Biodiversity Services Financing Biodiversity
In most discussions concerning the value of natural biodiversity services The topic of how to value what nature provides is well covered, but when it comes to placing actual monetary value on an acre, or a million acres of forest or wetland the topic is much less traveled. The safest figure is this: Whatever it takes!
The practical question that should be asked instead is: How do we finance the preservation of biodiversity?
One practical model that seems to be working well, and I say this at the risk of irritating some of my friends and colleagues, is the one carried out by “Ducks Unlimited” “Wetlands For Tomorrow“. Whether you like the idea of preserving wildlife for hunting and fishing, or not, you should remember, that it is preserving wildlife, and preserving biodiversity. Ducks Unlimited finances the purchase and preservation of wetlands through donations, and through the sale of goods. The money is used to buy wetlands, and pursue the restoration of natural biodiversity. A good example of such restoration is that after 100 years, the tide returns to Nisqually estuary through the efforts of the Nisqually tribe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ducks Unlimited. Other major funds were also provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U. S. E P A, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Nisqually Estuary project is just one of many such projects in which Ducks Unlimited participates.
There are other models for conservation of biodiversity, and we will present some of them in another post.
December 24, 2009
· 
james · 
One Comment
Tags: Biodiversity Services, financing biodiversity · Posted in: Biodiversity Services, financing biodiversity
Nobel Prize Winning Plant Scientist Dies at 95
We were saddened to learn of the death of one of the true heroes of our century, a man credited with saving more lives than anyone in human history, Norman Borlaug, whose work in plant science developed a strain of wheat which helped double the worlds food production between 1960 and 1990.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Texas A&M proffesor will be sorely missed.
September 13, 2009
· james · No Comments
Tags: Norman Borlaug, Plant Science · Posted in: Norman Borlaug, Plant Science
Plant Biodiversity Wildlife Biodiversity
Plant biodiversity has a direct effect on wildlife biodiversity
The loss of biodiversity in an area will, in almost every case, begin with the loss of botanical diversity. It is really pretty simple. The wildlife that inhabits a region will be there primarily because of the food supply and cover provided by native plants in that area. If the food supply and cover that they need to survive somehow changes, they will move on in search of “better pastures” so to speak.
It should be obvious that the native plants and native wildlife are well suited to each others needs, and that any disruption in the normal cycle which would change the plant makeup, would change the animal makeup as well.
Rapid loss of plant biodiversity
The loss of plant biodiversity can occur rapidly when construction, timber harvesting, forest fires, or other events take place.These activities may be necessary, or unavoidable, and often result in the recurrence of native populations at a different level of the natural cycle.
In the case of forest fires, some of this is natural, and will result in the natural resurgence of plant and animal populations in keeping with the cyclic nature of forests. If the forest has been allowed to go through these cycles under normal conditions without human intervention, the results will be profitable for the forest ecology. If man intervenes by preventing all fire in the understory, the result will eventually be massive fires, and massive destruction.
Slower loss of plant biodiversity
Whether you agree, or disagree about the results of rapid, large scale temporary loss of biodiversity, there is something that should be of concern to all of us, no matter where we live. That is the slow and insidious encroachment of non native invasive plant species. Plants which have long been staple food and cover plants for native animals, are disappearing slowly from their native homes, because of invasive plants from other areas. And as plant biodiversity goes, so goes wildlife biodiversity.
Non Native invaders growing with natives in a Tyler park
September 5, 2009
· james · One Comment
Tags: Biodiversity, plant biodiversity, wildlife biodiversity · Posted in: Biodiversity, plant biodiversity, wildlife biodiversity, Wildlife habitat
Non Native Invasive Landscape Plants
Each of the plants listed bellow, was once considered to be a harmless landscape plant. Unfortunately, many have migrated into the woodlands and are now having a negative impact on the native flora and fauna. The fruits and berries from these plants are not as nutritious as native plants, and native wildlife populations are negatively impacted.
Japanese silk tree
Asian Privet: close up of an invader
Chinaberry: An invasive Asian
Chinese Tallow: An attractive invasive
Sycamore: One of our largest invaders
Nandina Domestica
Catalpa: Prized by many fisherman for the worms that feed on the leaves
As these non native invaders advance through our forests, they push out the native species, by taking space that was once available to them.
