Why is it endangered and why is it important to save?
In UGA's Monteverde Campus we were able to interact with scientists who fought to raise awareness among our student community about the importance of saving endangered species and keeping them from getting extinct. These three; Monteverde, Bell Bird, and Spectral Bat, are all in risk of extinction, which is why it's justified the many reasons why they should be saved in the chart below.
Endangered
Reason
Importance
Monteverde
Deforestation
Climate change
Native trees and such may have valuable and very useful materials.
As most forests, Monteverde works as an air cleaner.
Many animals loose their shelter because of deforestation.
Many of the nutrients the soil obtains are generated thanks to the presence of trees.
Deforestation (they depend on forests in order to survive)
Insect controllers
Pollination
For more information on Reserva Biológica Monteverde and its different species click here.
What is the purpose of identifying, classifying, and collecting plants and insects?
One of the first workshops we performed in our trip to Monteverde was regarding insect and plant collections. In there, they collect many of the species they can in order to gain much information about them and keep records. Many of us were able to catch insects and pin them for part of their collection before proceeding to examine them all.
Insects and plants are collected for many different purposes, some of the mot important ones being to cure diseases and viruses. Some of them (mostly plants) may also be collected for decoration, as well as food. Insects are identified once they are caught and then classified. This is done in order to keep a record of them, such as their populations, threats, benefits to society, characteristics, and much more. If it weren't for these collections, many scientists would have no resources to study the anatomy of some species and some plagues wouldn't be able to be controlled.
Insect conservation is extremely important, in fact, crucial, for scientific studies. Many different indexes are used once these have been classified and many uses to them are found. Insects make up great part of the species population on Earth. Plants on the other hand, serve multiple purposes, such as medicines, food, soil health, producers, and (just like insect collections), for money.
Sustainability is known as "an ability or capacity of something to be maintained or to sustain itself". This means that without any type of outside help, something is able to keep on functioning perfectly and accomplishing its mission while fulfilling all of it's requirements and meeting its needs. In a case in which something is considered sustainable, it is believed to keep on being so forever.
There are many different indicators (specific numerical parameters) to measure
. Indicators show how many different factors rely on each other in order to correctly function. There are many different indicators to measure different types of sustainability; the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the amount of money being spent in a country, it is generally reported as a measure of the country's economic well-being. The ISEW (Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare) measures the relationship between environment, economy, and society.
Insect conservation is extremely important in order to maintain a stable balance among Earth’s species. Some of the reasons insect conservation is of such importance are their own roles in the ecosystems. Insects are in a great part responsible for getting rid and breaking down remains, wastes, among other. On the other hand, they also carry out a great role throughout the pollination process. Insects help carry pollen and plant seeds from one location to another, therefore helping plants. On the other hand, by cleaning up the remains and wastes, they help out both humans and animals. Nevertheless, this is not the only type of aid they bring to animal species, given the fact that they also serve as food sources for several of them such as amphibians, fish, birds and reptiles.
National Geographic explains the relationship between humans, insects and pollination. For more information on the importance of insects for us, click here.
What options exist to manage ecosystems sustainably?
There are many different ways in which ecosystems can be sustained and cared for in order for it to exist and manage itself correctly. One of the main options is support from the caring community. Conservation areas created by the community protect many different ecosystems and its species, besides aiding other factors such as economy and tourism. Another way would be to create awareness campaigns and have volunteers help take care of ecosystems and promote this protection. Finally, the most important factor is to provide people with the right information to have them raise awareness of ecosystem protection and care.
There are many environments in which ecological sustainability with ecosystems is met, like in Vietnam:
How do protected areas and biological corridors contribute to the conservation of biodiversity? Identify CR protected areas and biological corridors, and explain the specific goals of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
In protected areas and biological corridors, species are taken care for and they're prevented from being hunted. In these areas there is also a lot of awareness raised towards people for them to learn about the importance of taking care of these species, therefore in the future they can continue to grow without the need of conservation campaigns and live sustainably. The University of Georgia's Monteverde campus is a great area for species protection in Costa Rica, studying them and at the same time raising awareness about the importance to protect them. The UGA campus acts as a biological corridor and is working to expand its help towards native species.
Around the early 1990s, many different biologists agreed that biological corridors were a very useful tool for increasing biodiversity and promoting the creation of large protected areas. Because of this they came up with the idea of an immense biological corridor that would connect the forests of southern Mexico to those of all the rest of Central America and eventually reach the Panama Canal, The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
Biological Corridors Product! A prezi made by our own students regarding biological corridors and Monteverde. In this presentation, the goal is to inform the public about the multiple uses of biological corridors and to present many of the ways in which ecosystems may benefit themselves from them.
How can the integrity and diversity of nature be conserved to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable?
The integrity and diversity of nature is essential for the survival of just about anything on Earth. In order to have an ecosystem that functions in a sustainable way, it is extremely important to have a big diversity in nature, because everyone depends on someone else in order to survive and accomplish their mission. Many measures are taken by people all around the world in order to conserve the diversity of nature and let it interact correctly. Nature is wise and it can function correctly by itself, but with the increase of human population it has been affected in a great way, considering the fact that people depend highly on some of natures species. Taking into account the fact that humans and nature cannot survive without the other, it is important to take care of our environment in order to prevent it from disappearing completely.One of the greatest measures taken for this is the creation of conservation parks. These are places were humans can interact with nature from afar while not interfering with its reproduction. On the other hand, when much of natures species are rapidly decreasing in population, it is important to create biological corridors and reserves to serve as a safe habitat for them to reproduce successfully. It is crucial to find a balance between humans and nature, while taking what's essential and necessary, but at the same time helping nature keep going, but for its and our sake.
