Conservation Education Board

The **Conservation Education Board** is an education building that can be built in *Planet Zoo*.

## Description

Conservation signs are used to provide education to the guests about specific conservation topics.

You can add your own static images (.png, .jpg, .bmp, .tiff,. tga) or videos (.webm> to My Documents/Frontier Developments/Planet Zoo/User Media.

Guests will use a sign by stopping at it and reading its contents, the location of the sign is not important to its function and the sign cannot be improved through research. Guests that read the sign will have their education level boosted.

Conservation signs must be powered and placed on paths to work.

## Conservation Topics

##### Amphibian Extinction Crisis

* Since the 1980s there has been a rapid decline in amphibian population size and many local extinctions of species. The rate of biodiversity loss of amphibians is dramatic and thought to be caused by a combination of factors, including disease, habit loss, invasive species, pollution and pesticides. Research of amphibian ecology over the past 30 years discovered some alarming results: 32% of amphibian species are under threat and 43% are in decline, many of which have been declared extinct in recent years. The extinction crisis is a symptom of various other conservation issues such as climate change, deforestation, habitat destruction and population fragmentation. As a result of this, amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates. In terms of public awareness of global conservation topics, the amphibian crisis is relatively unknown and the first signs of a problem were met with skepticism. This has meant that reaction has been slow - the impact of this is that the biodiversity loss has reached such a crisis level that it is thought that many amphibian species will not survive or recover without assistance. To prevent this, many species have now been introduced into zoos and captive breeding programs in hopes of conserving them.   Amphibian conservation and research groups are raising awareness of the problem while also protecting vulnerable species where possible. The mountain yellow-legged frog, which lives in the mountains of Nevada, USA, is a good example. The species is adapted to live in high-altitude rivers, lakes and streams where there are no natural aquatic predators. However, humans have introduced trout to the mountains for game purposes; the trout prey upon frogs and tadpoles and have caused a huge drop in population. This in turn has caused many local extinctions, with complete extinction expected to follow if nothing is done. The local group Centre for Biological Diversity has campaigned for the frogs and their habitat to be protected, which is now beginning to be enforced. However, there is a long way to go if the yellow-legged frog populations are to recover.

##### **Bee Population Decline**

* Research suggests that the last decade has seen a significant decrease in the number of bee colonies worldwide. This has devastating implications for agriculture, which relies on bees for pollination.    Bees are vital to humans; an instrumental part of the plant pollination process that provides us with food. Honeybees are especially significant because they are what are called ‘faithful’ pollinators, meaning they often stick to one species of flower until it stops flowering. This increases the chance of the right pollen fertilizing the correct species of flower.    An alarming trend in bee colonies over the last 10 to 15 years is the high rate of deaths, with the percentage increasing greatly between 2006 and 2016. This problem has been called ‘Colony Collapse Disorder’ - or CCD - and has been studied extensively. There are thought to be many factors responsible for it including air pollution, parasites and pesticides, the latter of which are thought to be a particular problem for honeybees. This is due to their tendency to stick to single-flower species for long periods, meaning they are likely to pick up high concentrations of pesticides when foraging on agricultural plants.    One parasite that is also causing many problems is the Varroa mite, which attaches itself to bees and sucks their blood. The mite is especially dangerous if it gets into a colony, reproducing quickly because of the large number of hosts, weakening bees and making them less likely to forage effectively and return to the colony. The mites will also attack developing larva, meaning that newborn bees emerge already weakened.    To protect the bee populations, some areas of the world (such as within the EU) have limited the use of pesticides that are especially harmful to them. The EU also encourages farmers to leave small areas of their land to grow wild, increasing the amount of pesticide-free wildflowers for pollinators to feed on. Beekeepers can also treat their colonies to get rid of Varroa mite infestations. Although CCD remains a problem for bees, research continues and management of the issue is improving.

##### **Deforestation**

* Deforestation is when large amounts of trees are cleared for lumber - or to provide space for farming, mining and urban development. It is estimated that 18 million acres of forest are chopped down every year and, at this point, 50% of the world’s tropical forests have been destroyed.    Although deforestation is a problem all over the world, tropical rainforests are especially at risk. Our rainforests are a unique environment with a high level of biodiversity, providing a habitat for a huge number of animals; as this habitat is destroyed, many of these species are in turn becoming endangered. Large amounts in Asia have been cleared to make more space for palm oil plantations, which are in increasing demand due to the use of palm oil in so many food and cosmetic products. In Malaysia, this is specifically responsible for the endangerment of orangutans; much of their habitat has been destroyed and it is now far more difficult for them to find food and mates.    In South America, too, the Amazon rainforest is being cut down - in this instance to create space to farm cattle or to plant soybeans, oil palms and other crops that can grow on the low-nutrient soil that is left behind after deforestation. Mining is a problem to a slightly lesser degree, with space being created to mine the many mineral deposits in the ground of the Amazon basin, including copper, tin, manganese, iron ore and fold. Additionally, deforestation is also a compounding factor of climate change; decreasing forest area means less carbon dioxide is taken from the atmosphere in the process of photosynthesis.    People can work against deforestation by boycotting products that do not contain sustainable palm oil, and by buying recycled paper and card products.

