Conservation biology is an interdisciplinary field that aims to protect biodiversity by managing species and ecosystems. It arose due to increasing degradation of natural systems. Conservation biology draws on natural and social sciences to sustain species populations and preserve habitats and ecosystems from excessive extinction. Its goals are to understand threats to biodiversity and develop solutions for protection and restoration.

1. Conservation
Biology
Scientific discipline devoted to understand the factors
,forces and processes that influence the loss, protection
and restoration of biological diversity within and among
ecosystem.
This discipline arose in recent decades as biologist grew
alarmed at the degradation of natural systems they had
spent their lives studying

2. Conservation biology is the management of
nature and of Earth's biodiversity with the
aim of protecting species, their habitats, and
ecosystems from excessive rates of
extinction and the erosion of biotic
interactions. It is an interdisciplinary subject
drawing on natural and social sciences, and
the practice of natural resource
management

3. Conservation
Conservation is an ethic of use, allocation and
protection of valued resources.
Biodiversity conservation implies the use, allocation
and protection of the variety of flora and fauna
resources in a manner that ensures the
sustainability of these resources.

4. Biodiversity Conservation
• Sustainable use of all natural
resources
• The first principle of conservation is
development, the use of the natural
resources now existing on this
continent for the benefit of the
people who live here now”
• Utilitarian conservation ethic.

5. Conservation
Conservation is define d as the management
of biosphere so that it will yield the greatest
sustainable benefits to present generation
while maintaining its potential to meet the
needs of future generation

7. Why Biodiversity Conservation ?
1) Prevents extinction of species
2) To sustain ecosystem services
3) Maintains of cultural heritage

8. Three Guiding Principles of Conservation
Biology
Principle 1: Evolution is the basic axiom that unites
all of biology ( the evolutionary play)
Principle 2: The ecological world is dynamic and
largely non equilibrial. (The ecological theater)
Principle 3: Human presence must be included in
conservation planning. (Humans are part of the
play)

9. Here’s another view of the basic principles, this
one from a different introductory text by Primack
(1994):
Diversity of organisms is good; humans generally
value and appreciate biodiversity. Human-
mediated
extinction of populations and species is bad.

10. ECOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY IS GOOD AND IN MANY
INSTANCES MANDATORY TO SPECIES SURVIVAL.
HARM TO
ONE SPECIES MAY RESULT IN 'CASCADING' EFFECTS
ON
OTHERS.
EVOLUTION IS GOOD.
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY HAS INTRINSIC VALUE.

11. ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
The following ecological principles describe the assumptions needed to
plan actions for conserving biodiversity:
1) Protection of species and species subdivisions will support
biodiversity.
2( Maintaining habitat is fundamental to conserving species.
3) Large areas usually contain more species than smaller areas with
similar habitat.
4) "All things are connected" but the nature and strength of the
connection varies.
5) Disturbances shape the characteristics of populations, communities
and ecosystems.
6) Climate change will increasingly influence all types of ecosystems

12. Applying Ecological Concepts and Principles in Biodiversity
Conservation
These ecological concepts and principles are closely inter-
related, and they must be applied in harmony with one
another. The following applications are based on Coarse- and
Fine-filter considerations:
1) Use both filters: Use a Coarse-filter to create a network of
representative protected areas and manage surrounding areas
in a way that most closely emulates natural processes. Use a
Fine-filter to fill in the gaps by conserving ecosystems, features
and species not adequately protected through the coarse filter
approach.

13. 2) Represent all native ecosystem types in a system of protected
areas.
3) Retain large contiguous or connected areas that sustain natural
ecological processes.
4) Maintain or emulate natural ecological processes.
5) Manage for adaptability in response to environmental change.
6) Maintain viable populations of all native species in natural patterns
of abundance and distribution.
7) Preserve rare landscape elements, critical habitats and features,
and associated species.
8) Minimize the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.

14. Applying Ecological Concepts and Principles in
Biodiversity Conservation
These ecological concepts and principles are closely inter-
related, and they must be applied in harmony with one another.
The following applications are based on Coarse- and Fine-filter
considerations:
1) Use both filters: Use a Coarse-filter to create a network of
representative protected areas and manage surrounding areas
in a way that most closely emulates natural processes. Use a
Fine-filter to fill in the gaps by conserving ecosystems, features
and species not adequately protected through the coarse filter

15. There is another component
in conservation biology,
necessary to understand parts
of answers to HOW, WHAT
and WHERE for conservation.
That subject is:

16. Biogeography.
Biogeography is the study of the
distributions of species over space and time
and the causes of those distributions.
It has two basic components: descriptive
biogeography and ecological biogeography.
The first part studies the geography of
species and the second part deals in the
causes of those distributions.

17. “Conservation biology seeks to integrate
evolutionary theory with environmental reality
to predict how an animal/population/species
will react to future/current changes, usually
human caused, in its environment/density/
distribution. Most importantly, whether it will
survive and what to do to prevent extinction.”

18. Modern Conservation Biology
Conserving endangered species
Demographic and genetic consequences of small population size, PVA,
biology of small populations, manipulative techniques that enhance
survival probability and design of nature reserves for particular
species.
Conserving functional and structural aspects of important ecosystems
Diversity and stability of ecological communities, habitat
fragmentation, landscape ecology, island biogeography, and
restoration ecology

19. Special Role of Biology in Conservation
Provide rough and ready guidelines for decisions
made with little data.
Identify what data will be most useful for future
decisions.
Develop adaptive strategies that begin with
information already available and build on it in a
way to increase the chances of success.

20. Historical Conservation
Only the “utilitarian” ethic has been persuasive to those
not already committed to conservation.
Most conservation efforts prior to 1960 were concerned
with:
Land conservation – setting aside parcels of land for
protection and public enjoyment.
Wildlife management of game animal populations to
provide opportunities for hunting, fishing, and
observation.

21. Characteristics of biodiversity conservation
Government and non govt. organizations, community
groups, academic institutions and individuals use a
variety of means to protect plants and animals.
Preservation of local natural area (wood, oil fields
wetlands, etc.)
Restoration of habitat that has been lost (school yard,
naturalization, naturalized gardening and removal of
invasive species) can increase the number of different
species found in that area.

22. Development and institution of recovery plans for
species at risk.
Zoo and Botanical gardens and other facilities can
participate in captive breeding with the intent of
reintroducing the species when habitat problems
have been solved through processes such as
ecological restoration

23. Characteristics of biodiversity
Biodiversity has Limits
physical environmental, even healthy one, can support just so
many of any species, including people, indefinitely.
This maximum number is termed the carrying capacity for that
environment.
Species can cause changes in environmental conditions, and vice
versa, leading to changes in carrying capacity for themselves
and for other species