BBBBB EEEEEE NN N ISSN 1188-603X BB B EE NNN N BBBBB EEEEE NN N N BOTANICAL BB B EE NN NN ELECTRONIC BBBBB EEEEEE NN N NEWS No. 41 September 27, 1992 Address: aceska@cue.bc.ca Victoria, B.C. ---------------------------------------------------- BIODIVERSITY IN THE MANAGED LANDSCAPE: THEORY AND PRACTICE CONFERENCE IN SACRAMENTO JULY 13-17, 1992 (PART 1 of 5) From: Evelyn Hamilton I went to a conference titled "Biodiversity in the Managed Landscape: theory an practice" on July 13-17 1992 in Sacramento California, and offer these conclusions and highlights. The conference was sponsored by a number of agencies including the US Forest Service. The proceedings will be published as a book. My address is Evelyn Hamilton British Columbia Ministry of Forests 1450 Government Street Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 3E7 Phone: (604) 387-3650 Fax: (604) 387-0046 ehamilton@galaxy.gov.bc.ca and I am coordinating the B.C. Ministry of Forests biodiversity research program. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 1. Rare and endangered species are the focus of most of the ongoing research in the US. They anticipate the listing of many more species. There is an effort to move from this species based approach, which is entrenched in legislation, to more of a "bioregional approach" which would involve habitat rather than species protection. 2. In Canada we seem to have more opportunities to develop appropriate management regimes for conservation of our native biodiversity than is the case in many other jurisdictions. Many other areas of the US have already experienced extensive losses to native ecosystems (e.g. native grasslands) and are focussing on very costly restoration activities. 3. There are some fundamental issues questions relating to moral values and philosophies that have to be discussed before societies' goals for management can be determined. 4. The need for fundamental social and institutional change was raised repeatedly. 5. There are relatively few studies of landscape dynamics under- way in adjacent areas. Most other landscape research projects are focused on characterizing spatial patterning and fragmen- tation and looking at wildlife response to landscape pattern at different spatial scales. I. OPENING ADDRESS Developing an environmental vision Douglas Wheeler, Secretary for Resources, State of California California anticipates steady population growth and serious pressure on it's biodiversity. They are looking at moving from a species approach to a bioregional one - i.e. conservation of different ecosystems and therefore habitats in the different bioregions. There is a need for greater public involvement and support. II. KEYNOTE ADDRESS Importance of conserving biodiversity Thomas Lovejoy, Smithsonian Institute, Wash. D.C. There are utilitarian, ethical, aesthetic, theological and philosophical reasons for conserving biodiversity. The speaker emphasized the value of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem functioning and as an indicator of ecosystem stress. He made the following points: 1. Some species may play a more important role in keeping the ecosystems functioning, but it may be difficult to determine the importance of a species a priori. An example is the rare aquatic yeasts that are tolerant of and clean up mercury contaminated water returning it to a condition where other organisms can survive. 2. An important way that biodiversity will be contribute to human welfare is through biotechnology. For example, heat resistant enzymes that were needed for biotechnology applica- tions were found in rare hot springs bacteria. There can be great economic returns from this type of activity (e.g. 10 billion dollars a year in the US).