Kotarumalos, A. (2016, August 11). Indonesia Urged to Take Stern Action on Illegal Bird Trade.

Retrieved August 13, 2016, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/indonesia-urged-to-take-stern-action-on- illegal-bird-trade/2016/08/10/b86b00de-5f6f-11e6-84c1-6d27287896b5_story.html

Indonesia, especially Jakarta, is known for their illegal bird trade that includes close to 241 species of birds. Out of these birds, many s native to Indonesia and cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. Moreover, 28 of the species recorded to be found in this illegal trade are protected under the Indonesian law. The Indonesian conservation laws the consequence for selling these protected species are 5 years in prison and up to a 100 million rupiah or $7700. A wildlife trade group has been told Indonesia to take a stand against the problem at hand in order to stop the extinction of these rare creatures. The number of birds in these markets is very high, anywhere from 23,000 among 5 markets. It is crucial that Indonesia does something to stop this because they are home to more than 130 threatened bird species that could just as easily become extinct.

In this article it demonstrates how it is very important for every country to step up and take a role in saving the planet. Everywhere on Earth there are different ecosystems that are home to thousands of different species, known as endemic. In order to not allow for this grand biodiversity to slowly dwindle down, it is the job of everyone to do their part. In this case, Indonesia cannot just put in these laws in place, they need to truly enforce them for people know what they can and cannot do. It is surprising how heir is so much large scale, illegal trading in Indonesia that is not stopped, and seemingly does not have a near end.

Griffith University. (2016, February 18). Can Ecotourism save Endangered Species? Retrieved

August 16, 2016, from

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160218114837.htm

Ecotourism has been increasing every year, with more and more people visiting these protected areas, which has affected the locations in both positive and negative ways. The Griffith team has been studying the effects of ecotourism on endangered species using their own method. This uncharted study will allow for the conservation movement to know what type of effect ecotourism has. The team used an already known method, population viability models, where you estimate the populations based on birth and death rates, and applied it to their own model. They used this for 9 threatened species that included the cheetah and African penguin. They then used the ecological parameters and the converted ecotourism effects and found that 7 of the species had an overall positive effect due to private reserves, removal of predators, and many more conservation efforts. However, these are just a few animals and the effects vary based on many factors including the intensity of the ecotourism and the density of the species.
Ecotourism is one of the many efforts that places all around the world have been putting into place in order to conserve ecosystems and at the same time allow people to view the wildlife. Although this type of conservation can still have a negative effect on some species, it still allows for many to thrive and grow, while still allowing for people to explore their ecosystems. Also, ecotourism makes it so animals do not have to be taken out of their nature habitats, while simultaneously putting into place ways of helping them off the threatened species list. Although the outcome does not show all animals having positive effects, it is a step in the right direction and will help a species that really needs it.

Ecological Society of America. (2016, January 6). Science-driven Strategies for More Effective

Endangered Species Recovery. Retrieved August 16, 2016, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160106143036.htm

Throughout the 42 years that the Endangered Species Act has been put into place, it has put all of its efforts into conserving ecosystems and that within them. However, due to a large lack in funding from the US government, they have only been able to successfully recover and remove 32 species from the list. When Endangered Species Preservation Act (in place prior to the ESA) was established there were only 78 species, now, as of January 2016, there are 1,590 listed species, and even more waiting to be listed. Some of these animals are now reliant on the help from the ESA and at the same time with the lack of funds conservation has not been able to keep up with the changing world. In the series Issues in Ecology, Daniel Evans proposes several strategies in order to improve the works of the ESA. Some include using climate-smart conservation strategies, putting into place a system to prioritize funding for recovery for the listed species, and strengthening partnerships for species recovery.

In order to truly accomplish conservation, a key is to change policy in order to get everyone on board and have the knowledge about the world around them. It is important for people to know what is going on around them to acknowledge the fact that there is going to be a huge problem in the future if we do not start funding organizations like this whose sole purpose is to help save the species on our planet. It is surprising that the government has not been putting in the money necessary in order to save the species that are depleting due the actions of humans. Also, it is scary the increase in endangered species in the last 50 years, and I this continues there is going to be a large problem at hand.

University of Missouri-Columbia. (2016, August 10). Many Endangered Species Face Long

Waits for Protection. Retrieved August 13, 2016, from

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160810181029.htm

In 1973 the US congress put into place the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in order to try to conserve ecosystems and stop the extinction of animals and plants. The ESA is supposed to be able to process and list a new species after 2 years. However, researchers analyzed the average amount of time it took for species to be listed between January 1974 and October 2014, and it came out to be 12.1 years. There was further examined, and it was found that vertebrates went through the process faster than invertebrates and flowering plants. Not only did this evidence revel bias among the ESA, but it also greatly affects the outcome for the species. Species with a shorter wait time have a higher chance of survival and even recovery than those with longer who may even face extinction. This is demonstrated with the example of the Island Night Lizard whose wait time was 1.19 years and is now off of the endangered species list, in comparison to the Prairie Fringed Orchid that took 14.7 years to be listed and is still a threatened species.
This article demonstrates the large effects that people have on species if we do not do anything in order to protect them. The creation of the ESA was a step in the right direction in the conservation of ecosystems, but it also illustrates how fast species are becoming endangered and over time coming closer and closer to extinction. Every year that a species waits to be added to the list, more individuals begin to die and their habits continue to be invaded by humans or their effects. The protection of the ecosystems around the world is crucial because they are all connected in certain ways and are a part of different systems that help out the other species but also humankind. The process of adding animals to the list needs to be sped up in order to allow for as many species to survive and prosper.

Williams, S. (2016, June 5). Giant Pandas Could Soon Be Off the Endangered Species

List. Retrieved August 13, 2016, from http://www.care2.com/causes/giant-pandas-could-soon-be-off-the-endangered-species-list.html#ixzz4AnaxosBA

Since the mid-90s, Giant Pandas have been considered a species that is critically endangered, having, at one point, a population of less than 1000 individuals. However, in the years since then the Chinese government has been putting into place ways of conserving the essential species. They have made efforts by decreasing the number of bamboo trees that are cut down, promoting the mating process for the animals, and limiting the amount of poaching. These steps have allowed for the number of Giant Pandas to increase from what was once below 1,000 to around 1,864. This positive change has made the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reconsider whether this species should be changed from “endangered’ to “high risk of endangerment.” However, the IUCN that China may pay less attention to the conservation if the status is lowered.

This article demonstrates the effect people have on the populations of many species, in this case the Giant Panda. Over the years, we have been destroying their environment in order to benefit for ourselves. It took the near extinction of a necessary and iconic species to make us open our eyes to see that efforts we were doing in order to further our quality of life while simultaneously destroying theirs. Just like any animal, the Giant Panda is part of an ecosystem and once you hurt one part, it has a chain reaction of events that follow of its ecosystem. It is amazing that an animal who has been very rare and in danger of extinction is on a positive route. However, in my opinion, there should be more efforts done in order to slowly create an environment close to what it was before we began to invade.