September 3, 2009
· james · One Comment
Tags: Asian privet, Catalpa, Chinaberry, Chinese Tallow, Japanese Silk Tree, mimosa, Nandina, Sycamore · Posted in: Invasive plants, Invasive species, Non native plants
Biodiversity Services Biodiversity Information
Biodiversity Services Biodiversity Information | Burns Environmental
Burns Environmental specializes in environmental information and services related to conserving native habitats and related biodiversity issues. The services we provide involve the identification and elimination of non native species in local settings on residential, and commercial scales, and the establishment of dominate native species in the area. We provide information on a wide variety of related topics.
Burns Environmental Commercial Services
Preserving our communication lines, power lines, pipelines, transportation, water, and waterways is important for industry, home, recreation, and food supply. Preserving biodiversity in our forests, range lands, and waters is important to the health and continued function of our environment. See Commercial Vegetation Services for more details.
Burns Environmental Residential Services
We understand that not every habitat that needs management services is a giant forest or lake. For this reason, we are offering a smaller scale, home habitat help program for the management of what has come to be called “Backyard Habitats”. These are the same quality services we offer for larger projects, but scaled down for smaller areas, with more personalized help and service. These home, backyard habitat services are provided for those living in our East Texas service area. See Residential Habitat Services for more details.
Burns Environmental Information Pages
We have not forgotten that you might be interested in learning more about the subject of biodiversity and it’s effect on your environment, so we have provided information about why it is important to protect the worlds biodiversity, starting right in your own backyard. There are even tips on getting started on a backyard habitat on your own. See Burns Environmental Information pages for more details.
Burns Environmental Home
Non native Asian Privet invading East Texas
August 30, 2009
· james · No Comments
Tags: backyard habitats, biodiversity information, Biodiversity Services, commercial services, residential services · Posted in: Backyard habitat, Biodiversity Services, Habitat Management, Infrastructure services
Native habitats and evolving lawn and landscape cultures
Lawn Culture
Everyone loves a beautiful, freshly cut green lawn, well, almost everyone. More and more people are moving away from the traditional large grass covered areas, opting instead to use more trees, shrubs, and other plants, and they are “going native” with the varieties.
I suspect that this trend will continue, as water use restrictions and environmental laws begin to effect the amount of water available for lawn use, and the allowable nutrient “run off” produced by traditional lawn care. Certain lawn nutrients may eventually be severely restricted, particularly the amount of phosphorous, due to it’s negative effects on lakes, ponds and waterways. Such restrictions are inevitable unless we learn to self regulate. It is only a matter of time.
Most of our traditional lawn grasses are not native, and therefore require extra water and nutrients to thrive. While they do produce oxygen and process water fairly efficiently, the extra nutrients, pesticides, and other excesses may make them a less practical practice than in the past.
Landscape Cultures
Traditional landscapes, with their heavy use of exotic plants, are also losing favor. Most of these non native plants require more water, more fertilizer, and more insecticides than their native counterpoints.
There is also a biodiversity issue involved. Who would have ever suspected that so many of the popular landscape plants from the middle of the last century would have taken on the role of environmental terrorists? The Japanese Silk tree, commonly called Mimosa, the Chinaberry, the Chinese Tallow, and a variety of Asian privets are now more prevalent in our woodlands, than in the home lawns where they were once used as landscape plants. Thought to be safe, and non invasive at the time, they have now become a serious threat to native biodiversity throughout the lower half of the country. Which of the currently popular exotics will become problems? It is hard to know, but just because they do not appear to be invasive now, does not mean that they won’t gain a foothold later.
Why is this a problem?
When invasive species gain a foothold in our forests and waters, they tend to eliminate the native competition, much of which is needed to support native wildlife. If a native plant preferred by pollinators disappears, the pollinator may move on. This gives the non native an even stronger foothold. It also means that the insects which pollinate food crops may be gone as well.
