Evaluating Ecosystem Management

Question 1

What are the four philosophies of ecosystem managements?

Answer 1

Preservation
Conservation
Utilisation
Exploitation

Question 2

Outline preservation

Answer 2

Preservation refers to the protection of habitat (or of a species) in its existing form. It often involves the prevention of all human activities in the area being protected.

Question 3

Outline conservation

Answer 3

Conservation, on the other hand, involves active resource management. Conservation involves the planned use of natural resources in an effort to minimise waste and environmental damage.

Question 4

Outline utilisation

Answer 4

Utilisation involves the replacement of an ecosystem with a human-made environment that is capable of providing a sustainable yield. Sustainably managed commercial agriculture is an example of utilisation.

Question 5

Outline exploitation

Answer 5

Exploitation occurs when an ecosystem’s resources are used irrespective of the ecological consequences. Ecosystems are often destroyed, or reduced in extent, as a result.

Question 6

If you want to manage an ecosystem you are likely to be a LEEDA! What does this mean?

Answer 6

If you want to manage an ecosystem you are likely to be a LEEDA!
Legislation (laws, customs, rules)
Exclusion (prevent access, stop using resources)
Education (signage, information)
Design (artificial response to remove stress e.g. pathways)
Action (do nothing, rehabilitate, replace, restore e.g. tree planting)

Question 7

The LEEDA management strategies can be linked to the broader theoretical approaches used by ecosystem managers. Give an example of this.

Answer 7

Some of the more likely combinations are listed below:
o Preservation
Laws preventing access and officially protecting areas
Exclusion e.g. fences
Education through signage to keep out and inform why an area is being preserved
o Conservation
All management strategies: LEEDA
o Utilisation
Action replacing an ecosystems property e.g. forestry
Legislation who can use resources and where e.g. fishing
Design new methods for obtaining resources e.g. mining
o Exploitation
Action doing nothing or replacing the ecosystem with a new ecosystem

Question 8

What is the histoty of ecosystem management? What was the impact of this?

Answer 8

In the past ecosystems and their resources have been exploited. This is particularly evident in species extinction and the loss of untold benefits from resources found in ecosystem which no longer exist.
The importance of ecosystem management and protection are outlined in the INHUG factors.
Evaluating how effective ecosystem management is will allow people to decide whether methods need to change to better protect resources for the future.

Question 9

Define Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD)

Answer 9

ESD is a fundamental theory in managing ecosystems and their resources.
In basic terms it asks are the needs of the present generations being met and are we at the same time managing ecosystems and resources so that future generations can meet their needs.

Question 10

What are the four areas of the ecologically sustainable development criteria?

Answer 10

Intragenerational equity
Intergenerational equity (ecological justice)
The precautionary approach
Maintenance of Biological Diversity

Question 11

Outline intragenerational equity

Answer 11

Can everyone use/benefit from the ecosystem now?
People within the present generation have a right to benefit equally from the utilisation of the earth’s natural resources.

Question 12

Outline intergenerational equity (ecological justice)

Answer 12

Can people benefit/use the ecosystems resources in the future?
The present generation should not use resources or degrade environments in ways that leave future generations in a worse position than the present generation.

Question 13

Outline the precautionary approach

Answer 13

Is it allowing irreversible damage to occur?
Where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures that could prevent environmental degradation.

Question 14

Outline maintenance of biological diversity

Answer 14

Does it ensure species survive?
Biodiversity is considered essential for the evolution and maintenance of earth’s life-support systems, as well as having both an aesthetic and cultural value.

Question 15

Give examples of what another criteria could be?

Answer 15

Does it meet particular INHUG factors of ecosystem protection
Costs involved for the ecosystem managers
Timing – has it been implemented in time/for long enough to be effective
Enforceability – is it practical to enforce

Question 16

What is traditional management?

Answer 16

Traditionally human activities have been based around a close affinity with the environment.
Indigenous people believe themselves custodians of the land, responsible for protecting it for future generations.

Question 17

CASE STUDY: Traditional Management Example: Firestick Farming

Answer 17

Firestick farming by the Martu Indigenous people in the Western Deserts region of Australia demonstrates a utilisation and conservation approach to ecosystem management. Firestick farming was used to promote the new growth of areas with large amounts of dead vegetation and also to aid in hunting animal species. It was also used to protect sacred sites from natural wildfires. Firestick farming is an action which demonstrates restoration of an ecosystem by stimulating natural growth and removing waste that can cause natural hazards such as wildfires.
Firestick farming in the Western Desert Region was used to stimulate new growth and continue nutrient cycling in the desert ecosystem. This is an example of how intergenerational equity is met as new growth indicates that the desert will continue to provide resources for future generations. Hunting using this system and limiting catch numbers also ensure the continued survival of species for the future and maintaining biodiversity of individual species such as the rock wallaby.

Question 18

What is a contempory management stratergy?

Answer 18

Contemporary ecosystem management is based on preservation and conservation due to the current trends in ecosystem management theory.