Preservation of natural diversity

John Terborgh

Preserving diversity in a world of rapidly shrinking land resources will require a prompt and universal response based on an appropriate application of ecological knowledge. Every nation should posses an inventory of its biological endowment. Agencies in charge of parks and wildlife should consciously adopt policies that are designed to minimize the pace of extinctions. The common practice of declaring parks in remote or unused portions of the landscape, or around scenic attractions, may fail to serve this purpose. Large reserves are needed to preserve natural vegetation formations, animals at the top of the trophic pyramid, and widespread species with sedentary habits and poor colonizing ability. Endemics or rare habitat types can frequently be protected with a relatively small investment in land, provided appropriate tracts can be identified and sequestered in time. The nesting grounds of colonial species can be spared with even less land withheld from production as they are usually located on offshore islets that are unsuitable for agriculture. Migratory species present more difficult problems in that appropriate action often requires international cooperation.

Fonte: Terborgh, J. 1976. In: Smith, R. L. The ecology of man: An ecosystem approach, 2nd ed. NY, Harper & Row.