Conservation Biology (eBook)

Fred Van Dyke is a professor of biology at Wheaton College (Illinois). He has previously served on the faculties of Northwestern College (Iowa) and the Au Sable Institute for Environmental Studies, as a wildlife biologist for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, as a scientific and professional consultant to the U. S. National Park Service, the U. S. Forest Service, the Pew Charitable Trust, and to various private environmental and conservation consultants. He is the author of numerous publications on animal home range and habitat use, management and conservation of animal populations, management of successional processes to conserve habitat, and conservation values and ethics.

1. The History and Distinctions of Conservation Biology. 1.1 Perspectives and Questions for an Inquiry into Conservation Biology. 1.2 The Origins of Conservation. 1.2.1 Conservation in Historical Context. 1.2.2 Cultural Foundations of Conservation. 1.2.3 Conservation as Expression of Privilege. 1.2.4 Conservation as Right Relationship with Nature - The Arcadian Vision. 1.2.5 Conservation as Knowledge – The Invitation to Study and Appreciate Nature. 1.2.6 Conservation to Save Species – Origins of the First Conservation Organizations. 1.2.7 Conservation as Preservation of Landscape – The Washburn Expedition Goes to Yellowstone. 1.3 Intellectual Foundations and History of Conservation in the United States. 1.3.1 Conservation as Moral Mission – John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt. 1.3.2 'Scientific Conservation' through Sustained Yield –Moral Mission Gives Way to Utilitarian Purpose. 1.3.2.1 The Federal Government Empowers Conservation as Science and Democratic Ideal. 1.3.2.2 German Influences in Conservation – Forest. Monocultures and Maximum Yields. 1.3.2.3 The Rise of the Resource Conservation Ethic. 1.3.2.4 Aldo Leopold and the Formation of the 'Wilderness Ideal' in Conservation. 1.4. The Emergence of Global Conservation – Shared Interests Lead to Cooperation. 1.4.1 Multilateral Treaties – The Beginnings of International Conservation Efforts. 1.4.1.1 Conservation Driven by Shared Commercial Interests. 1.4.1.2 International Protection of Migratory Species. 1.4.2 Forums for International Conservation – the United Nations and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. 1.5 Conservation in the Developing World: New Expressions of Resource Management, National Parks and Nature Preserves. 1.6 Return to Start: What Is the Place of Conservation Biology in the World Conservation Effort? 1.6.1 The Emergence of Conservation Biology from the Applied Sciences. 1.6.2 Conceptually Distinctive Characteristics of Conservation Biology.1.7 Synthesis.- 2. Values and Ethics in Conservation. 2.1 What Does Science Have to Do with Value? 2.1.1 Avoiding the Absurd – Being Self-Aware of Values in Conservation Decisions. 2.1.2 Recognizing Management Actions as Value Judgements. 2.1.3 Values and Ethics – Definitions and Initial Assessments. 2.2 The Problem of Categories: How Do We Classify Different Kinds of Conservation Values? 2.2.1 An Overview of Value Categories. 2.2.2 Instrumental Values. 2.2.2.1 General Considerations. 2.2.2.2 Determining Attitudes with Sociological Surveys. 2.2.2.3 Tools of Economic Valuation: Cost-Benefit Analysis, Safe. Minimum Standard Criteria, and Contingency Valuation Analysis. 2.2.2.4 Contingent Valuation Analysis. 2.2.2.4.1 Willingness to Pay. 2.2.2.4.2. Willingness to Accept Compensation. 2.2.2.5 Criticisms of Contingent Valuation Analysis. 2.3 The Problem of Moral Value: Assigning Intrinsic Values in Conservation. 2.3.1 Where Does Intrinsic Value Reside? 2.3.2 Ecocentrism as a Basis for the Intrinsic Value. 2.3.3 Intrinsic Value in the Judeo-Christian Tradition. 2.3.4 Other Western Religious Traditions - Islam. 2.3.5 Eastern Religious Traditions and Conservation – Hinduism and Buddhism. 2.3.5.1. Hinduism. 2.3.5.2 Buddhism. 2.3.6 Practical Implications – Faith-based Organizations in Conservation. 2.3.6.1 'Goal Rational' Versus 'Value Rational' Conservation. 2.3.6.2 Jewish and Christian FBOs. 2.3.6.3 FBOs in Islam. 2.3.6.4. Conservation Activism in Hinduism. 2.3.6.5. Conservation FBOs in Buddhism. 2.3.6.6 Future Roles and Contributions of FBOs in Global Conservation. 2.4 The Problem of Practice: Do Conservation Values Require Conservation Virtues? 2.4.1 The Problem of Plastic Trees. 2.4.2 From Values to Virtues: Virtue-based Ethics in Conservation. 2.4.3 What Are Appropriate Conservation Virtues? 2.5 Orphaned Orangutans – Ethical Applications in Conservation. 2.6 Synthesis.- 3. The Legal Foundations of Conservation Biology.