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[edit] Precautionary Principle Assignment
[edit] Part A
1. Define each of the following terms in the environmental context (3 marks):
a) Precautionary Principle
The precautionary principle is the recognition of the need to make decisions to avoid serious harm to the environment, even when we do not have absolute scientific certainty as to whether inaction is sure to cause serious harm, or the extent of the harm itself. By the precautionary principle, in the presense of an identified hazard that we do no fully understand it is favourable to err on the side of caution, acknowleging that in our lack of scientific understanding we may have initially underestimated the risk.
b) Risk
The probability of harm to our environment or ourselves.
c) Prevention.
The taking of action to eliminate a known risk.
2. Is absolute scientific certainty possible? Briefly explain why you believe this to be the case. (1 marks)
In the environmental context, I do not believe absolute scientific certainty is possible. To achieve absolute scientific certainty, we would have to understand all the potential effects of an action on our environment. Because of the inherent complexity of our environment, and the variety and the complexity of interactions within our environment, and our lack of understanding of them, I do not believe we can account for all the potential effects of an action. Additionally, environmental impact is normally evaluated within the boundaries of a system. There is no absolute way to define the boundaries of a system, and there could be a large number of unforseen cross-system interactions.
3. For each scenario listed below, indicate whether it is subject to the application of the
precautionary principle or prevention. Briefly justify your answer (6 marks)
a) Climate Change/Global Warming.
Precaution. As global warming is already underway, and we don't know the extent of our role in it or our ability to affect the course of global warming, and considering the dire consequences of the wost case outcome of global warming, the combination of our values and our limited influence on this phenomenon should compel us to adopt a precautionary stance.
b) A new pesticide to control a pest species in corn.
Prevention. This pesticide has not yet been applied.
c) Construction of a new road through pristine habitat.
Prevention. Assuming the road itself is necessary, we can take steps in the construction of the road to minimise it's environmental impact, such as disrupting wildlife migration.
[edit] Part B
- Useful Internet sources:
- SARA Public Registry: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/the_act/default_e.cfm
- COSEWIC: http://www.cosewic.gc.ca
- Refer to the Internet sources listed above to answer the following questions regarding the
management and conservation of wildlife identified at risk. (Be sure to summarize information in your own words and to adequately reference as needed):
1. What is the Species At Risk Act (SARA) and how does it facilitate conservation and management of wildlife populations? What is the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and how does this COSEWIC support the mandate of the SARA?
SARA is an act created in June 2003 to protect and facilitate recovery of endangered species in Canada. It legally designates COSEWIC to identify species at risk (COSEWIC, 2006, COSEWIC and SARA), and protects those species and their habitat from hunting and other damage. SARA also sets high quality standards on the information used to support decisions affecting species at risk, and has created an openly accesible registry of species and their endangerment status (SARA, 2006, Summary).
COSEWIC is a body of experts, the purpose of which is to determine the endangerment status of Canadian wildlife. COSEWIC is independent from the Government of Canada. COSEWIC determines which species need to be assessed, performs the assesment, and categorizes species according the their risk of extinction, extirpation, or endangerment (COSEWIC, 2006, About COSEWIC: Mission). Species categorized as "at risk" are then submitted to the federal government, and protected under the provisions of SARA (COSEWIC, 2006, COSEWIC and SARA).
2. Define the following SARA designations. For each designation, identify a
representative species (provide the common name and the scientific name): (5 marks)
a. Extinct
"Extinct species" means a species that no longer exists in the wild anywhere on earth. Extinct: Sea Mink (Mustela macrodon)
b. Extirpated
"Extirpated species" are species that have disappeared from Canada, but still exist elsewhere in the wild. (SARA, 2006, Introduction). Example: Atlantic Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus)
c. Endangered
"Endangered species" are species that have almost become extinct or extirpated (SARA, 2006, Introduction). Example: Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
d. Threatened
"Threatened species" are species that will become endangered if steps are not taken to protect them (SARA, 2006, Introduction). Example: Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
e. Special Concern
"Species of special concern" means a wildlife species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats (SARA, 2006, Introduction). Species example: Rubber Boa (Charina bottae)
3. Why are "schedules" used in the SARA? How do these schedules relate to
COSEWIC’s mandate? (3 marks)
The schedules used in the SARA are official lists of endangered, extirpated, threatened, and "special concern" species.
