Post on 29-Jan-2016
Getting Started withEvolutionary Conservation
Julian Ashbourn
What is Evolutionary Conservation?
• A methodology for monitoring our world• Taking evolutionary processes into consideration
• Acknowledging the interconnectedness of nature
• Accommodating both spatial and temporal domains
• A complete operational system• Includes templates and classifications
• Includes a working database
• May be used by anyone
• Enables collaboration and coordination across boundaries
Why is it Important?
• Current conservation initiatives remain uncoordinated
• None encompass a comprehensive evolutionary understanding
• None encompass an understanding of interconnections and dependencies
• Our understanding of the broader scenario is consequently limited
• We desperately need such a methodology
How Does it Work?
• The fundamental concept lies in the systematic collection and coordination of information in a defined and equivalent manner across boundaries of both geography and culture
• It is based upon standard classifications and mechanisms and includes appropriate tools
• The Evolutionary Conservation system may easily be used by everyone, from Earth scientists, to school students and local communities
The Components
• The Evolutionary Conservation system comprises of the following components• The Ecogram
• The Classification System
• The Summary Statement
• The Evolutionary Conservation database
• The Species Log
• The Poaching Log
• Field and operational guidance
• All of which is freely available to everyone
The Ecogram
• The Ecogram is the heart of the EC system• Divided into logical sections
• Metadata
• Dynamic data
• Specific data
• Allows for a comprehensiveview of an area to be created
• Revised every year in order totrack evolutionary development
• Easily completed with littletraining required
The Classification System
• An extensible classification system• Brings consistency todata collection
• Divided into sections• Habitats• Environmental factors• Physical properties• Dependencies
• Uses a series of codesfor commonality
• Used in conjunctionwith the Ecogram
The Summary Statement
• Provides an annual summary of a given area
• Builds year on year tocapture evolutionary trends
• Becomes part of a biggerevolutionary picture
• Registered in the database
• Informs conservation thinkingand associated initiatives
The Database
• Collects and coordinates regional data
• Provides an annual big picture perspective
• Tracks evolutionary trends• Used at every level
• Produces reports
• A unique perspective
• Scientifically valid
• Informs conservation
• Centralised administration
The Species and Poaching Logs
• Additional requested field components• An example of the extensibility of the EC system
• Provided in easily used spreadsheet form
• Valuable and practical tools for conservationists
The Operational Guidance
• A good deal of operational guidance is provided• A Short Introduction to Evolutionary Conservation
• The Evolutionary Conservation User Guide
• An Overview of the EC Database
• Naming Conventions
• Why We Need Evolutionary Conservation
• And more…
• All documents are freely available
A More In Depth View
• The Evolutionary Conservation Book• Provides full coverage of the ECmethodology and how to use itin the field
• Provides data collection andmanagement guidance
• Provides an in depth overviewof conservation
• Readily available on line or fromyour favourite bookstore
• ISBN: 978 -1500934410
Over to You
• The methodology has been created and tested
• All the components are in place
• There is no cost to entry
• Anyone may participate• Scientists
• Universities
• Schools
• Government agencies
• Communities