##### **Ecological Restoration**

* Ecological restoration is where positive action is taken to reinstate an environment that has been damaged, degraded, or destroyed. This kind of conservation usually takes place when problems have been caused directly or indirectly by human action.    Ecosystems comprise of living organisms and the environment they live in. All parts of the ecosystem interact with each other. If one aspect of an ecosystem changes, the entire cycle is affected and the ecosystem may not easily recover. Human-caused effects on an ecosystem can be classified on three levels: damage, degradation and destruction.    Damage refers to severe actions causing obvious environmental issues, such as logging or road construction.    Degradation is caused by consistent pressure on an environment, such as water pollution or overfishing.    Destruction refers to complete ruin of an ecosystem, as a result of constant degradation like agricultural expansion or dramatic damage, like massive construction projects.    An example of an ecosystem suffering all levels of ecological deterioration are the ‘Fens’, a wetlands environment in Eastern England. Once widespread with high biodiversity, they were industrially drained in the 1800s to create arable farmland. Short-term damage included building windmills and dredging rivers to remove water from the area. Waterlogged land became dry, degrading the environment until the wetlands ecosystem was gone entirely; resulting in complete habitat destruction. Wind continues eroding the exposed soil as it is not supported by roots. This shows consequences of human actions impact environments even years later.    The Great Fen project, a large ecological restoration operation, seeks to recreate and reunite fragmented wetland habitats. Since 2003, several nature reserves were created in the Fens. Water has been reintroduced, and the areas are allowed to flood seasonally as they would have done before agricultural development. Wetlands attract many plant and animal species; the changeable nature of these environments allows for increased biodiversity. Beneficially for humans, they can act as flood defense for urban areas as they are allowed to flood. Wetlands are also used for fishing and recreation, and are effective education spaces.

##### **Ecotourism**

* The desire to visit exotic and beautiful places has caused damage to environments across the world due to high amounts of tourism traffic. Ecotourism attempts to allow people to visit interesting places non-invasively, maintaining the fragile natural balance of the area. Ecotourism aims to educate visitors on the environment and wildlife they are observing, while also making money to benefit local people and fund conservation work. It also often raises awareness of local environmental issues and promotes behavior that assists positive environmental impact. This is often done on a much smaller scale to commercial tourism. The Galapagos Islands are an excellent example of where ecotourism has been implemented effectively. Due to being separated from the mainland for millennia, islands often have very fragile ecosystems and distinctive wildlife communities; the Galapagos are particularly famous because they were visited by Charles Darwin on the Beagle Voyage, where he made the observations that led to his theory of evolution. Most of the Galapagos Islands are now national parks, meaning that people who wish to visit usually have to go as part of an ecotourism venture that follows strict rules. Tourists are only allowed to visit certain areas in small numbers and are transported on boats owned by locals, while a proportion of the money made on these visits is used to protect and conserve the islands. People can facilitate environmentally friendly tourism by choosing to go on tours with small, locally-owned trip providers that provide an educational aspect on the local environment. People can also look into damage that may be caused by certain types of trips - for example, some whale and dolphin watching tour providers use noisy, highly polluting boats and will attempt to get very close to the animals, which causes them distress and increases the chance of harm. Eco-friendly tours will use small, quiet boats and stay a respectful distance away from any animals.

