Biodiversity and Conservation

The role of conservation

An empty park bench sits between two pine trees in a forested area

Conservation is the protection and preservation of biodiversity through management and the mitigation of threats. It is the primary tool we have to avoid the negative effects of biodiversity loss.

Conservation requires:

  • Sustainable policy, resource management and production levels
  • Mindful, planned development
  • Reduction and careful disposal of pollutants
  • Invasive species prevention and removal
  • Remediation of damaged ecosystems

Explore conservation efforts in New Brunswick:

Reflection

Please take a few minutes to write and answer the provided reflection questions. A good response is usually a minimum of five sentences.

We strongly recommend that you:

  • Keep a reflection notebook, log, or journal and save a copy of your reflection in it
  • Share and discuss your response with others
  • If you are completing this module as part of a class or workshop, you will likely be discussing your reflection as part of a group activity.

If you are completing this module alone, try finding a group of interested friends or colleagues to discuss your reflections with.

  • Think of your favourite food. How many species do you think are involved in making it? Which of the biodiversity threats discussed in this module would threaten this food?
  • Think of a place that you have lived in or visited frequently over the years. Describe any changes in which species you’ve observed and in what numbers, or in how they appear or behave. Be sure to consider and describe changes you’ve noticed for three species.
  • Thinking about your responses, what are three possible actions you could take to help with the conservation of these species?

A close up image of an orange marigold flower

Biodiversity conservation actions that you can take

There are many ways to help protect biodiversity, and preventative measures that you can take to minimize your negative impact.

There are many ways to support local ecosystem health with thoughtfully placed gardens. Here are some examples:

  • Pollinator garden: Pollinators are animals which transfer pollen between plants. They are essential for the reproduction of many species, including food crops. Pollinator gardens provide pesticide-free native plants to provide resources to animals, who in turn provide resources to us.
  • Rain garden: a rain garden is landscaped to form a basin, designed to retain stormwater. Not only is this a great home for water-loving plants, it helps to capture harmful chemicals that may otherwise flow into aquatic and marine ecosystems.
  • Reforestation: Reducing manicured lawns in favor of forests has many ecosystem benefits. Trees sequester more carbon, produce more breathable oxygen, and hold soil and water in place better than grass. Forests provide habitat to many New Brunswick species.

  • Ensure swimwear, boats, and other items which entered a body of water are appropriately clean before entering a separate body of water to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic species. Likewise for land-based activities, clean your shoes, clothes, pets and equipment before traveling.
  • Buy and burn firewood local to the area that you are in. Moving wood risks spreading invasive forest pests across the province.
  • Keep cats indoors and never release pets (fish, turtles, rabbits, etc.) into the wild. Surrender unwanted animals to shelters or local interest groups.
  • Remove and safely dispose of invasive plants. Be sure to learn the proper procedure to avoid unintentionally spreading the plant further or injuring yourself. Giant Hogweed, a common invasive species in New Brunswick, can leave chemical burns.

  • Get involved with environmental organizations to participate in conservation activities. Various environmental, wildlife and watershed non-profits offer volunteer programs or membership.
  • Organize a clean-up to remove litter from the environment.
  • Participate in citizen science. Learn to identify species, and report sightings to specialized online databases which help researchers track things such as species distribution and ecosystem conditions. 

Environmental organizations involved in conservation in New Brunswick


Conclusion

In this module, you learned about the value and importance of biodiversity, including its connections to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. We explored what ecosystem services are and their importance.

We also looked at some common threats to biodiversity and why it is important that we mitigate these threats through conservation, along with some ways you can support biodiversity conservation in New Brunswick. You also had an opportunity to reflect on how biodiversity and conservation intersect with your own life.

Resources




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