Studies have shown that the nutrient value of most of the non native species is less than that of the native varieties, particularly for native wildlife. As these exotics take over more and more territory, the native wildlife populations sometimes get hungry, and move on. These are just a couple of the hundreds of reasons why biodiversity should be considered when devising a landscape strategy. It is not just an issue in some remote forest or jungle, it is a problem on the home front as well.
The Native Alternatives
The fact is, that our traditional ways of dealing with our outdoor habitats are responsible for a number of environmental problems such as water quality and biodiversity, and over use of pesticides. With growing awareness of these effects, many are choosing to take a different path.
Native Habitats
Native habitats, or, backyard habitats, are viable alternatives to traditional lawns and landscapes. Rather than imposing our will on the environment, we simply allow the native environment to do what it does best, with our assistance. In the long run, there is less fertilizer, water, and pesticide needed. The native varieties are acclimated to the native environments, and native soils, and are resistant to native pests. After the initial installation or modification, there is much less labor involved. It is a cheaper, easier, more environmentally friendly form of landscaping.
Invasive plants in East Texas
August 30, 2009
· james · 2 Comments
Tags: Add new tag, Landscapes, Lawns, Native habitats, Native landscapes · Posted in: Backyard habitat, Backyard habitat information, Biodiversity, Biodiversity and pest control, Environment, Exotic plants, Habitat, Habitat Management, Invasive plants, Landscapes, Lawns, Native habitat, Native landscapes, Native plants, Non native plants, Preserving biodiversity, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife habitat
Environmental Services | Preserving Biodiversity
Environmental Services | Preserving Biodiversity
One of the often overlooked areas of vegetation management, and it’s related environmental services, is it’s role in preserving the environment through preserving biodiversity. The biggest threat to our environment is the loss of native species, to species which are not native to our area. Good vegetation management practices help to keep our forests, lakes, and meadows native and diverse.
Major Cause: A smaller world
The world has become very small! International travel, the movement of people and goods from one place to another has made it so. Global travel has also made it possible for plants to move in and out of countries with relative ease. Many of these exotics find a new home, and some thrive beyond our normal abilities to control. If these plants, and often other life forms, are allowed to grow unchecked, they will eventually destroy all native vegetation in a region!
Biodiversity: Not just a rain forest issue.
Just as the destruction of large areas of forest lands in tropical areas destroys biodiversity in the area, the movement of some of these tropical plants into other countries can destroy the biodiversity of their new found home. Vegetation management has become a very important part of stopping this spread, and as the numbers escalate, will become even more important each day.
How this works.
In the world of physics, two objects can not occupy the same space and point in time. In the world of biology, the same rule holds true. One will gain dominance, and in the case of invasive exotic weeds and vines, one may dominate the entire ecosystem. When this occurs, the less competitive species may be completely eliminated from the environment and the area loses biodiversity.
Role of vegetation management.
The two major roles for vegetation managers are, the protection of the infrastructure, and preserving biodiversity.
JohnsonGrass was once thought to be good for cattle grazing
September 28, 2008
· james · No Comments
Tags: Biodiversity Services, Environmental services, Green services, Preserving biodiversity, Vegetation management · Posted in: Biodiversity, Biodiversity Services, Ecology, Environment, Environmental services, Exotic Vegetation Management, Green services, Infrastructure, Infrastructure management, Infrastructure services, Infrastucture, Preserving biodiversity, Vegetation management
Infrastructure Services | Protecting Infrastructure
Infrastructure Services | Protecting Infrastructure
What is infrastructure?
The Infrastructure is what we rely on to get the things we need to carry on business and daily life. It includes our transportation lines such as roadways, waterways, water supply, and rail lines, our industrial sites such as tank farms, and pole yards, and our utility lines, such as communication, and power transmission lines. In short it is the foundation on which our society functions!
The Invasive Nature Of Nature
Vegetation, contrary to our normal way of thinking, is not passive. It is extremely aggressive! If left untended in right of ways, it will encroach on asphalt and concrete roadways, and over time, make them disappear. Power and communication lines would be overgrown, grounded out, and brought down by trees and vines, and repairs would be next to impossible! Canals would become impassable, water delivery would be impeded. Modern life, as we know it, would come to an end!
Believe it or not, grass and weeds can eat asphalt and concrete! Trees can destroy power and communication lines, and even stop a speeding locomotive. Vines can climb poles and stop transmission of power and communication as well.
