LIFS 4301 Endangered Species Management

Lecture Outline
Endangered species Conservation of endangered species
Identification Protection Recovery

Incentives and disincentives Limitation of endangered species programs CITES

Introduction
Endangered species: A species of organisms facing a very high risk of extinction

Examples
Extinct Nearly threatened

Caribbean monk seal

Tiger shark

Critically endangered

Endangered

Yangtze River dolphin

Giant Panda
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Conservation of Endangered Species

Identification Identify which species are in danger/ put conservation efforts Consider geographic scale Extend protection to all endangered species or to a particular groups
Saw-whet owl

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Endangered Species Act

Plants and invertebrates: protect species and subspecies Vertebrates: protect distinct population segments Allow populations defined on basis of political borders in the early years Evidence showing significant genetic, demographic, or behavioral differences

Bald eagle

Criteria for Determining Endangered Sp.

Endangered: any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range Threatened: any species which is likely to become an endangered species within foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range 10

Conservation of Endangered Species

Protection plan Knowledge of the threats Knowledge of locations
Difficulties to understand threats: Vary from taxon to taxon Vary geographically May change over time Lack of information
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protection + recovery conservation strategy

IUCN Conservation Status

Global overview of threats to endangered species
Birds Habitat destruction Overexploitation Invasive species Pollution Diseases > 86% 30% 30% 12% 5% Amphibians > 88 % 6% 11% 4% 17% Mammals 37% 17% 6% 4% 2%

IUCN Data & Schipper et al. 2008

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Worlds mammals

Akohekohe, an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper

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Where Do The Endangered Species Live?

Private land

Public land
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Protection Under The ESA

When a species is threatened/ endangered
Consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service

Design critical habitat (within/ outside geographical areas)

1 year

Economic impact

Take Prohibitions Endangered sp. (ESA Section 9) Threatened sp. (ESA Section 4d)
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Recovery
Recovery planning
Secure long-term future of the species Rebuild its populations Restore its habitat Reduce the threats

Balance of science, economics and sociology ESA current recovery plans

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Recovery
Limitations of recovery plans: Not legally binding documents Fail to make good use of available biological data Inadequate information for the threats Fail to link recovery actions to specific threats Fail to set out scientifically monitoring protocol

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The Management Challenge

Most endangered species require intensive management and protection because: long recovery period of habitat restoration unpredictable natural disturbances spread of invasive species

Incentives: cash payment to a landowner for maintaining the habitat Disincentives: fine or jail sentence for harming endangered species
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Incentives and Disincentives

Safe harbor program: www.edf.org

Free hunting in Africa

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Endangered Species Programs

Limitations: Debate on whole ecosystems and landscapes or individual species conservation Insufficient information to determine conservation status Adding a species to the federal list is timeconsuming Assume endangered species conservation is a poor use of conservation resources
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Endangered Species Protection

CITES = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Signed in 1973 with 169 contracting parties Regulate international trade in endangered species Protect wildlife from overexploitation or extinction
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Hong Kong
Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance
Implemented in 1976 A license issued in advance by AFCD for the import, introduction from the sea, export, re-export or procession of specimens of a scheduled species, whether alive, dead, its parts or derivatives Prosecution with fine of 5 million dollars and 2 years of imprisonment

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The Three Appendices

Appendix I
Includes species with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstance

Appendix II
Includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with survival

Appendix III
Species protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES parties for assistance in controlling the trade
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Examples of Appendix I

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Examples of Appendix II

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Example of Appendix III

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Summary
Endangered species conservation has 3 phases: identification, protection and recovery There are important economic and ecological trade-offs associated with protecting subspecies and populations IUCN develops consistent, quantitative criteria for conservation status Protection of endangered species requires accurate knowledge of the threats, the location of existing populations, and landownership patterns

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Summary
Recovery of many endangered species will require continual, active management of the habitat or efforts to control invasive species Incentives may be needed to encourage people to participate recovery programs

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References
1. Conservation Biology for All
Chapter 12: Endangered species management: the US experience (p.220 p. 235)

2. CITES website (www.cites.org) 3. IUCN website (www.iucn.org) 4. AFCD website (www.afcd.gov.hk)

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Field Study Survey

Date: 2 Nov 2013 (Sat) Time: 9:00 am 12:00 noon Location: Pak Sha O Content:
Introduction of Pak Sha O Introduction of baseline ecology survey & role of Environmental Impact Assessment Development Permission Area & Outline Zoning Plans Butterflies & odonta survey (please bring camera) Data presentation on Nov 19
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LIFS 4301 Course Assessment

Midterm (35 %) Final Exam (35 %) Group Project (25 %)
Field Trip Presentation (5 %) Group Project Presentation (20 %)

Others (5 %)

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Marking Scheme
Field Trip Presentation (5 %) Group Project Presentation (20 %)

Knowledge (3 %)
Organization (1 %) Critical Thinking (1 %) *Others (1 %)

Knowledge (6 %)
Organization (4 %) Critical Thinking (4 %) Teamwork (3 %) *Others (3 %)

*Others: English usage, time management, eye contact, etc

All the information will be uploaded onto LMES.
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Discussion: Good for Species Conservation?

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