Reference no: EM133191183 , Length: Word count: 7 Pages

Assignment Problem:

Conservation of Biological Diversity and Ecosystem Management for Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This assignment provides you with the opportunity to investigate the concepts and strategies related to the conservation of biological diversity in Part A; and ecosystem management for mountain gorillas in Part B.

Part A. Conservation of Biological Diversity:

Review Canada's Biodiversity Strategy and the associated government legislative mechanisms that relate to biodiversity conservation. Read the following topics and answer the following questions.

• Canada's Biodiversity Strategy
• International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List
• Canada Species at Risk Act (SARA)
• Canada SARA Recovery Program
• Manitoba Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act (MESEA)

Based on your research, answer the following:

Question 1: Describe (in your own words) five ways that humans have contributed to a higher rate of species extinction today.

Question 2: Contrast the classification systems that are used in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List, Canada's Species At Risk Act (SARA), and the Manitoba Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act (MESEA). How do these support biodiversity conservation?

Question 3: Describe how the peregrine falcon and polar bear are classified by each of the agencies in question 2. Why might there be differences in classification and how does this in itself benefit species conservation?

Part B. Ecosystem Management of Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi National Park

Download the document The Ecosystem Approach: 5 Steps to Implementation that has been developed by the IUCN (5 steps to ecosystem management). Review the document, paying particular attention to the 5 implementation steps.

Refer to the websites on Mountain Gorilla conservation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• Conservation for Whom?
• Gorilla Tourism
• Best Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Tourism
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Uganda
• Eastern Gorillas

Using the above information as your guide, note that the ecosystem approach was utilized to create a conservation strategy for mountain gorillas found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Answer the following:

Question 4: Where are Mountain Gorillas found in the world? What are their habitat requirements? What is their classification status and why?

Question 5: Step 1 of the Ecosystem Approach is to define the stakeholders and the area under consideration for the development of an ecosystem management plan. How was this done for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Question 6: Step 2 of the Ecosystem Approach requires that the ecosystem structure and function be described, and then applied to establish management objectives. Trace how the management objectives for Bwindi National Park were developed, and how the ecosystem features indicated below were included in the decision-making process. Why did the management objectives evolve and how do they now attempt to ensure the viability of mountain gorillas into the future:

• Mountain Gorillas
• The Food Web - primary producers, competitors and predators
• Human Resource Development - forestry, hunting, ecotourism