We have seen that concern about loss of biodiversity spearheaded an interest in resource management directed at protecting species and habitats. In this chapter we will examine measures that are being taken to slow the earth's extinction rate.

Overview of options: Strategies for preventing extinctions

Only two basic approaches are available if we want to prevent extinctions - reducing or reversing the factors that trigger species' declines and assisting with recovery. Stemming the tide of species loss involves identifying the proximate causes of species declines and addressing them.

The most direct way to decrease mortality caused by people is to regulate exploitation. A decrease in harvest may also lead to an increase in reproductive rate, if young are taken or if exploitation inhibits reproduction. Of course, limiting harvest will only help populations in trouble if other factors causing mortality or limiting reproduction are also addressed.

This chapter describes direct methods that attempt to protect and restore populations in trouble. In addition, managers often attempt to decrease mortality and increase reproduction indirectly by protecting or restoring habitats. This is covered in Chapter 10.

Decreasing losses

Regulating exploitation

International agreements

In North America the first international agreement to regulate traffic in wildlife products was the Migratory Bird Treaty between the United States and Canada, which was first signed in 1916 (see Chapter 1). examples of international agreements to regulate exploitation of wild organisms are described below.