zones might best be tallied as both economic enterprise andprotect areas/corridors.

Box 2.5 (Continued )

11. Promoting biodiversity-friendly ‘‘green’’ production or harvest of traditionalChinese medicines.

12. Assess, develop and implement a series of training programs based on thetraining needs in the region. Training could focus on a number of topicsincluding reserve management, the fundamentals of green businesses, businessmanagement for conservation and environmental education.

13. Provide resources for individuals in the region to participate in trainingopportunities.

14. Establish a trainers’ training program in the region to multiply transfer ofskills and knowledge to conservation professionals in the region.

15. Demonstrate best-case innovative approaches for integrating biodiversityconcerns into local, regional and national development programs.

16. Collect and disseminate information about biodiversity and socioeconomicbenefits of conservation to improve implementation of existing governmentinitiatives and influence national policies.

17. Communicate successful examples of innovative approaches to public-private efforts to better integrate biodiversity conservation into governmentalefforts.

18. Provide funding to individuals and institutions for research analysis or small-scale activities that will help build the conservation capacity of civil societyand/or yield measurable mitigation of threats.

19. Provide technical support to trainees to enable better design and implemen-tation of small on-the-ground projects.

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Expected Products

. A tabular summary of the focal areas for biodiversity conservation as highlightedby the CEPF for each hotspot and an accompanying synthesis (in a formatindicated by your instructor) of what professional skills and training would seemmost useful to be able to participate effectively in these efforts.

. Responses in a form indicated by your instructor to the Discussion questionsbelow.

Discussion

1 What are the most heavily represented topic areas in the CEPF strategies? Whatare the least? Are you surprised by the results?

2 Why do you think topic areas differ so much from one hotspot to another? Whatare the social, economic and cultural explanations for this variation?

3 In a conservation context, how might the relative importance of different disciplineschanged over the last 50 years? How are they likely to change in the future?

4 Is the CEPF and the activities it supports an adequate representation of whatconservation biology is all about? Why or why not?

Making It Happen

This exercise is intended to let you see what a ‘‘real-world’’ biodiversity conservationprogram looks like. If you seek to get involved in any conservation problem, be itlocal or global, you will need a thorough understanding of an intricate web of issues;an analysis such as this is a logical place to begin. At this point in your career youmight also use your analysis as the basis for examining the curriculum at yourschool . . . are you developing the skills you need?

Further Resources

For further reading about the definition of conservation biology see any of the majorconservation biology textbooks, including Caughley and Gunn (1996), Cox (2005),Groom et al. (2006), Hunter and Gibbs (2006), Primack (2004a and 2004b), Pullin(2002), Sutherland (2000), and Van Dyke (2002). One of the best ways to understandwhat falls under the umbrella of conservation biology is to read the two key journals,Conservation Biology and Biological Conservation. The primary professional organi-zation is the Society for Conservation Biology; the URL for their website iswww.scb.org. For more information on the CEPF consult its website: http://www.cepf.net/xp/cepf/.

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