1.2. What Is Conservation Biology ?
7
Benefits to humankind aside , each species can play a vital role in the
structure and function of an eco system. Those values , though often difficult
to measure and assess , are impossible to deny . Yet, even if there were neither a direct nor indirect connection between biodiversity and human welfare, would this mean humans should have the right to destroy ecosystems,
drive species to extinction, or affect the genetic variability among individuals in a population? One ethical perspective-often subsumed into the
heading of "deep ecology"-suggests that species do have an intrinsic
value unto themselves, regardless of their services to humanity. Protection
of biodiversity becomes then not only an economically based nece ssity, but
an ethical and moral imperative .
So, what is conservation biology? It is very likely that the answer to this
question will vary considerably depending upon whom one asks, for conservation biology is a relatively "new" discipline . Conservation biologists
engage both in basic and applied science, and in many instances work in a
highly interdisciplinary setting. Conservation biology is a basic science in
that its practitioners contribute to basic research in a variety of disciplines
such as biology, ecology , and medicine. It draws heavily upon the "applied " disciplines of wildlife management, forestry and fisheries biology .
However, unlike wildlife management, forestry or fisheries biology, conservation biology is concerned with the long-term preservation of the entire
biological community in the face of unprecedented threats from human activities (Primack 1993).
Conservation biology is an interdisciplinary endeavor because, as will become evident through the models in this book, the problems conservationists face transcend traditional professional and academic boundaries. And
finally, it is a "crisis discipline" insofar as the exigencies of biological conservation worldwide require immediate attention.
Although roots of conserv ation biology extend well back into human history (Primack 1993), its coalescence into a stand-alone discipline has
largely occurred over the past two decades (Soule 1986; Soule and Wilcox
1985). The early 1970s saw the passing of such influential laws in the
United States as the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, and the
Clean Water Act, as well as the first Earth Day. International efforts to address species loss were stepped up, for example, through the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), though focus on
marine species has been slow in coming .
Increased legal and regulatory efforts to address loss of species diversity
served to sensitize the public at large to the increasing recognition that the
environment is not immune from human influence . Now, as we write this
book at the beginning of a new millenium, academic departments and societies, trade journals, and non-governmental activist groups are proliferating
around the world with conservation biology as their focus. Several excellent
textbooks support education in conservation biology at the college and precollege levels (see e.g. Soule 1986; Soule and Wilcox 1985; Primack 1993).
7
Benefits to humankind aside , each species can play a vital role in the
structure and function of an eco system. Those values , though often difficult
to measure and assess , are impossible to deny . Yet, even if there were neither a direct nor indirect connection between biodiversity and human welfare, would this mean humans should have the right to destroy ecosystems,
drive species to extinction, or affect the genetic variability among individuals in a population? One ethical perspective-often subsumed into the
heading of "deep ecology"-suggests that species do have an intrinsic
value unto themselves, regardless of their services to humanity. Protection
of biodiversity becomes then not only an economically based nece ssity, but
an ethical and moral imperative .
So, what is conservation biology? It is very likely that the answer to this
question will vary considerably depending upon whom one asks, for conservation biology is a relatively "new" discipline . Conservation biologists
engage both in basic and applied science, and in many instances work in a
highly interdisciplinary setting. Conservation biology is a basic science in
that its practitioners contribute to basic research in a variety of disciplines
such as biology, ecology , and medicine. It draws heavily upon the "applied " disciplines of wildlife management, forestry and fisheries biology .
However, unlike wildlife management, forestry or fisheries biology, conservation biology is concerned with the long-term preservation of the entire
biological community in the face of unprecedented threats from human activities (Primack 1993).
Conservation biology is an interdisciplinary endeavor because, as will become evident through the models in this book, the problems conservationists face transcend traditional professional and academic boundaries. And
finally, it is a "crisis discipline" insofar as the exigencies of biological conservation worldwide require immediate attention.
Although roots of conserv ation biology extend well back into human history (Primack 1993), its coalescence into a stand-alone discipline has
largely occurred over the past two decades (Soule 1986; Soule and Wilcox
1985). The early 1970s saw the passing of such influential laws in the
United States as the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, and the
Clean Water Act, as well as the first Earth Day. International efforts to address species loss were stepped up, for example, through the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), though focus on
marine species has been slow in coming .
Increased legal and regulatory efforts to address loss of species diversity
served to sensitize the public at large to the increasing recognition that the
environment is not immune from human influence . Now, as we write this
book at the beginning of a new millenium, academic departments and societies, trade journals, and non-governmental activist groups are proliferating
around the world with conservation biology as their focus. Several excellent
textbooks support education in conservation biology at the college and precollege levels (see e.g. Soule 1986; Soule and Wilcox 1985; Primack 1993).