##### **Climate Change**

* Climate change is a natural process throughout Earth’s history, occurring gradually over tens of thousands of years and causing ice age cycles. However, the human impact on earth over the past century - specifically, the burning of fossil fuels, mass deforestation, soil degradation, and increased agriculture - has caused the concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere to rise to unprecedented levels.    Humans have been burning coal, natural gas and oil as fuel sources since the industrial revolution - the fuel expenditure from which has allowed for the use of heavy machinery and an increased rate of development. However, it also leads to a release of ‘greenhouse gases’ such as carbon dioxide and methane into the air, which collect and create an insulating layer in the atmosphere. This causes the sun’s heat to reflect back towards Earth to warm the overall surface temperature of the planet.    The effects of climate change are only further compounded by deforestation and agriculture. The former removes huge amounts of trees from the landscape, which would naturally remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. Meanwhile, certain types of agriculture, such as beef farming increase the greenhouse gases via animal’s methane emissions. Lastly, the combination of intensive arable farming, deforestation and mining causes soil degradation and the loss of a ‘carbon sink’ - a large and stable area of carbon compound storage.    Climate change is affecting the entire world; from more extreme weather conditions, to the melting of polar ice causing sea level rises, to ocean temperature increases causing vast damage to marine environments such as coral reefs. It is putting the planet’s ecosystem in general under extreme stress.    In order to reduce carbon emissions, 195 countries agreed to reduce their output as part of the Paris Agreement; an initiative that was started to mitigate the effects of climate change. This has facilitated the reduction of fossil fuel use and introduced environmental taxes on big businesses. On an individual level, people can reduce their carbon footprint by eating less meat - especially beef - and decreasing their fuel consumption by driving and flying less, instead using alternative modes of transport where possible.

##### **Invasive Species**

* When an alien species is introduced to a new environment, often they cannot adapt and do not survive. However, occasionally a species is introduced that is able to take advantage of the new conditions extremely effectively and can overrun the area, damaging native environments, and outcompeting local animals.    Humans have been able to inhabit and travel between almost all environment types on Earth; the large amount of human traffic has introduced species to areas of the planet that they otherwise would never have got to. This has happened both accidentally, such as animals stowing away on cargo ships; and intentionally, such as species being introduced as a method of biological pest control.    A mistakenly introduced species that has caused huge problems across the world is the zebra mussel - a shellfish named after its distinctive black and white stripes. They are native to the Caspian Sea and Black Sea, but have subsequently been introduced to waterways across the world after being transported on the bottom of ships in the 1800s. In North America and Europe, they have formed massive clumps that have damaged pipes, harbors and water treatment plants, and have also out-competed and smothered local aquatic species.    Another example is the cane toad, which was introduced to Australia intentionally in 1935 to eat beetles that were damaging sugar cane crops. Now, there are an estimated 200 million toads causing a huge amount of damage to the local environment. One such impact is the toxins in their skin which native predators have no resistance to, so when alligators, snakes, birds and other animals eat cane toads, they are often poisoned. Additionally, toads often eat dung beetles, but the large number of toads mean that dung beetles are over predated, causing a reduction in the decomposition of cow gung, which in turn, increased the contraction of diseases in cattle. This negative effect at multiple levels of the food chain is known as ‘trophic cascade’.    Governments attempt to prevent the spread of invasive species by enforcing strict customs rules regarding the spread of live animals, food and plants. Many countries will raise awareness of problem species so that the public inform the authorities if an individual is spotted, and measures can be taken to remove the animal.

##### **Land Sharing vs Land Sparing**

* As the total human population of Earth increases, there are more people to feed but less space for farmland. The land sharing versus land sparing debate aims to determine what is better for sustainable agriculture; high yield farming on small areas of land (land sparing), or low yield farming across a larger area that allows biodiversity to be preserved on the agricultural land (land sharing).    This debate is a hot topic among conservation research - there has been a lot of discourse into which type of farming is better overall for the environment, and each has its pros and cons. On one hand, high intensity farms are likely to use more pesticides and fertilizer, and cause soil degradation through heavy planting in small areas. On the other hand, low intensity farms are likely to negatively impact a wider range of wildlife communities gradually over a larger area.    In terms of a positive impact, land sharing farms are more likely to have insect and bird life, due to the reduced use of pesticides and having hedgerows dividing fields. More insects mean greater pollination on farms, and more birds mean less pests on crops. Land sparing farms allow for more land that has not been changed by agriculture.    Different researchers have drawn different conclusions about what is better long term depending on the types of farms that have been researched. Both sides have positives and negatives; some research suggests that the most environmentally conscious farms should be a combination of both, and that both land sparing and land sharing techniques can be used in combination to provide the best outlook for the local environment.

