Conservation
Local extinctions mark a change in the ecology of an area.
The area of study chosen may reflect a natural subpopula, political boundaries, or both. The Cetacean Specialist Group of the IUCN has assessed the threat of a local extinction of the Black Sea stock of Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) which touches six different countries. COSEWIC, by contrast, investigate wildlife only in Canada, so assesses only the risk of a Canadian local extinction even for species which cross into the United States or other countries. Other subpopulations may be naturally divided by political or country boundaries.
Many crocodilian species have experienced localized extinction, particularly the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) which has been extirpated from Vietnam, Thailand, Java, and many other areas.
Often a subpopulation of a species will also be a subspecies. For example, the recent disappearance of the Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from Cameroon spells not only the local extinction of rhinoceroses in Cameroon, but also the global extinction of the Western Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis longipes).
In at least one case, scientists have found a local extinction useful for research: In the case of the Bay Checkerspot, scientists, including Paul R. Ehrlich, chose not to intervene in a local extinction, using it to study the danger to the world population. However, similar studies are not carried out where a global population is at risk.
Read more about this topic: Local Extinction
Famous quotes containing the word conservation:
“The putting into force of laws which shall secure the conservation of our resources, as far as they may be within the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, including the more important work of saving and restoring our forests and the great improvement of waterways, are all proper government functions which must involve large expenditure if properly performed.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
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—Aristide Briand (1862–1932)