Students are expected to give basic definition of the ecosystem approach. With suitable example explain how ecosystem approach work for conservation.
Introduction
The Ecosystem Approach puts people and their natural resource use practices squarely at the centre of decision-making. Ecosystem Approach can be used to seek a balance between the conservation and use of biological diversity.
Body
The ecosystem approach allows a holistic view of how components work together, in other words, it can incorporate human dimensions into biosphere functioning.
It also helps define the temporal and spatial scale of management, and thus, is a multidisciplinary approach in order to deal with complexities of ecosystem function and usage.
For example conservation of wetland with help of Ramsar convention like ‘Wise use’ of wetlands is the maintenance of their ecological character, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches.
Diversity conservation with Biological Diversity Act, 2002 it secures sharing of benefits with local people as they are conservers of biological resources and enhance the conservation practices.
Soil conservation with Organic practices such as crop rotations, inter-cropping, symbiotic associations encourage soil fauna and flora, improving soil formation and structure and creating more stable systems.
Specifically the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) implementing the new strategies gradually with the already existing rules and regulation. It could generate substantial income; as well as, improve the fragile ecosystem of aquarium species.
Conclusion
Ecosystems are an undervalued commodity in the current economic model and process of political decision making. There is need for a more change where human society places the conservation and sustainable management of ecosystems and the services they provide at the heart of decision making.