##### **Overexploitation**

* Overexploitation occurs when a resource is depleted to a point that natural environmental processes cannot restore the balance. Overexploitation of one resource often affects entire ecosystems and the cultures and livelihoods that depend on that ecosystem.    In an ecosystem’s delicate balance, species and environments rely on each other. If something is removed for human gain, everything connected can be negatively affected. Overexploitation may take the form of unsustainable hunting, aquifer extraction, or logging.    Trends in commercial fishing reveal damages caused by overexploitation. Over the past century, many species of fish were overharvested to the brink of extinction. Humans harvest fish from different ecological niches for consumption. As such, fish are being removed unsustainably from every level in the food chain. Removal of predatory fish high up the food chain, such as Atlantic bluefin tuna, destabilizes the entire ecosystem. Tuna also take long to reach maturity and reproduce, so demand for this species means they may not go through even one reproductive event before being caught.    Additionally, indiscriminate harvesting of smaller fish and shellfish is likely to remove herbivorous fish and filter feeders from ecosystems. They are important to maintaining coral reefs by cleaning water and grazing on kelp and algae. A healthy reef means oxygenated water, allowing for high biodiversity of corals, plants and microorganisms. Without these feeders, a build-up of algae, toxins and pollutants can overwhelm a reef, making it uninhabitable.    Overfishing is a complex problem with far-reaching ecological and humanitarian effects. Small communities can no longer live off depleted stocks. Despite an obvious reduction in available populations, commercial fishing continues to overexploit fish stocks. Without mitigation, oceans may not recover.    However, recovery is possible. Atlantic bluefin tuna were overfished in the 1960-70s, but sustainable fishing practices were eventually introduced. Catch and size limits were set for them, ensuring only mature adults were harvested in sustainable quantities, and certain types of equipment were banned to prevent bycatch or harvesting whole shoals. Tuna numbers are recovering, and the species is no longer categorized as endangered.

##### **Poaching and the Exotic Pet Trade**

* Every year across the world, many wild and exotic animals are captured to be sold illegally as pets. The demand for these unusual creatures is high, so much so that poachers can make a lot of money providing live specimens to buyers.    Humans have sought exotic pets and unusual animals for centuries, the desire for which has only grown as knowledge of them has increased. Poachers can make large profits by capturing and smuggling different species - in particular smaller exotic birds, snakes, frogs and fish, which are often at higher risk because they are easier to transport to locations of sale.    This activity is not only detrimental to the individual animal in question - which is likely to be transported  in poor conditions and put into the care of someone ill-equipped to properly care for them - but these illegal sales also cause issues for the environment that the animal was taken from, causing a decline in the population numbers of any species targeted by the exotic pet trade. For example, it is estimated that 80% of Indonesia’s green python population has been exported illegally as pets. This sort of overexploitation could cause a species to go extinct in the wild.    An additional problem is that the capture of animals often results in the illegal killing of others. Primates in particular suffer from this problem, as poachers will kill many adults in a group in order to reach their infants. For chimps, this will then mean that the adults’ bodies will be sold as bushmeat, while the infant will be trafficked to buyers in areas across the world. Baby chimps are popular in some areas of the Middle East, South East Asia and China.    Organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund are working to reduce this illegal trafficking, attempting to prevent poaching by employing rangers to protect environments where vulnerable animals live. As well as this, they are also investigating trade routes often used by smugglers, encouraging the enforcement of protective legislation by governments, and educating people to reduce the demand for exotic pets.

##### **Population Fragmentation**

* Population fragmentation occurs when a group of animals is split apart, and can be caused by a variety of mechanisms both natural and man-made. The former is primarily natural disasters, but it can also happen for a group to take better advantage of resources elsewhere. Man-made causes include deforestation, urbanization and agricultural land conversion.    Population fragmentation causes difficulties to the communities of animals it affects; for example, depending on the severity of the fragmentation, it may become difficult for them to find mates, while habitat destruction will increase competition for food and territory. If the pressures causing habitat fragmentation continue, then the population groups will become smaller in number and spread further apart. Along with smaller populations being more vulnerable to disease and predation, a small number of individuals who repeatedly reproduce with each other may suffer from inbreeding depression. This is when low genetic diversity causes weakened individuals within a population because there’s an increased likelihood of harmful recessive traits appearing.    The Iberian lynx is an example of a species that was at one point on the verge of extinction due to population fragmentation. It is a wild cat that inhabits the plains and mountains of Spain, but its population was reduced down to only 100 individuals in 2005, partially due to extensive habitat loss isolating them to two small populations in the mountains. The lack of hunting ground and the spread of disease almost wiped out the lynx, but they were saved through captive breeding and reintroduction to their previous habitat, as well as ensuring they had enough prey to feed on. As a result, they are no longer critically endangered.    Population fragmentation can be mitigated by conservation that works to prevent habitat destruction and create ‘wildlife corridors’, which allow animals to safely travel between populations.

