Overharvesting

Individuals are removed faster than they can be replaced

Examples› Dodo› Giant ground sloths› Mammoths› American camels

Overharvesting

American Bison Population once were 60 -75 million

By late 1800s less than 1,000 were left.

Hunted for hides and meat

Currently, about 500,000 wild and commercial bison

Overharvesting

Passenger Pigeon Was the most abundant bird in N. America.

Population estimates of over 3-5 million birds

Decline due to hunting and forest clearing.

Last one died in 1914.

Illegal Trade

$5 billion to $20 billion dollars annually.

Animals sold for parts, to be pets or medicinal value.

Example: tarsier and slow loris (pet trade) and rhino (medicinal values)

Legislation

Lacey Act (1900) Prohibited illegally harvested game animals across state lines.

Legislation

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

Control international trade of threatened plants and animals

Agreed upon in 175 countries

Red List – countries must monitor threatened species on the list.

Other Solutions

Ecotourism visiting relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a low-impact and often small scale.

Provides Education, funds for

conservation, economic development of communities and fosters respect for other cultures

Other Solutions

Community Based Conservation (CBC)

incorporate improvement to the lives of local people while conserving areas through the creation of national parks or wildlife refuges

CBC Examples

Bird Nest Soup edible bird nest made by birds from their saliva

Harvested 2x/year

Outside of harvesting season groups of men that rotate every 10 days, stay near the cave.

Clips

Passenger Pigeons Clip Dramatic Tarsier - Video Clip Slow Loris Clip