Climate Change: Causes, Effects, and Consequences

Climate Change

• Definition: Long-term warming of the planet due to increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
• Causes:
  • Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
  • Deforestation and land-use changes
  • Agriculture and livestock production
• Effects:
  • Rising global temperatures
  • More frequent and severe weather events (heatwaves, droughts, floods)
  • Sea-level rise and coastal erosion
  • Changes in precipitation patterns and water scarcity
• Consequences:
  • Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem disruption
  • Negative impacts on human health, food security, and economic development

Conservation Biology

• Definition: Interdisciplinary science that focuses on preserving and protecting threatened and endangered species and their habitats
• Goals:
  • Preserve genetic diversity within and among species
  • Maintain ecosystem function and services
  • Restore degraded or damaged ecosystems
• Key concepts:
  • In situ conservation (protecting species in their natural habitats)
  • Ex situ conservation (protecting species in controlled environments, e.g., zoos, seed banks)
  • Population viability analysis (PVA) and species extinction risk assessments
  • Habitat fragmentation and connectivity

Ecosystems

• Definition: Communities of living and non-living components that interact with each other in a specific environment
• Components:
  • Biotic factors: plants, animals, microorganisms
  • Abiotic factors: light, temperature, water, soil, air
• Ecosystem services:
  • Provisioning services (food, water, wood, etc.)
  • Regulating services (climate regulation, pollination, etc.)
  • Cultural services (recreation, tourism, etc.)
  • Supporting services (nutrient cycling, soil formation, etc.)
• Ecosystem types:
  • Terrestrial ecosystems (forests, grasslands, deserts)
  • Freshwater ecosystems (rivers, lakes, wetlands)
  • Marine ecosystems (coral reefs, estuaries, open ocean)

Sustainable Development

• Definition: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• Pillars:
  • Environmental sustainability (conservation and management of natural resources)
  • Social sustainability (equity, justice, and human well-being)
  • Economic sustainability (economic growth and development)
• Key concepts:
  • The triple bottom line (people, planet, profit)
  • Green economy and green growth
  • Sustainable consumption and production patterns

Wildlife Management

• Definition: The process of managing wildlife populations and their habitats to achieve conservation and sustainable use goals
• Objectives:
  • Maintain healthy and sustainable wildlife populations
  • Balance wildlife conservation with human needs and activities
  • Promote coexistence with wildlife
• Approaches:
  • Habitat management and restoration
  • Population management (hunting, trapping, relocation)
  • Conflict mitigation and human-wildlife conflict resolution
  • Community-based conservation and participatory management

Climate Change

• Long-term warming of the planet due to increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
• Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), deforestation, and land-use changes release large amounts of CO2, leading to global warming
• Agriculture and livestock production contribute to climate change through methane and N2O emissions
• Global temperatures have risen by about 1°C since the late 1800s, leading to more frequent and severe weather events
• Sea-level rise and coastal erosion threaten coastal ecosystems and human settlements
• Changes in precipitation patterns and water scarcity impact agriculture, human health, and ecosystems

Conservation Biology

• Preserves and protects threatened and endangered species and their habitats through interdisciplinary approaches
• Maintains ecosystem function and services by preserving genetic diversity within and among species
• Restores degraded or damaged ecosystems to promote biodiversity and ecosystem resilience
• In situ conservation protects species in their natural habitats, while ex situ conservation protects species in controlled environments
• Population viability analysis (PVA) and species extinction risk assessments inform conservation decisions
• Habitat fragmentation and connectivity affect species migration and population dynamics

Ecosystems

• Communities of living and non-living components that interact with each other in a specific environment
• Biotic factors include plants, animals, and microorganisms, while abiotic factors include light, temperature, water, soil, and air
• Ecosystem services provide provisioning (food, water, wood), regulating (climate, pollination), cultural (recreation, tourism), and supporting (nutrient cycling, soil formation) benefits
• Terrestrial ecosystems include forests, grasslands, and deserts, while freshwater ecosystems include rivers, lakes, and wetlands
• Marine ecosystems encompass coral reefs, estuaries, and open ocean ecosystems

Sustainable Development

• Development that meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs
• Environmental sustainability involves conserving and managing natural resources
• Social sustainability promotes equity, justice, and human well-being, while economic sustainability ensures economic growth and development
• The triple bottom line considers people, planet, and profit in development decisions
• Green economy and green growth prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable development
• Sustainable consumption and production patterns reduce waste and promote resource efficiency

Wildlife Management

• Manages wildlife populations and habitats to achieve conservation and sustainable use goals
• Maintains healthy and sustainable wildlife populations, balancing conservation with human needs and activities
• Promotes coexistence with wildlife through habitat management, population management, conflict mitigation, and community-based conservation
• Habitat management and restoration involve preserving and restoring habitats to support wildlife populations
• Population management includes hunting, trapping, and relocation to regulate wildlife populations
• Conflict mitigation and human-wildlife conflict resolution strategies reduce human-wildlife conflicts