Describe the importance of species richness and ecosystem services and why speci

Question

Describe the importance of species richness and ecosystem services and why species extinction and endangerment is particularly important in the modern context.

Identify what the key human causes of species endangerment are and give a clear example of each cause.

Discuss in some detail the two key strategies for conserving species richness. Include content from both the chapter on conservation biology and on land use.

Argue the strengths and weaknesses of the Endangered Species Act. Make sure that you briefly describe the act and then discuss some of the key critiques of the act, as well as its successes.

Explain how prudent management and land use planning of public lands can have an impact on the provision of ecosystem services.

Describe some of the key economic and environmental ecosystem services provided by forested areas and the important challenges to these lands.

Describe some of the key economic and environmental ecosystem services provided by rangelands and agricultural lands and the important challenges to these lands.

Describe some of the key economic and environmental ecosystem services provided by wetlands and coastlines and the important challenges to these lands.

Explanation / Answer

Biodiversity includes not only the world's species with their unique evolutionary histories, but also genetic variability within and among populations of species and the distribution of species across local habitats, ecosystems, landscapes, and whole continents or oceans. Understanding what constitutes and defines biodiversity is essential for managers and policy-makers who must attempt to incorporate its values into their land- and water-management plans. An endangered species of plant, animal, or microorganism is at risk of imminent extinction or extirpation in all or Species have become extinct throughout geological history. Biological evolution, driven by natural climate change, catastrophic geologic events, and competition from better-adapted species, has involved extinction of billions of species
Extinct species no longer occur anywhere on Earth, and once gone they are gone forever. Extirpated species have disappeared locally or regionally, but still survive in other regions or in captivity. The Convention on Biological Diversity aims to encourage and enable countries to conserve biological diversity, to use its components sustainably and to share benefits equitably. Species richness and endemism are two key attributes of biodiversity that reflect the complexity and uniqueness of natural ecosystems. One, focus on species recovery. There are 1,391 domestic animal and plant species listed under the act. Of these, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has declared just 20 species recovered. That represents only a 1 percent recovery rate. The law is failing to achieve its primary purpose of recovering endangered species. Humans are the major force of change around the globe, transforming land to provide food, shelter, and products for use. Land transformation affects many of the planet’s physical, chemical, and biological systems and directly impacts the ability of the Earth to continue providing the goods and services upon which humans depend.  The extent and condition of wetlands within a coastal watershed is both dependent on and influences the health of the surrounding watershed. Wetlands in coastal watersheds are experiencing disproportionate losses compared to wetlands in the rest of the country, making them particularly important areas for protection.Coastal wetlands protect upland areas, including valuable residential and commercial property, from flooding due to sea level rise and storms.Coastal wetlands can prevent coastline erosion due to their ability to absorb the energy created by ocean currents which would otherwise degrade a shoreline and associated development.

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