Managing Ecosystems
This lesson covers:
- Sustainable agricultural practices
- The principles and impacts of ecotourism
- Case studies of balanced ecosystem management
- Case studies of ecosystem management in environmentally sensitive ecosystems
Making agriculture more sustainable
Farming practices can be adapted to boost productivity while ensuring the sustainability and reduced environmental impact of agriculture.
Sustainable agriculture techniques:
- Improving irrigation and fertiliser use to increase yields sustainably.
- Avoiding monocultures with multiple cropping, which is when many crops are grown in one place to avoid nutrient depletion.
- Growing nitrogen-fixing crops to replenish soil fertility.
- Using biotechnology to create crop varieties that are resilient to abiotic and biotic challenges.
- Rotating livestock grazing to give vegetation time to recover (semi-nomadic farming).
Principles and impacts of ecotourism
Ecotourism is type of tourism directed towards natural environments to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife, aiming to reduce the impact that tourism has on natural environments.
Key features of ecotourism:
- Prevent exploitation of natural environment and local communities.
- Engage local communities in development plans.
- Ensure local people, as well as visitors, benefit from infrastructure improvements.
Nonetheless, ecotourism can impact habitats negatively through repeated trail use and vehicle transit. This can increase the rate of soil erosion and other habitat changes.
Balancing conservation and livelihoods
Protected ecosystems can be managed to support both preservation and human needs, through agreements that balance usage and protection.
| Case study | The ecosystem | Conflict | How the conflict is resolved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepalese-Indian Terai Arc | Forest and grasslands bordering Nepal and India, home to endangered species like the Bengal Tiger and Asian elephant. | Development is destroying sections, increasing human-wildlife conflict. | WWF aided residents with clean energy and mint barriers around farms to resolve needs, helping to conserve forests. |
| Kenyan Maasai Mara | Grassland (savannah) reserve in Kenya, with populations of wildebeest, zebra, lions, and cheetahs. | Grazing livestock in Mara grasslands, disturbing zebras and big cats. | Groups aid ecotourism and sustainable livestock rearing so livelihoods and wildlife are sustained. |
| UK upland peat bogs | Peat bogs are carbon sinks that store water and carbon dioxide, host high biodiversity, and help to prevent flooding and erosion of surrounding land. | Use for grazing causes erosion and disturbs peat bogs. | Stewardship payments fund sustainable grazing and conservation to maintain water levels, ensure peat is undisturbed, and remove seedling trees to serve both interests. |
Human impacts on environmentally sensitive regions
Environmentally sensitive ecosystems lack the resilience to withstand ecological changes caused by human activity.
Potential human impacts on sensitive ecosystems:
- Reduced biodiversity
- Soil contamination, for example with introduced plant species threatening local plant survival
- Pollution, particularly of seas and other water bodies with waste
- Resource exploitation, including hunting and fishing of local species
- Climate effects, such as ozone depletion in the Antarctic
Protective measures for environmentally sensitive ecosystems
There are several different protective measures that can be put in place to conserve environmentally sensitive ecosystems.
Protective measures may include:
- Limited access for tourists
- Restrictions on migration and introduction of non-native organisms, including livestock
- Anti-poaching enforcement
- Replanting programmes for native plants
- Hunting quotas and bans
- Protected area designation and management
The following table shows some examples of case studies of environmentally sensitive ecosystems, the effects of human activities, and some methods of control that have been used to prevent potential negative impacts.
| Case study | Effects of human activities | Methods of control |
|---|---|---|
| Galapagos Islands | Non-native species endanger native wildlife. | Eradication and visitation rules now mitigate harm from non-native species. |
| Antarctica | Pollution and overhunting affects Antarctic wildlife. | Regulations on waste, sewage, hunting, and oil, alongside fishing limits, provide conservation. |
| UK national parks (e.g. Lake District and Snowdonia) | Excessive foot traffic damages native plant species, causes soil erosion, and disturbs the pH of water sources due to soil run-off. | Path maintenance and drainage, along with public education. |