3.3C Choice of conservation Notes

Influence of Environmental Perspectives on Conservation Strategies

1. Environmental value systems shape how societies approach biodiversity conservation, influencing whether they prioritize intrinsic, ecological, economic, or societal values.
2. The effectiveness of conservation efforts depends on adopting diverse approaches, including community support, adequate funding, education, legislation, scientific research, and environmental justice considerations.
3. Different perspectives, ecocentric, anthropocentric, and technocentric, affect the strategies chosen.

Ecocentric Perspectives and Low-Intervention Conservation

1. Ecocentric perspectives emphasize the intrinsic value of biodiversity, advocating for minimal human interference in ecosystems and focusing on in situ conservation.
2. Nature is viewed as having inherent worth, meaning conservation strategies prioritize protecting entire ecosystems rather than individual species.
3. Strictly protected areas, such as wilderness reserves and biosphere core zones, allow natural processes to function without human intervention.
4. Rewilding projects support the natural regeneration of landscapes by removing human influence and letting ecosystems self-recover.

Anthropocentric and Technocentric Perspectives on Conservation

1. Anthropocentric perspectives focus on the societal and economic benefits of biodiversity, advocating for conservation that serves human needs.
2. Ecotourism and sustainable resource management are favored because they provide financial incentives for conservation while allowing economic development.
3. Technocentric perspectives embrace scientific intervention to conserve species, often using ex situ conservation methods such as zoos, gene banks, and artificial breeding programs.