Endangered Species
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:03 pm
Here is the Brief for the December 2nd work session on Endangered Species. We are giving you more than enough time to get started, so we hope to see plenty of research, brought forth, not only in the meeting, but also on the forums. I have given you several links. Because of the cancelation of the Media Oversight, you now have several weeks to start you research. But please don't leave it until the last moment, as the debate is always better when you start earlier on with the forums. Just check out some of the past years. The debate often started the minute the brief was up, and didn't die down until after the meeting. We hope that we can continue this, but you guys need to pull your share. It isn't too hard. Just read the links I posted, and all you really need to do it Google "Endangered Species", and at the moment, you will come up with exactly 11 million hits. So it really doesn't take a lot of effort. So good luck guys, and I look forward to a great debate!
In 2001, the Millennium Development Goals were organized to help combat the world’s problems. Goal 7 was to ensure environmental sustainability. This Goal contained many targets, including Reducing Biodiversity loss. This sub-goal talks about the loss of marine area and land conversation, deforestation, and endangered species. It is estimated that almost 40% of animals are endangered, as of 2006. There are 8 stages of endangerment, and they are
• Least Concerned
• Near Threatened
• Conservation Dependent
• Vulnerable
• Endangered
• Critically Endangered
• Extinct in the Wild
• Extinct
Laws Already in Effect
In the USA, the Endangered Species Act in already in effect, passed in the 1970’s. It was passed for the protection of endangered species, and allows the USA government to rank species in their varied endangerment. It also prohibits the selling, and owning of endangered species, which is an important step in the right direction. It also allows the federal government to give their states money for protection of endangered species. But before this happens, the species must be placed on the Federal list, sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Their actions are bound by a strict legal process, and evaluation.
In Russia, they have the “Red Data Book of the Russian Federation”. This book helps monitor and provides a central source for the Russian ecological system. It is a state document for documenting rare and endangered species in and around Russia. It is another step in the protection of these animals.
In Canada, they have enacted the Species at Risk Act, or SARA. Similar to the Endangered Species Act, it rates the endangerment, and acts from there. It calls for steps to be taken not only to save those animals currently endangered, but to prevent more from joining the list. It identifies ways in which the
World Wide Issue
The World Wildlife Fund is an international organization committed to protecting the remaining species left on the planet. They work in approximately 100 countries, and have almost 5 million supporters worldwide. Their mission, plain and simple, is “the conservation of nature.” By the year 2020, they plan to have 19 of the world’s most important natural places conserved.
CITES, or Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, is an international agreement drafted by over 175 countries being a part. This agreement does not take the place of international law, but it does provide the framework for local laws to help prevent the trading of endangered animals for monetary value.
An older treaty, the Convention of Biological Diversity, in 1992 was adopted in Rio de Janeiro. It had 3 main goals, including conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.
2010 is “International Year of Biodiversity.” The goals of this UN sponsored event are:
• Enhance public awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity and of the underlying threats to biodiversity
• Raise awareness of the accomplishments to save biodiversity that have already been realized by communities and governments
• Promote innovative solutions to reduce the threats to biodiversity
• Encourage individuals, organizations and governments to take immediate steps to halt biodiversity loss
• Start dialogue between stakeholders for the steps to be taken in the post-2010 period.
Links for Research
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/environ.shtml
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife.html
In 2001, the Millennium Development Goals were organized to help combat the world’s problems. Goal 7 was to ensure environmental sustainability. This Goal contained many targets, including Reducing Biodiversity loss. This sub-goal talks about the loss of marine area and land conversation, deforestation, and endangered species. It is estimated that almost 40% of animals are endangered, as of 2006. There are 8 stages of endangerment, and they are
• Least Concerned
• Near Threatened
• Conservation Dependent
• Vulnerable
• Endangered
• Critically Endangered
• Extinct in the Wild
• Extinct
Laws Already in Effect
In the USA, the Endangered Species Act in already in effect, passed in the 1970’s. It was passed for the protection of endangered species, and allows the USA government to rank species in their varied endangerment. It also prohibits the selling, and owning of endangered species, which is an important step in the right direction. It also allows the federal government to give their states money for protection of endangered species. But before this happens, the species must be placed on the Federal list, sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Their actions are bound by a strict legal process, and evaluation.
In Russia, they have the “Red Data Book of the Russian Federation”. This book helps monitor and provides a central source for the Russian ecological system. It is a state document for documenting rare and endangered species in and around Russia. It is another step in the protection of these animals.
In Canada, they have enacted the Species at Risk Act, or SARA. Similar to the Endangered Species Act, it rates the endangerment, and acts from there. It calls for steps to be taken not only to save those animals currently endangered, but to prevent more from joining the list. It identifies ways in which the
World Wide Issue
The World Wildlife Fund is an international organization committed to protecting the remaining species left on the planet. They work in approximately 100 countries, and have almost 5 million supporters worldwide. Their mission, plain and simple, is “the conservation of nature.” By the year 2020, they plan to have 19 of the world’s most important natural places conserved.
CITES, or Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, is an international agreement drafted by over 175 countries being a part. This agreement does not take the place of international law, but it does provide the framework for local laws to help prevent the trading of endangered animals for monetary value.
An older treaty, the Convention of Biological Diversity, in 1992 was adopted in Rio de Janeiro. It had 3 main goals, including conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.
2010 is “International Year of Biodiversity.” The goals of this UN sponsored event are:
• Enhance public awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity and of the underlying threats to biodiversity
• Raise awareness of the accomplishments to save biodiversity that have already been realized by communities and governments
• Promote innovative solutions to reduce the threats to biodiversity
• Encourage individuals, organizations and governments to take immediate steps to halt biodiversity loss
• Start dialogue between stakeholders for the steps to be taken in the post-2010 period.
Links for Research
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/environ.shtml
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife.html