Eleanor J. Sterling

The Intersections of Biological Diversity and Cultural Diversity: Towards Integration

There is an emerging recognition that the diversity of life comprises both biological and cultural diversity. In the past, however, it has been common to make divisions between nature and culture, arising partly out of a desire to control nature. The range of interconnections between biological and cultural diversity are reflected in the growing variety of environmental sub-disciplines that have emerged. In this article, we present ideas from a number of these sub-disciplines. We investigate four bridges linking both types of diversity (beliefs and worldviews, livelihoods and practices, knowledge bases and languages, and norms and institutions), seek to determine the common drivers of loss that exist, and suggest a novel and integrative path forwards. We recommend that future policy responses should target both biological and cultural diversity in a combined approach to conservation. The degree to which biological diversity is linked to cultural diversity is only beginning to be understood. But it is precisely as our knowledge is advancing that these complex systems are under threat. While conserving nature alongside human cultures presents unique challenges, we suggest that any hope for saving biological diversity is predicated on a concomitant effort to appreciate and protect cultural diversity.

A systemic view of biodiversity and its conservation: Processes, interrelationships, and human culture

Historically, views and measurements of biodiversity have had a narrow focus, for instance, characterizing the attributes of observable patterns but affording less attention to processes. Here, we explore the question: how does a systems thinking view - one where the world is seen as elements and processes that connect and interact in dynamic ways to form a whole - affect the way we understand biodiversity and practice conservation? We answer this question by illustrating the systemic properties of biodiversity at multiple levels, and show that biodiversity is a collection of dynamic systems linking seemingly disparate biological and cultural components and requiring an understanding of the system as a whole. We conclude that systems thinking calls traditional views of species, ecosystem function, and human relationships with the rest of biodiversity into question. Finally, we suggest some of the ways in which this view can impact the science and practice of conservation, particularly through affecting our conservation targets and strategies.

Taxonomy and conservation of Vietnam's primates: a review.

Vietnam has the highest number of primate taxa overall (24–27) and the highest number of globally threatened primate taxa (minimum 20) in Mainland Southeast Asia. Conservation management of these species depends in part on resolving taxonomic uncertainties, which remain numerous among the Asian primates. Recent research on genetic, morphological, and acoustic diversity in Vietnams primates has clarified some of these uncertainties, although a number of significant classification issues still remain. Herein, we summarize and compare the major current taxonomic classifications of Vietnams primates, discuss recent advances in the context of these taxonomies, and suggest key areas for additional research to best inform conservation efforts in a region crucial to global primate diversity. Among the most important next steps for the conservation of Vietnams primates is a new consensus list of Asian primates that resolves current differences between major taxonomies, incorporates recent research advances, and recognizes units of diversity at scales below the species‐level, whether termed populations, morphs, or subspecies. Priority should be placed on recognizing distinct populations, regardless of the species concept in use, in order to foster the evolutionary processes necessary for primate populations to cope with inevitable environmental changes. The long‐term conservation of Vietnams primates depends not only on an accepted and accurate taxonomy but also on funding for on‐the‐ground conservation activities, including training, and the continued dedication and leadership of Vietnamese researchers and managers. Am. J. Primatol. 73:1093–1106, 2011.

Availability of formal academic programs in conservation biology in Latin America.

Latin America (in our analysis, Brazil and the Spanish-speaking countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico) holds a disproportionate fraction of the world’s biodiversity (Myers et al. 2000; Olson & Dinerstein 2002; Lamoreux et al. 2006). The region depends heavily on natural resource exploitation and has high rates of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss (WRI 2003; Hassan et al. 2005). Environmental challenges in Latin America are further complicated by a lack of conservation capacity-building opportunities that encompass many levels, audiences, and contexts (Bonine et al. 2003; Rodŕıguez et al. 2005, 2006; Chek et al. 2007). Despite long-standing educational initiatives in several Latin American countries, significant effort would be required to match the supply of formal conservation education in a country like the United States (Rodŕıguez et al. 2005). Here we present an assessment of formal programs in conservation biology, including graduate and undergraduate degree programs focused primarily on conservation and conservationrelated classes in broader biology or environmental sciences curricula. Our goals were twofold. First, we sought to provide a current database

Ecology and Conservation of Marine Turtles in a Central Pacific Foraging Ground

Abstract Foraging grounds are critical to the survival of marine turtles, yet studies of these areas lag behind those of nesting sites. Our study represents the first data and discussion on marine turtle distribution, abundance, and health at a marine turtle foraging ground in the central Pacific, Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, which constitutes a regionally important mixed-size-class foraging ground for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and, to a lesser extent, for hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). Surveys and anecdotal reports suggest that nesting activity is rare, and we have confirmed the presence of limited suitable nesting habitat. During in-water activities from 2008 to 2011, we caught 211 green turtles ranging from postpelagic juveniles to adults (weight: meanu2009u200a=u200au200944.6 kg, rangeu2009u200a=u200au20097.2–146.3 kg; curved carapace length (CCL): meanu2009u200a=u200au200969.7 cm, rangeu2009u200a=u200au200941.0–113.6 cm) and 2 juvenile hawksbills (weight2009u2009u200a=u200au200916.3 kg, CCL2009u2009u200a=u200au200957.0; weight2011u2009u200a=u200au200911.2 kg, CCL2011u2009u200a=u200au200950.5 cm). Body condition indices did not significantly differ by year of capture. These indices, along with the absence of observed fibropapilloma tumors, indicated that turtles at Palmyra Atoll were on average in very good condition. We also conducted 11 relative abundance surveys from 2005 to 2011, a subset of which revealed an uneven distribution of turtles around Palmyra Atoll with 3 hot spots of turtle abundance off the flats to the north, south, and east. By linking several aspects of our research program with similar efforts at foraging grounds throughout the Pacific Basin, we can further our understanding of poorly known regional migratory connectivity.

Building Capacity for Protected Area Management in Lao PDR

AbstractnDeclining biodiversity in protected areas in Laos is attributed to unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. At a basic level, an important need is to develop capacity in academic and professional training institutions to provide relevant training to conservation professionals. The paper (a) describes the capacity building approach undertaken to achieve this goal, (b) evaluates the effectiveness of the approach in building capacity for implementing conservation and (c) reviews implementation outcomes. Strong linkages between organizations implementing field conservation, professional training institutions, and relevant Government agencies are central to enhancing effectiveness of capacity building initiatives aimed at improving the practice of conservation. Protected area management technical capacity needs will need to directly influence curriculum design to insure both relevance and effectiveness of training in improving protected area management. Sustainability of capacity building initiatives is largely dependent on the level of interest and commitment by host-country institutions within a supportive Government policy framework in addition to engagement of organizations implementing conservation.n

Increasing the diversity of U.S. conservation science professionals via the Society for Conservation Biology.

MICHAEL J. FOSTER,∗ § MARY E. BLAIR,∗ †† CHANDA BENNETT,∗† NORA BYNUM,∗‡ AND ELEANOR J. STERLING∗ ∗Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, U.S.A. †New York Aquarium, 602 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224, U.S.A. ‡Office of Global Strategy and Programs, Duke University, Box 90036, 101 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC 27708, U.S.A.