6.3.2 Populations and Sustainability

• What is it meant by biodiversity? (3 Points and Definitions)

  • habitat biodiversity (number of different habitats found within an area)
  • species biodiversity (made up of species richness and species evenness)
  • genetic biodiversity (variety of genes and their alleles, that make up a species)
• Name 4 types of in situ conservation techniques.

  • allowing endangered species to interact with other species and their environment
  • wildlife reserves
  • marine conservation zones
  • SSI's, e.g. Wistman's wood on Dartmoor
• Name two types of ex situ conservation techniques.

  • storing seeds in seedbanks
  • botanic gardens
• What does CITES stand for and What is its aim?


  CITES stands for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. This agreement regulates international trade in wild animals and plants and their products.
• What does WWF stand for and What is it?


  WWF stands for World Wildlife Fund. WWF is a non-governmental organisation that promotes conservation and sustainability.
• What does IUCN stand for and What does it do?


  IUCN stands for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. It publishes the redlist of endangered species, so countries can work together to protect and conserve these species.
• What does CBD stand for and What does it do?


  CBD stands for the Convention of Biological Diversity. It requires countries to develop national strategies for sustainable development to maintain biodiversity.
• What does UNCCD stand for and What is it?


  UNCCD stands for United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. It is an agreement between nations to prevent fertile land from becoming desert and reduce the effects of drought through international cooperation.
• What does UNFCCC stand for and What is it?

  UNFCCC stands for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is an agreement between nations to take steps to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations.
• Define conservation 


  conservation is the maintenance of biodiversity through human intervention or action.
• Define Preservation


  preservation is the protection of an area by restricting or banning human interference so that the ecosystem is kept in its original state.
• Define Reclamation


  reclamation is restoring ecosystems that have been damaged or destroyed.
• What do we mean by saying that conservation is 'dynamic'?


  Maintaining diversity by adapting conservation measures to changing environmental and social factors.
• Name some methods of maintaining biodiversity by Conservation.

  • using grazing to keep Fen land from becoming woodland
  • removal of invasive species
  • burning of moorland to prevent it becoming woodland
  • legal hunting of animals in nature reserves to reduce the population from potentially damaging levels
  • managing forests of the Terai region of Nepal to maintain the forest, but also allow people who live, to make a living from it
• Name some methods of maintaining biodiversity by Preservation.

  • international agreement preventing large scale human activity in Antarctica
  • only scientists are allowed on the island of Surtsey, a new island formed from volcanic activity off Iceland
  • gating pristine caves to prevent people entering in order to protect fragile ecosystems and geology
  • preventing (or strictly limiting) access to some Galapagos Islands , or some parts of some islands
  • controlling the use of land around pristine caves and limiting pesticide use
• Outline the reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity

  • Ecological
  • Ethical
  • Social
  • Economic
  • Aesthetic
• Define the term Ecological in terms of Maintaining Biodiversity


  ecological reasons concerning the potential impact on other species (and whole ecosystems) if certain species are not protected.
• Define the term Economic in terms of Maintaining Biodiversity


  economic reasons involving people, companies, or communities earning a living, or making more money from the biodiversity in a sustainable way.
• Define the term Aesthetic in terms of Maintaining Biodiversity. 


  aesthetic reasons based around the beauty of nature and its ability to enrich lives and inspire people.
• Define the term social in terms of Maintaining Biodiversity


  social reasons that are for the benefit of society, providing areas for relaxation, exercise, bird watching, etc.
• Define the term ethical in terms of Maintaining Biodiversity 


  ethical reasons based on the rights given to organisms (or the environment) by some people, or on the moral responsibility we have to future generations.
• Name some ecological reasons for maintaining biodiversity

  • conserving the tiger in situ also conserves all the birds, insects, other animals and plants that live in that ecosystem
  • due to great interdependence of organisms, it is impossible to predict consequences of losing one species in ecosystem
• Economic reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity


  • Attracts tourism, and so brings money into an area
  • Maintains the soil, so farmers can still make a living from the crops they produce
  • Protects against natural disasters and so don't have to spend as much money rebuilding
  • Financial gain from sustainable timber production
  • Maintains resources in a sustainable way so people can make a living for generations to come
  • Prevents extinction of species with potential economic value due to possibility of cross-breeding in order to improve crops
  • Prevents extinction of unknown species with potential economic value
• Name some aesthetic reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity.

  • inspiration for musicians, artists, writers and poets
  • people enjoy the beauty in wildlife and landscape photography
  • people get enjoyment from being out in 'nature' due to the beauty of it
• Name some social reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity

  • biodiversity attracts tourism and so there are more jobs and less unemployment
  • fewer people being homeless if there are fewer natural disasters due to the protection that biodiversity provides
  • some natural habitats provide opportunities for hobbies and exercise
  • maintenance of sustainable forests in a way that allows people to come and walk or cycle in the forest
  • there is a faster recovery from stress and injury in a more natural environment
  • rainforest species can provide medicines, drugs and food
• Name some ethical reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity

  • having international agreements which ensure fish stocks don't run out so that generation after generation can stay in the fishing trade
  • do not have a right to kill of species to extinction, as they have a right to life
  • have the responsibility to look after the natural habitat for future generations
• What is meant by a sustainable resource?

  A resource that is exploited economically so that it will not diminish or run out
• Give five aims of sustainability

  • preserve the environment
  • ensure resources are available for future generations
  • allow humans in society to live comfortably
  • enable less economically developed countries to develop using their natural resources
  • create a more even balance in the consumption of these resources between MEDC's and LEDC's
• In sustainable fishing, what are the reasons that are thought to be responsible for declining fish stocks?

  • increase in numbers of fishing boats
  • climate change
  • fishing at times when fish are breeding
  • improvements in fishing technology
  • large nets
• Outline the measures used to maintain fish stocks sustainably.

  • fishing quotas
  • various mesh sizes
  • seasonal bans on fishing
  • fish farming
• What is coppicing?

  • small scale time production
  • cut tree close to base in winter
  • cut trees on 7-20 year rotation to allow time for growth between cutting
  • biodiversity of forest is maintained or improved as succession cannot occur
• What is pollarding?

  • small scale timber production
  • all growth is removed above 2-3 metres
  • deer and other animals cannot eat regrowth
• What is large scale timber production?

  • practice selective cutting
  • replace trees by replanting rather than natural regeneration
  • plant trees at optimal distance to reduce competition and maximise wood production
  • ensure areas of forest remain for indigenous people
• What is maximum sustainable yield, and how could fishing quotas help conserve fish stocks?

  the largest yield that can be taken from a species stock over an indefinite period
• What is by-catch?


  other fish (or other animals) that are caught unintentionally while catching certain target species and target sizes of fish or crabs etc.
• Name and Describe an example of an International Agreement that aims to ensure fishing is sustainable


  The EU's Common Fisheries Policy. It uses fishing quotas and market intervention in order to regulate fishing within the European Union.
• Why might new net designs be helpful for sustainable fishing?

  reduce by-catch of the wrong size or wrong species of fish
• Why might a larger mesh size by helpful for sustainability?

  it lets smaller fish out so they can continue to grow and breed until they are larger
• What are 'catchable size limits' and Why are they helpful for maintaining population size?


  'catchable size limits' is the minimum size that is allowed to be caught. It allows juveniles to be continue to survive, grow and eventually reproduce.
• Why might seasonal restrictions to fishing help increase population size?

  protect the breeding season so that breeding can be maximised