Summary.
There is an urgent need to test some of the central theories in biodiversity
conservation. Field experiments need to be done to see if the conservation
strategies for different taxa are convergent or divergent, and the circumstances
for different outcomes. This would entail GIS studies on distribution, detailed
investigation of biologies, habitat requirements, population parameters, and
familiarity in all conservation problems and possible solutions. There is an
need to investigate real landscape level problems in a realistic manner,
integrating biodiversity conservation issues with economic and sociological
needs in well defined circumstances. Optimization of strategies need to be
explored, along with actual decision making with respect to the allocation of
land and resources. British Columbia leads the way in some of this land and
resource decision making in Canada, and has an excellent GIS data base on
ecosystems and landscape features. However, as elsewhere in Canada, there is a
lack of cross taxa comparisons with respect to biodiversity conservation
decision making. This chair would fill this void, and bring new tools and new
approaches to this important and somewhat controversial field.
Proposal.
A chair in biodiversity conservation would strengthen current efforts to conserve biodiversity in Canada, and would position UBC to lead in this field in British Columbia, Canada and internationally. This position would link with one in Biosystematics at this Centre and another in the Centre for Applied Conservation Biology, Faculty of Forestry.
Following the passage of the Interaction Convention on Biodiversity in 1992, and the subsequent ratification of this United Nations legally binding treaty, the Government of Canada has been working towards an improved protective framework for conserving biodiversity. The Canadian Biodiversity Strategy calls for a central thrust in education and research, and calls for active participation from the academic community.
Biodiversity is at the centre of public attention. There is a great need to understand its role in our environment and there is still very little known about its function. We lack a central thrust in field testing of some of the central theoretical issues. Field experiments are needed to see if the conservation strategies for different taxa are convergent or divergent, and the circumstances for different outcomes. This would entail GIS studies on distribution, detailed investigation of biologies, habitat requirements, population parameters, and familiarity in all conservation problems and possible solutions. There is an urgent need to investigate real landscape level problems in a realistic manner, integrating biodiversity conservation issues with economic and sociological needs in well defined circumstances. Optimization of strategies need to be explored, along with actual decision making with respect to the allocation of land and resources.
British Columbia leads the way in some of this land and resource decision making in Canada, and has an excellent GIS data base on ecosystems and landscape features. However, as elsewhere in Canada, there is a lack of cross taxa comparisons with respect to biodiversity conservation decision making. This chair would fill this void, and bring new tools and new approaches to this important and somewhat controversial field.
We recommend a broad search for an excellent scientist with biodiversity research expertise, and interest in the above-mentioned area of investigation. Field testing methodology and time frame suggests that an invertebrate biologist with specialization in either entomology or marine biology would be best suited for this position.
The individual hired for this
position should be willing to take an active role in the Centre for Biodiversity
Research, and collaborate with researchers in the Centre for Biodiversity
Research, and the Centre for Applied Conservation Biology. It is anticipated
that the biological collections in Botany and Zoology would be essential
reference for the research entailed.