Table of Contents
Why is it endangered and why is it important to save?
In UGA's Monteverde Campus we were able to interact with scientists who fought to raise awareness among our student community about the importance of saving endangered species and keeping them from getting extinct. These three; Monteverde, Bell Bird, and Spectral Bat, are all in risk of extinction, which is why it's justified the many reasons why they should be saved in the chart below.
For more information on Reserva Biológica Monteverde and its different species click here.
What is the purpose of identifying, classifying, and collecting plants and insects?
One of the first workshops we performed in our trip to Monteverde was regarding insect and plant collections. In there, they collect many of the species they can in order to gain much information about them and keep records. Many of us were able to catch insects and pin them for part of their collection before proceeding to examine them all.
Insects and plants are collected for many different purposes, some of the mot important ones being to cure diseases and viruses. Some of them (mostly plants) may also be collected for decoration, as well as food. Insects are identified once they are caught and then classified. This is done in order to keep a record of them, such as their populations, threats, benefits to society, characteristics, and much more. If it weren't for these collections, many scientists would have no resources to study the anatomy of some species and some plagues wouldn't be able to be controlled.
Insect conservation is extremely important, in fact, crucial, for scientific studies. Many different indexes are used once these have been classified and many uses to them are found. Insects make up great part of the species population on Earth. Plants on the other hand, serve multiple purposes, such as medicines, food, soil health, producers, and (just like insect collections), for money.
What is sustainability and how is it measured?
Sustainability is known as "an ability or capacity of something to be maintained or to sustain itself". This means that without any type of outside help, something is able to keep on functioning perfectly and accomplishing its mission while fulfilling all of it's requirements and meeting its needs. In a case in which something is considered sustainable, it is believed to keep on being so forever.
There are many different indicators (specific numerical parameters) to measure
. Indicators show how many different factors rely on each other in order to correctly function. There are many different indicators to measure different types of sustainability; the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the amount of money being spent in a country, it is generally reported as a measure of the country's economic well-being. The ISEW (Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare) measures the relationship between environment, economy, and society.
Why are insects worth conserving?
Insect conservation is extremely important in order to maintain a stable balance among Earth’s species. Some of the reasons insect conservation is of such importance are their own roles in the ecosystems. Insects are in a great part responsible for getting rid and breaking down remains, wastes, among other. On the other hand, they also carry out a great role throughout the pollination process. Insects help carry pollen and plant seeds from one location to another, therefore helping plants. On the other hand, by cleaning up the remains and wastes, they help out both humans and animals. Nevertheless, this is not the only type of aid they bring to animal species, given the fact that they also serve as food sources for several of them such as amphibians, fish, birds and reptiles.National Geographic explains the relationship between humans, insects and pollination. For more information on the importance of insects for us, click here.
What options exist to manage ecosystems sustainably?
There are many different ways in which ecosystems can be sustained and cared for in order for it to exist and manage itself correctly. One of the main options is support from the caring community. Conservation areas created by the community protect many different ecosystems and its species, besides aiding other factors such as economy and tourism. Another way would be to create awareness campaigns and have volunteers help take care of ecosystems and promote this protection. Finally, the most important factor is to provide people with the right information to have them raise awareness of ecosystem protection and care.There are many environments in which ecological sustainability with ecosystems is met, like in Vietnam:
How do protected areas and biological corridors contribute to the conservation of biodiversity? Identify CR protected areas and biological corridors, and explain the specific goals of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
In protected areas and biological corridors, species are taken care for and they're prevented from being hunted. In these areas there is also a lot of awareness raised towards people for them to learn about the importance of taking care of these species, therefore in the future they can continue to grow without the need of conservation campaigns and live sustainably. The University of Georgia's Monteverde campus is a great area for species protection in Costa Rica, studying them and at the same time raising awareness about the importance to protect them. The UGA campus acts as a biological corridor and is working to expand its help towards native species.Around the early 1990s, many different biologists agreed that biological corridors were a very useful tool for increasing biodiversity and promoting the creation of large protected areas. Because of this they came up with the idea of an immense biological corridor that would connect the forests of southern Mexico to those of all the rest of Central America and eventually reach the Panama Canal, The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
Biological Corridors Product! A prezi made by our own students regarding biological corridors and Monteverde. In this presentation, the goal is to inform the public about the multiple uses of biological corridors and to present many of the ways in which ecosystems may benefit themselves from them.
How can the integrity and diversity of nature be conserved to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable?
The integrity and diversity of nature is essential for the survival of just about anything on Earth. In order to have an ecosystem that functions in a sustainable way, it is extremely important to have a big diversity in nature, because everyone depends on someone else in order to survive and accomplish their mission. Many measures are taken by people all around the world in order to conserve the diversity of nature and let it interact correctly. Nature is wise and it can function correctly by itself, but with the increase of human population it has been affected in a great way, considering the fact that people depend highly on some of natures species. Taking into account the fact that humans and nature cannot survive without the other, it is important to take care of our environment in order to prevent it from disappearing completely.One of the greatest measures taken for this is the creation of conservation parks. These are places were humans can interact with nature from afar while not interfering with its reproduction. On the other hand, when much of natures species are rapidly decreasing in population, it is important to create biological corridors and reserves to serve as a safe habitat for them to reproduce successfully. It is crucial to find a balance between humans and nature, while taking what's essential and necessary, but at the same time helping nature keep going, but for its and our sake.
Bibliography