Lakes, rivers and canals can become clogged and impassable, water intakes for power plants, industry, and home use can become unusable, and all of this can be caused by uncontrolled vegetation. Uncontrolled vegetative growth uses inordinately high quantities of water and nutrients in farm and ranch lands, destroys crops, cattle range, and and reforestation. In many places, unmanaged vegetation is responsible for raging forest fires and other destruction of property and life, and provides a habitat for other undesirable creatures. In short, vegetation without some form of human intervention, destroys our infrastructure.
The need for vegetation management
Every right of way, whether highway, railroad, pipeline, electric delivery line, communications line, canal, and commercial waterway needs this service to get the things we need to our homes and places of work. Without this service, our asphalt roads would crumble, our power lines would be downed, and our communication would come to a grinding halt. Every major system in the United States would eventually fail! The two major roles for vegetation managers are, the protection of the infrastructure, and preserving biodiversity.
September 28, 2008
· james · No Comments
Tags: Biodiversity Services, Infrastructure, Infrastructure management, Infrastructure services, Protecting infrastructure, Vegetation management · Posted in: Biodiversity Services, Environment, Infrastructure management, Infrastructure services, Infrastucture, Preserving biodiversity, Vegetation management
Value of Natural Biodiversity Services
Biodiversity can seem to be a complicated issue. The seeming complexity can be furthered by oversimplification leading to misunderstanding at one point, and the exaggeration of the complexity at another. Nowhere is this more evident than in the valuation of biodiversity services.
Biodiversity services, that is, natural biodiversity services as opposed to human efforts to control aspects of the environment, are the services that nature in a given location supplies to itself. Included are such things as pollination, soil replacement, self fertilization, microbial activities for self composting, planting, and the self production of self sustaining fungal activities to name only a few. These activities themselves are dependent on the continued biodiversity of a given region. They are self sustaining only as long as each element in the environment remains intact, and productive.
Placing values on services provided by nature
Much is now being written on the valuation of the services, that is, the pricing of the services that nature naturally provides in sustaining itself, and the value it provides with regard to the effect of it’s continuation, or loss on the lives and productivity of human beings.
Following are a few of the elements that should be considered in this valuation:
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Food production benefits of preserving natural biodiversity services
As an example, consider that new crops for food production are being discovered on a fairly regular basis, and this needs to continue in order to meet growing global demands for food, and changing global climatic conditions. These are lessons that humans should have learned during the little ice age. As weather conditions change, crop viability changes as well, longer winters mean shorter growing seasons, requiring food crops which can be grown and harvested within those limitations.
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Biomedical benefits of preserving natural biodiversity services
Other considerations are such things as biomedical research. How do we place a specific value on a thousand acres of pristine forest with regard to the potential discovery of new material of value to human beings as it relates to human health, or discoveries of value to industry? This also reaches into the area of human health on other levels. A decrease in the numbers and varieties of available species to host a pathogen, may cause the pathogen to mutate in order to survive in another species, and a decrease in biodiversity may mean a decrease in the predators available to destroy disease carrying insects and vermin.
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Pest Control benefits of preserving biodiversity services
Preserving species has a direct impact on insect populations. It has been determined that 99% of crop destroying, and disease carrying insects can be controlled by natural predations, by such normal biological controls as birds and bats. This service, that nature provides free of charge, can be adversely altered by severe changes in a regions biodiversity.
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Shade and evapotranspiration which also helps to preserves local climates through water cycling.
The earths vegetation uses vast amounts of water, which are then transpired through foliage, and evaporate back into the atmosphere. This not only purifies the water, and cools the region, it also has an effect on regional weather patterns, some of which are needed for the local environments continued health and production.
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Water and air filtration.
We all know that plants “breathe” carbon dioxide, and “exhale” oxygen and water. Vegetation is our most efficient air scrubber, cleansing the air that is needed to support animal life, and storing away carbon.
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Breaking down of waste products and production of soil nutrients
The necessary ingredients for breaking down plant and animal wastes exist in abundance in nature, and are needed for continued soil nutrient production, as well as soil stability.