##### **Repair of the Ozone Layer**

* The ozone layer is a part of the Earth’s atmosphere that is made of ozone molecules (O3), and which absorbs 97-99% of the harmful UV radiation emitted by the sun. It became damaged in the 1980s but following a reduction in the use of chemicals responsible for the damage, it has now begun to repair.    The damage to the ozone layer was caused by man-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons - or CFCs - which were widespread and commonly used in aerosol sprays and refrigerants. These chemicals react with ozone, breaking down the ring structure of the O3 molecule and binding with the oxygen atoms, remaining in the atmosphere without breaking down. As more CFCs entered the atmosphere, more ozone was broken down and large ‘holes’ of significant O3 depletion appeared in the layer, the most significant area of which occurred above Antarctica.    The depletion of the ozone layer was first noticed in the mid-1980s and continued throughout the 90’s. In 1985 and 1987, many countries signed the ‘Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone layer’ and ‘Montreal Protocol’ respectively, agreeing to tackle the problem. Measures were taken to reduce the number of CFCs being introduced into the atmosphere, and the amount of ozone in the atmosphere stopped decreasing and remained at a steady level, but still with significant damage.    Depleted levels of ozone in the atmosphere allows more ultraviolet radiation to pass through, increasing the risk of skin cancer and other forms of sun damage. The more depleted the ozone layer, the less natural protection the planet has from solar radiation.    Since 2016, NASA has observed that the ozone layer has begun to recover from the damage it sustained in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, with ozone beginning to slowly build up again in the ‘holes’. If progress continues and there is no further damage, it is estimated that the layer could recover by 2060.

##### **Species Reintroduction**

* Change of environmental conditions and/or overhunting can result in the eradication of a native species from its home range. This often happens as a direct result of human-lead processes. Species reintroduction attempts to bring back a species to its historical range, restore a stable population and positively affect the surrounding environment.    Species reintroduction is a focus of conservation to secure survival of a species, but also to benefit ecosystems they were removed from. The removal of an animal from its ecological niche affects the food web, vegetation that grows, and puts other species at risk. Reintroducing a lost species can restore the natural balance and allow environmental recovery.    The extinction and successful reintroduction of European bison is one example of species reintroduction. Once widespread across Central Europe, they became extinct due to overhunting and habitat loss by 1927. Without the bison, more plants and trees were able to take root, slowly transforming the plains environments into scrub - or woodland. Naturally, this impacted other species relying on the plains. Efforts to reintroduce European bison begun in the 1950s. In the Netherlands, bison were  released into a dune ecosystem, growing into a stable population, also improving the environment. Their movements and dung aerate and fertilize the soil. Grazing limits overgrowth which increases plant diversity. This benefits biodiversity of insects, mammals and birds. At present, over 700 European bison live across Central Europe again.    However, reintroductions must be carefully managed. Sea otters in North America provide another example of species loss and reintroductions. Otters approached extinction by the early 1920s due to overhunting. Without otters, populations of their main prey, urchins, boomed, which in turn depleted kelp stocks. With the loss of kelp forests as habitat and food source, many fish and invertebrates could no longer survive. When the sea otter was reintroduced in Canada in 1969, balance was difficult to restore. Otter populations quickly exploded due to overwhelming prey availability, dramatically decreasing prey populations. This impacted other animals that relied upon them too, but also destabilized the otter population once more. Management of the situation is still in flux.

##### **Traditional Medicine**

* In many areas of the world, animal parts are sought after for ingredients in traditional medicine. Traditional remedies are not based on scientific research on their effectiveness, but on folklore passed down through generations. The demands for certain ingredients have caused animals to become endangered or even extinct due to overexploitation.    In some areas of Africa and Asia, traditional medicine is used for the majority of treatment of ailments, and the demand for animal ingredients has created a lucrative business for poachers and smugglers. Animals that have been extremely negatively affected due to being widely hunted for ingredients include rhinos, pangolins, sea horses, moon bears, and tigers.    Rhino horn is demanded in traditional medicine across the world. In Chinese traditional medicine, rhino horn is believed to cure fever, high blood pressure, rheumatism and gout as well as many other health issues, but there is absolutely zero scientific evidence to support that rhino horn can do this. All 5 species of rhino are near extinction due to being poached for their horns, with the western black rhinoceros being officially declared extinct in 2011.    The problem with traditional medicine is how pervasive and deeply ingrained the belief in its efficacy is, and often the practice is cultural and tied to a country’s history. While there is still demand for animal products, animals are still in danger even if hunting them is made illegal. There are organizations that are working to educate people in areas where traditional medicine is prevalent and offering herbal alternatives to animal products. Many animals that are sought after in traditional medicine are now heavily protected.    Charities such as the World Wildlife Fund are tackling the illegal wildlife trade in live animals and animal products by increasing the number of rangers who protect environments where these animals live, searching vehicles on routes used by smugglers, assisting governments in creating more protective legislation and education people to lower the desire for ingredients derived from endangered animals.