Natural Resource Management

Concepts/Approaches to Managing Natural Areas

Concepts/Approaches to Managing Biodiversity and Natural AreasIn

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entio

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•Wilderness Management

•Conservation Biology

•Restoration Ecology

•Reconciliation Ecology & Novel Ecosystems

•Natural Resource Management

-Wildlife Management

-Forest Management

-Multiple-Use/Natural Areas Management

•Agriculture

First, a word about wilderness

http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm

Thomas Cole 1835

First, a word about wilderness

Wilderness

Wilderness of the Soul: The Duality of Human Nature:

He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision—he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath—"The horror! The horror!” - Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike."   - John Muir, The Yosemite, 1912.

Wilderness as the restorer:

First, a word about wilderness

The wilderness acthttp://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/documents//publiclaws/PDF/16_USC_1131-1136.pdf

First, a word about wilderness

Untrammeled by man?

Wilderness and the preservationist ethic.

Concepts/Approaches to Managing Biodiversity and Natural AreasIn

terv

entio

n

•Wilderness Management

•Conservation Biology

•Restoration Ecology

•Reconciliation Ecology & Novel Ecosystems

•Natural Resource Management

-Wildlife Management

-Forest Management

-Multiple-Use/Natural Areas Management

•Agriculture

http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/esa.html

Endangered Species Act

Actual Text

http://epw.senate.gov/esa73.pdf

In response to a biodiversity crisis, the US Government passed a law protecting endangered species. The goal of the law is to prevent species from going extinct.

It is quite a remarkable law. Very few nations have such a law. Canada for instance, has nothing of the sort.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973: PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved, to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species…

Spotted Owl: Endangered

The Endangered Species Act, in practice focuses on:

1) Preserving habitat

2) Preventing exploitation of animals (via hunting etc.)

3) Requires restoration

These are often extremely controversial

This species, needs old-growth Pacific Northwest forest

Red-cockaded woodpecker: Endangered

One cannot destroy habitat that is known to be home to a federally endangered species.

This means if an endangered species is found on YOUR property, nothing can be done on that property that would destroy the habitat.

If you are a logger, you probably hate this law.

This species, needs old-growth longleaf pine forests…old enough so that the trees die and begin to decay…

Indiana Bat: Endangered

Caves or old oaks or hickory trees on your property? If an Indiana bat is found on your premises -that property will be regulated by the ESA for the foreseeable future…

This species, is found in Ohio. It could occur on your uncle Tom’s farm in Adams county. If so, uncle Tom won’t be cutting his trees, or building a shed in the woods anytime soon.

Conservation Biology:

For reasons that are probably more sociological/semantic than scientific, the field of Conservation Biology has generally focused on wildlife.

General concept, is to “conserve”

Often tangled up with large mammals and top-down processes, conservation generally wants us to think about landscapes, and managing habitats.

Focus on endangered species.

Managing conflict with people…

Dr. John Cox, a conservation biologist

Conservation Biology

Conservation Biology

Conservation Biology

Concepts/Approaches to Managing Biodiversity and Natural AreasIn

terv

entio

n

•Wilderness Management

•Conservation Biology

•Restoration Ecology

•Reconciliation Ecology & Novel Ecosystems

•Natural Resource Management

-Wildlife Management

-Forest Management

-Multiple-Use/Natural Areas Management

•Agriculture

-The landscape of eastern North America has been almost completely transformed.

-Indeed, there is virtually no square centimeter on Earth that has not been in some way influenced by anthropogenic processes, in many cases these exceed the ecological and evolutionary “boundaries” of these systems, leaving them in shambles.

- If we accept the argument that ecological systems are essential to the flourishing of human societies, then we would logically find this level of disrepair unacceptable.

-Even the most conservative approach would seek an “ecological bulwark” of functioning ecosystems in an ever-changing world.

-With most systems in disrepair how to proceed?

Ecological Restoration

-Ecological restoration is the practice of returning a system to some historical state, presumably one that is ecologically superior in important ways.

-Ecological systems are dynamic..not static, they change through time…so how do we know where to restore to?

-Ecological restoration recognizes this… So instead of focusing on specific current states and future outcomes, we imagine an envelope of variability. The system is changing…sometimes rapidly… we want to change the trajectory…sometimes radically. We force the system back within some natural envelope of variability. Involves significant intervention!

-Join me next fall- BIO 409 & 409L to learn more…

Concepts/Approaches to Managing Biodiversity and Natural AreasIn

terv

entio

n

•Wilderness Management

•Conservation Biology

•Restoration Ecology

•Reconciliation Ecology & Novel Ecosystems

•Natural Resource Management

-Wildlife Management

-Forest Management

-Multiple-Use/Natural Areas Management

•Agriculture

Reconciliation Ecology.

Novel Ecosystems.

Concepts/Approaches to Managing Biodiversity and Natural AreasIn

terv

entio

n

•Wilderness Management

•Conservation Biology

•Restoration Ecology

•Reconciliation Ecology & Novel Ecosystems

•Natural Resource Management

Wildlife Management

-Forest Management

-Multiple-Use/Natural Areas Management

•Agriculture

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Natural Resource Management: Forests

Wildlife management is generally “applied population biology.” Providing resources to species to push up the population numbers, and also managing the number of animals killed.

Forestry is generally “applied disturbance ecology” or managing succession. Motive is profit

Multiple-Use Management/ Natural Areas ManagementRelatively self explanatory…this, approach which has been de facto adopted by the National Park Service , metroparks, the US Forest Service, and so forth, asks the land to provide various needs simultaneously.

In particular, a general scheme involves:

-Watershed Management (water quality)-Recreation-Wildlife Management-Forestry (timber)

This kind of approach may or may not include “conservation” and if so, often quite targeted. Perhaps a resource which draws tourists…not necessarily ecologically focused.

Flexibility, creative problem solving, involved

Review:

1) Wilderness. “Untrammeled by man”

2) Conservation Biology . As a discipline is focused on who is left, and how do we preserve them. But in practice , this field has also focused on re-introductions, particularly of predators and/or endangered species.

3) Ecological Restoration. The practice of restoring ecosystems. Field based…outcomes are ecological not necessarily scientific.

4) Reconciliation Ecology. “Let go” of preconceived notions about what an ecosystem should be- instead focuses on how to blend landscape/architectural elements that are useful to target species into a human-dominated landscape. Recognizes the human economic enterprise will forever supersede other considerations

5) Management of Novel Ecosystems. “Let go” of preconceived notions about what an ecosystem should be- instead try to shape existing “ecological disasters” into providing some semblance of benefit.

6) Natural Resource Management. Tries to balance societal needs with “sustainable resource production.” Product Focused (wood, “game”, experiences, etc.)