Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Salit Kark Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Conservation Biology (Ecology) Lecture 1 – what is conservation biology? Oct 2009

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 The course will deal with two directions: Conservation biology: theory Conservation biology in practice

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 What is your personal experience (with conservation biology)?

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Human impact on the environment – long North America – extinctions Africa – fires Mediterranean Basin and Levant – domestication, grazing, agriculture… Traditional and modern society – urbanization

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Approaches to nature and biodiversity: Traditional native societies Religions Modern “Western”

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Approaches to nature and biodiversity: Traditional Native American Societies (Touch the Earth pg. 15, 23, 47, more)

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Some religious approaches: In many religions we find humans physically and spiritually connected with nature Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese Tao, Japanese Shinto philosophy: wilderness areas and natural settings are protected for their ability to provide intense spiritual experiences. Direct connection between the natural world and the spiritual world, which humans need to protect.

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Approaches to nature: Biblical Jewish approaches בראשית פרק א' וב' Third Century Fresco, Rome

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 בראשית א', כ"ו-ל"א "ויאמר אלהים נעשה אדם בצלמנו כדמותנו וירדו בדגת הים ובעוף השמים ובבהמה ובכל-הארץ ובכל-הרמש הרמש על- הארץ. ויברא אלהים את-האדם בצלמו בצלם אלהים ברא אתו זכר ונקבה ברא אתם. ויברך אתם אלהים ויאמר להם אלהים פרו ורבו ומלאו את-הארץ וכבשה ורדו בדגת הים ובעוף השמים ובכל-חיה הרמשת על-הארץ. ויאמר אלהים הנה נתתי לכם את-כל-עשב זרע זרע אשר על-פני כל-הארץ ואת-כל- העץ אשר-בו פרי-עץ זרע זרע לכם יהיה לאכלה. ולכל-חית הארץ ולכל-עוף השמים ולכל רומש על-הארץ אשר-בו נפש חיה את-כל-ירק עשב לאכלה ויהי-כן. וירא אלהים את-כל- אשר עשה והנה-טוב מאד ויהי-ערב ויהי-בקר יום הששי."

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 בראשית "ויקח ה' אלוקים את האדם ויניחהו בגן עדן לעבדה ולשמרה" )בראשית ב', ט"ו) "בשעה שברא הקדוש ברוך הוא את האדם הראשון, נטלו והחזירו על כל אילני גן עדן, ואמר לו: ראה מעשי כמה נאים ומשובחין הן, וכל מה שבראתי בשבילך בראתי. תן דעתך שלא תקלקל ותחריב את עולמי, שאם תקלקל אין מי שיתקן אחריך" (קהלת רבה, ז')

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 O riginated in the old English word "wildeornes", which meant "the place of wild deer“ (wildeor meaning wild beast (wild + deor = beast, deer).beast Effort to protect nature was made by the kings of England in the Middle Ages. Motivated by a desire for private hunting preserves. Needed to protect the wildlife from poachers and the land from the villagers who would cut down the trees for firewood. Wilderness

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 European Colonialism, explorers and governors: Mauritius French Colonials (1769) set aside 25% of forest landholdings for preventing erosion, protected allk forests 200m from water and planted trees in degraded areas… Tobago Caribbean island: British officers set aside 20% of land as “reserved in wood for rain” Some history of modern conservation thinking

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Europe – some conservation history Establishment of the: Commons, Open Spaces and footpaths Preservation Society (1865) in England National Trust for Places of Historic Interest and Natural Beauty (1895) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (1899) Preserved together over 5 million dunam (500,000 ha) of open lands More in other countries, such as Poland.

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 British Mandate: Jerusalem Valleys preserved as open areas…

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Some history of modern conservation thinking Two opposing views had emerged within the environmental movement by the early 20th century: the conservationists and the preservationists. The conservationists (such as Pinchot) focused on the proper use of nature, whereas the preservationists (such as Muir) sought the protection of nature from use.

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Some history of modern conservation thinking Environmental thinkers and leaders in the US: Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau (mid 19 th century): Transcendental Conservation Ethic. Nature has uses besides economic gain. John Muir: Preservationists Ethic, natural areas have great spiritual and artistic values, as well intrinsic value. Countered by Pinchot’s Resource Conservation Ethic (early 20 th century). Multiple uses of nature and fair resource distribution.

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Some history of modern conservation thinking Environmental thinkers and leaders in the US: Aldo Leopold (government officer, early-mid 20 th Century): evolutionary-ecological land ethic maintain natural ecosystems and processes, with humans taking a part, ecosystem management. The idea of protecting nature for nature's sake began to gain more recognition in the 1930s with him calling for a "land ethic" and urging for wilderness protection.

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Some history of modern conservation thinking Early perception of equilibrium and later of nonequilibrium, dynamics.

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Conservation Biology – scientists First meeting in San Diego by Michael Soulé, Paul Ehrlich, Jared Diamond (1978) Some history of modern conservation thinking Environmental movements – public, NGOs (Sierra Club, Audubon Society, SPNI)

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 What is Conservation Biology? A new, quickly advancing scientific discipline textbooks Scientific journals

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Conservation biology Principles – the scene: (Meffe): Evolutionary processes Dynamic ecology nonequilibrium The human role

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Conservation biology (Soulé): Diversity of organisms Ecological complexity Evolutionary processes Biotic diversity (has inherent value) Aim to conserve (Meffe):

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Conservation biology (Primack): Three aims: “To document the full range of biological diversity… To investigate human impact on species, communities and ecosystems… To develop practical approaches to prevent extinction of species, maintain diversity within species and to protect and restore biological communities and their associated ecosystem functions”

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Conservation Biology – some characteristics: Multidisciplinary – combines natural and social sciences Combines applied management with theoretical approaches

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 (Primack Fig. 1.1)

Salit Kark, Conservation Biology, Hebrew University, Lecture 1 Conservation Biology – some characteristics: Ties “pure” science and practice (“real world”) Value-laden, mission oriented…but methodology is based on good, objective science A “crisis” discipline, decision making with incomplete knowledge