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Erosion control
The control of erosion on the planet is largely a function of plant life. Both the tops and the roots of vegetation prevent water from washing soil away. The quantity of rainfall on the earth each year is so high, that it could completely cover the worlds entire landmass. Regional vegetation is the most efficient control for the erosion that this huge quantity of water would otherwise cause.
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Crop and forest pollination
Both the pollen that is needed for pollinating crops and forests, and the creatures needed for performing the pollination are produced as a result of biodiversity. This process is necessary for the sustainability of crops and continuation of of the process. When invasive vegetation destroys the biodiversity of a region, the native pollinators may decide to leave the region to seek more appropriate vegetation.
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Replanting and plant migration
The diffusion of a plant species from an area of greater concentration, where it has less chance of getting the sunlight needed to grow to maturity, to an area of lesser concentration, where it can become established, to a great extent depends on the diverse animal life present. Mammals and birds in particular, help to spread seed to new locations. If the area lacks the diversity needed to maintain such species, they will move on. This, then leaves the plant species with little means of locomotion aside from wind and water.
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The value of nature for natural beauty
This is one of the truly undervalued aspects of the service that nature provides. It may be a little ethereal, but it is important psychologically. Imagine a world without it!
Sustaining sustainability
The primary concern should be the continuation of these services, without which all other potential gains are lost.
Preserving biodiversity for advancing science.
There are more reasons for preserving regional biodiversity than for discovering new medications and food crops. Even on this account, there is more than what we can glean at the present. Looking into the future, and the way that various localized species interact and evolve in a given set of parameters such as physical location, and micro climates, has much to offer. The current tools for scientific investigation, are themselves evolving, and as they evolve, supplying a consistent, purely native setting to study is very important.
In our quest for new and practical genetic material of interest, we need to remember the fact that if these areas do not remain stable in their biodiversity, future benefits will be lost. After all, what good would further advances in scientific methods do, if there were nothing left to study?
- From a practical stand point, what we must do, is identify the problems. In our ecosystem in the Southern United States, that will be invasive exotic species.
- We must Isolate the problem to prevent any further spread.
- We must eradicate the problem using the most effective means, with the least impact to the rest of the habitat.
- We must prevent future infestations.
Biodiversity services for preserving natural biodiversity services
Non native Asian Privet invading East Texas
September 28, 2008
· james · One Comment
Tags: Biodiversity Services, Environmental services, Green services, Natural biodiversity services, Preserving biodiversity, Valuing biodiversity services · Posted in: Biodiversity and pest control, Biodiversity Services, Ecology, Environment, Environmental services, Exotic plant migration, Exotic plants, Exotic Vegetation Management, Green services, Invasive species, Native habitat, Natural biodiversity services, Nature, Pest control, Preserving biodiversity, Valuing biodiversity services
Biodiversity Services
Biodiversity Services
Preserving biodiversity may be the major ecological and environmental issue of this century. Whether it is in the worlds rainforest regions, the Pacific Islands, Europe, Asia, Africa, or right here on the North American continent, in East Texas. Any species that cannot continue to exist due to fire, chainsaw, or even other, invasive plants, has the potential to have a major impact, both now, and far into the future. This is one of the few occasions where thinking globally, and acting locally, are the same thing! All biodiversity is local.
Large scale biodiversity protection and preservation projects are different than smaller scale, even neighborhood level projects mainly in scope. Both types are desperately needed. Local problems rarely stay local. They migrate much like the invasive exotics that sometimes cause them. Both the plants, and the problems move.
Often, drastic measures need to be taken to preserve local biodiversity. This involves the identification of invasive exotic species, and the elimination of such species to preserve the local biodiversity. We provide biodiversity services for this reason.
Our biodiversity services include the identification and elimination of non native exotic species, and revegetation with appropriate species if desired. We offer both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity services, ranging from small backyard habitats, to much larger commercial projects.
These services are provided for commercial and residential clients.
September 21, 2008
· james · One Comment
Tags: Biodiversity, Biodiversity Services, Ecology, Environment, Environmental services, Green services · Posted in: Biodiversity, Biodiversity Services, Ecology, Environment, Environmental services, Green services, Habitat Management, Non native plants