3.
3 Conservation and Regeneration
Topic 3: Biodiversity and Conservation
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Possible Engagement Activities (CAS)
● Investigate the role of an NGO in a conservation project.
● Visit a rewilding project or protected area and raise awareness about the
project.
● Volunteer in a local conservation project, for example, in the removal of an
invasive species or putting up bird boxes.
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Estimated Time: 6 hours (+4 at HL)
Guiding Question:
How can different strategies for
conserving and regenerating
natural systems be compared?
How do worldviews affect the
choices made in protecting
natural systems?
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Arguments for Species and Habitat Preservation
Aesthetic
● Appreciation of the beauty of an area
Economic arguments often involve:
● valuation of ecotourism
● valuation of the genetic resource
● commercial considerations of the natural capital
Ecological reasons may be related to:
● ecosystem services
Ethical arguments are very diverse and can include:
● the intrinsic, relational or instrumental value of the species
Social arguments:
● importance of goods and services for the well-being of
humans
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Species-based Conservation
Species-based conservation tends to involve ex-situ strategies,
and habitat-based conservation tends to involve in-situ
strategies.
ex-situ measures include:
● botanic gardens
● zoos
● the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
● seed banks
in-situ measures include:
● use of national parks
● reserves and sanctuaries
You should know two examples of ex-situ measure and two
examples of in-situ measures.
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
A Mixed Approach
Sometimes a mixed conservation approach is
adopted, where both habitat and particular
species are considered.
The mixed approach usually invokes flagship
and/or keystone species to justify the need to
conserve intact habitats and landscapes.
You should know an example of a mixed
approach where the emphasis of in-situ
measures is on a particular species, for
example, the Chengdu Research Base of
Giant Panda Breeding.
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a UN
treaty addressing both species-based and
habitat-based conservation.
The objective of the CBD is to develop national
strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of
biological diversity. It further aims to identify protected
marine areas outside of national jurisdictions.
It also includes the Nagoya Protocol, which promotes
the fair and equitable sharing of genetic resources.
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Habitat Conservation Strategies
Habitat conservation strategies protect species by
conservation of their natural environment. This may
require protection of wild areas or active
management.
You should know
● one example of a habitat where active
management has been required and
● one example of the establishment of an
ecosanctuary using pest-exclusion fencing.
Surrounding land use for the conservation area and
distance from urban centres are important factors
for consideration in conservation area design.
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Conservation Needs an Understanding of the Biology
Effective conservation of biodiversity in nature reserves
and national parks depends on an understanding of the
biology of target species and on the effect of the size and
shape of conservation areas.
You should understand edge effects and the importance
of wildlife corridors for connectivity.
You should know an example of a UNESCO biosphere
reserve with high biodiversity and species of international
conservation importance, including the designation of an
appropriate area for conservation, potential human
impacts and management strategies.
The concept of a pristine core, surrounded by buffer
zones and outer transition zones that are sustainably
managed should be understood.
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Natural Ecological Processes can be Regenerated
Natural processes in ecosystems can be regenerated by
rewilding.
Rewilding methods should be considered:
● reintroduction of apex predators and other
keystone species
● re-establishment of connectivity of habitats over
large areas
● cessation of agriculture and resource harvesting
● minimization of human influences including by
ecological management.
An example, such as Hinewai Reserve in New Zealand
or any other appropriate rewilding project such as Knepp
in the UK or a local example should be considered.
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Conservation and Regeneration
Conservation and regeneration measures can
be used to reverse the decline in biodiversity to
ensure a safe operating space for humanity
within the biodiversity planetary boundary.
Measures can be taken to conserve and
regenerate biodiversity at individual, collective,
national and international levels.
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Environmental Perspectives and Values
Environmental perspectives and value systems can impact the
choice of conservation strategies selected by a society.
The success of conservation and regeneration measures depend on
incorporating a diversity of approaches, including
● community support
● adequate funding
● education and awareness
● appropriate legislation
● scientific research.
Environmental justice should be considered.
More ecocentric perspectives may approach conservation for the
intrinsic value of biodiversity and so focus on low-intervention in situ
strategies;
More anthropocentric/technocentric perspectives may be driven by
the economic, societal value of biodiversity and thus embrace more
scientific interventions involving zoos, gene banks and ecotourism.
© Zoe Badcock, 2025
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
