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