Schedule 1 is the official list of species to be protected. COSEWIC recommends species for inclusion into Schedule 1 to the federal government. The federal government evaluates COSEWIC's recommendation, and makes a decision whether or not to include the species. (SARA: A Guide, 2006)
Schedule 2 is the list of species that COSEWIC listed as endangered, extirpated, or theratened, prior to the existence of the SARA, that need to be reassessed before inclusion into Schedule 1. Schedule 3 is a list of species that COSEWIC listed as special concern species prior to the existence of the SARA, that need to be reassessed before inclusion into Schedule 1 (SARA: A Guide, 2006).
COSEWIC will reasess species listed in schedules 2 and 3, and recommend their classification in Schedule 1 based on asessment results. Once included in Schedule 1, these species will be protected.
4. Throughout Part B, you should have identified several additional Internet sites during
your research. Provide two additional sources to those listed in Assignment 2 using
the appropriate referencing format. (2 marks)
"Canadian Wildlife Service National Site". (2006). Canadian Wildlife Service. Internet site. Accessed Nov 22, 2006. http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/index_e.cfm
"Fisheries and Oceans Canada". (2006). Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Internet site. Accessed Nov 22, 2006. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/home-accueil_e.htm
[edit] Part C
Useful Internet websites: Manitoba Wildlife Act: http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/wildlife/legislation/wildlife_act.html Hinterlands Who’s Who: http://www.hww.ca/index_e.asp NatureServe: http://www.natureserve.org/
Select a species from Manitoba which is not currently under the jurisdiction of the SARA. Answer the following questions relating to your chosen species:
1. Identify the agencies in the Province of Manitoba that are responsible for its
management. (3 marks)
I have chosen the Baird's Sparrow, a species endangered in Manitoba, as the species not listed in SARA. In Manitoba, the Baird's Sparrow is managed by the Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch of Manitoba Conservation.
2. Describe factors which may limit the species population and impact its habitat. (3 marks)
The Baird's Sparrow is limited foremost by the disappearing grassland habitat. Other factors limiting the Baird's Sparrow in Manitoba are pesticides negatively affecting their insect food source, as well as increased predation (Manitoba Conservation, 2006).
3. Develop a management strategy that would safeguard the status of your chosen species into the future. Justify the use of the precautionary principle, if applicable, in designing this strategy. Is the conservation of biological diversity important in your strategy? Explain why. (6 marks)
Since the Baird's Sparrow's decline in Manitoba is driven by disappearing habitat, one strategy would be to increase the habitat for this bird. While the Baird's Sparrow prefers long dry grasses, the bird is fickle as to the precise nature of the site it prefers (Wilson, 2006). This would necessitate a diverse range of dry grasses to provide adequate habitat for the sparrow. An added benefit would be an overall increase in ecosystem diversity.
I propose allocation of additional provincial preserve areas adjoined with existing wildlife reserves, where these dry grasses could grow undisturbed. Multiple varieties of native grasses could be introduced to different parts of these areas, to allow for a variety of habitat. As pointed out by the Manitoba Conservation Baird's Sparrow brochure, grazing agriculture typically uses less pesticides than crop cultivation (Manitoba Conservation, 2006), so it would benefit to designate these habitat areas near grazing lands.
Increasing ecosystem diversity is an important factor in my strategy. Diversity of grasses is key to attracting the Baird's Sparrows to the habitat area in the first place. In turn diversity of grasses will benefit from a diverse set of insect, small animal, and amphibian species. These goals can be promoted by locating the habitat areas near existing forest reserve areas to take advantage of species already present there.
Manitoba Conservation. (2006) "Manitoba’s Species At Risk: Baird’s sparrow". Online. <http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/wildlife/managing/pdf/bairds_sparrow.pdf>.
Bill Wilson. (2006). "Baird's Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) Species Profile". Online. Retreived Nov 22, 2006. <http://weaselhead.org/profile/index.php?s=307>
[edit] Works Cited
"About COSEWIC: Mission" [2006]. COSEWIC. Internet Website. Accessed Nov 22, 2006. http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/
"COSEWIC and the Species at Risk Act" [2006]. COSEWIC. Internet Website. Accessed Nov 22, 2006. http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/
"Species At Risk Act Public Registry: The Act, Summary". [2006]. Species At Risk Act Public Registry. Internet Website. Accessed Nov 22, 2006. http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/the_act/HTML/Content_e.cfm
"Species At Risk Act Public Registry: The Act, Introduction". [2006]. Species At Risk Act Public Registry. Internet Website. Accessed Nov 22, 2006. http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/the_act/HTML/Content_e.cfm
"Species at Risk Act: A Guide". [2006]. Species At Risk Act Public Registry. Internet Website. Accessed Nov 22, 2006. http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/the_act/HTML/Guide_e.cfm
