Abstract / Excerpt:

Biodiversity is facing an extinction crisis, with rates of species loss orders of magnitude higher than normal throughout geological history. However, neither biodiversity or threats are randomly distributed around the planet, and so it is extremely important to target and prioritize conservation activities in order that they are as effective as possible. At a global scale, we can set priorities by considering a framework of irreplaceability and vulnerability, from which we can derive biodiversity "hotspots". The Philippines emerges as one of the most important of these. However, the hotspots concept does not inform conservation on the ground. For such establishment of conservation targets, we require a system that assesses biodiversity at multiple scales of ecological organization. The finest scale at which sufficiently comprehensive data are available is the level of the species, where we can use the IUCN Red List to determine targets for species conservation. However, most threatened species are best conserved through protecting areas, and so we can use information regarding species distribution to identify Key Biodiversity Areas targets for site scale conservation. While the protection of ares is essential for biodiversity conservation, it will not be sufficient unless we can also maintain the ecological processes that allow these sites and species to persist, for which landscape interventions through biodiversity conservation "corridors" are necessary. The compilation of data on conservation targets at these three scales of organization by a number now allows consideration of prioritization among these conservation targets in the Philippines. An urgent research priority remains the compilation of such data for aquatic systems.

Full Text

Biodiversity is facing an extinction crisis, with rates of species loss orders of magnitude higher than normal throughout geological history. However, neither biodiversity or threats are randomly distributed around the planet, and so it is extremely important to target and prioritize conservation activities in order that they are as effective as possible. At a global scale,  we can set priorities by considering  a framework of irreplaceability and vulnerability, from which we can derive biodiversity "hotspots". The Philippines emerges as one of the most important of these. However, the hotspots concept does not inform conservation on the ground. For such establishment of conservation targets, we require a system that assesses biodiversity at multiple scales of ecological organization. The finest scale at which sufficiently comprehensive data are available is the level of the species, where we can use the IUCN Red List to determine targets for species conservation. However, most threatened species are best conserved through protecting areas, and so we can use information regarding species distribution to identify Key Biodiversity Areas targets for site scale conservation. While the protection of ares is essential for biodiversity conservation, it will not be sufficient unless we can also maintain the ecological processes that allow these sites and species to persist, for which landscape interventions through biodiversity conservation "corridors" are necessary. The compilation of data on conservation targets at these three scales of organization by a number now allows consideration of prioritization among these conservation targets in the Philippines. An urgent research priority remains the compilation of such data for aquatic systems.

Info

Source Journal	Agham Mindanao
Journal Volume	Agham Mindanao Vol. 1
Authors	Thomas Brooks, Marion Abuel, Leonardo Co, Oliver Coroza, Melizar V. Duya, Mariano Roy M. Duya, Penny Langhammer, Aldrin Mallari, Connie Morales, Nadia Palomar, Rosheila Rodriguez, Blas Tabaranza, Romeo Trono
Page Count	10
Place of Publication	Davao City
Original Publication Date	January 1, 2005
Tags

Preview