Biodiversity Case Study: The Chesapeake Ecology Center

Environmental Protection Agency recognizes the Chesapeake Bay as a damaged ecological community in which millions were spent on research in efforts to save and restore this national treasure and few developments have been proven to be successful, “these actions included upgrading sewage treatment plants, controlling urban runoff, controlling manure and fertilizer runoff, reducing soil erosion, issuing stricter discharge permits, and banning the use of phosphorous detergents.” (Atkins & Anderson, 2003). In partnership, the Chesapeake Bay Program has also made progress in restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay. Its efforts include reducing pollution, restoring habitats, managing fisheries, protecting watersheds and fostering stewardship. This program has also set goals in relation to “wetlands, submerged grasses, nutrient reduction, toxins, sustainable development, and citizen involvement.” (Atkins & Anderson, 2003).

The New Deal and the Great Society had the common goal to preserve America’s natural beauty. The New Deal program established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which was a youth program that worked to enhance the environment by doing jobs like clearing swamps, planting trees, and other conservation efforts (Catapano 1). The Great Society’s Highway Beautification Act was signed in 1965 to fund projects that helped to clean the nation’s highways and clear damage and litter (“Great Society”

All the animals and plants that inhabit the area depend on the Bay to function and maintain balance. By restoring the health of Chesapeake Bay natural resources would also be restored. This would also stop the extinction of species that inhabit the area. The ecosystem is dependent on all of the individuals within it because of this all the individuals should function smoothly and correctly. Humans are responsible for the damage done to the ecosystem so it's up to us to restore nature back to health. By doing so, the earth will last longer and will be able to produce more of the natural resources that humans have become dependent

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service provides technical assistance and expertise to the public and private sectors for the conservation of Maryland’s wildlife resources. This includes the management of threatened and endangered species, game birds and mammals, and the operation of nearly 115,000 acres of State-owned lands classified as Wildlife Management Areas. The mission of the Wildlife and Heritage Service is to "Conserve Maryland 's diverse wildlife, plants and the natural communities that support them, using scientific expertise and informed public input". For a breakdown of Maryland’s wildlife conservation history, refer to Unit 1, Lesson 3 and 4 for funding sources.

The NCCP is designed to allow Orange County and participating counties the opportunity to develop plans for saving what remains of the CSS among the existing development. In this process counties are asked to account for future urban and farming development. Stakeholder participation is important in this process for obtaining input from various sectors of the community. Businesses and cities can come forward with plans for future expansion and development, managers of habitat can come forward with goals and limitations of the habitat and scientists can come forward with recommendations for size and structure of habitat and ideas for restoration to enhance corridors between habitat.

The main link to this organization is http://www.crc.com. However, if you want to find out how they help preserve biodiversity you can find that under community outreach or just click http://www.crc.com/community-outreach/conservation-and-environmental-protection/preserving-biodiversity-and-wildlife-habitat.

To complete this project I will need to become proficient in exhibit design, intertidal ecology, and environmental policy concerning the park. I will also need better design skills to do the graphic work for the exhibit. To get the information I need I will be using a combination of courses, personal reading, and advice from faculty and colleagues at COA. I will take Environmental Law and Policy and Graphic Design Studio II in fall and winter term respectively to give me a better knowledge base for creating the

The Showcase of Applied Learning is an opportunity for 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Davenport Community School District students to showcase what they have learned about environmental topics such as: water pollution, watersheds, wetlands, ecosystems, invasive species, waste and energy, and is also an opportunity for students to educate others about our personal impacts on local and global natural resources.

The multi-purpose facility’s mission is to use the campus as an outside lab for experience-based learning and connecting with the urban ecology and landscape. Around 80 faculty members and students attended the ribbon cutting.

American Forest has been successful at curating volunteers, organizations, and corporations to become involved in myriad projects dealing with the protection of the natural global biosystems of various species of animals, trees and plants.

“What problem is CB really designed to solve? What scientific literature is available? Is science advanced enough? Which species are best suited? What are the impact on existent governmental and conservation programs and policy locally, nationally and internationally? What are the benefits for conservation overall? Is it possible to guarantee results? How do markets behave? What are the challenges, risks, and opportunities? What is truly involved? What motivates the creation of such programs? How much it cost and who pays? What are the factors of success and failure? Are potential risks, gains and losses properly measured? Are there enough capacity and resources to launch successful programs that will truly translate into net biodiversity

Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine's Young Naturalists series is designed to engage elementary and middle school students with a wide variety of nonfiction topics on natural science and outdoor life. Each Young Naturalists teachers guide includes ready-made classroom activities. Current and past Young Naturalists stories and guides can be downloaded

Botanic gardens are well placed to raise awareness amongst the public of the need and benefits that can be “derived from, successful ecological restoration projects. The gardens will also address the need for greater political commitment, awareness and participation in restoration work”. (Hill et al. 2005:

SCB entities, including regional sections and topical working groups, utilized the meeting to form cross-cultural connections to increase the dialogue on the increasingly global nature of the conservation discipline. The Social Science Working Group, the largest subgroup of the society, collaborated with Colorado State University in putting on the short course The role of the social sciences in conservation planning, which was “directed at building capacity in the social sciences to address today’s conservation challenges.” The Freshwater Working Group presented the symposium “Integrated protection and restoration of wetlands, rivers, and subterranean aquatic ecosystems” and the workshop “Global conservation assessment for freshwater biodiversity.” Additionally, local chapters held mixers with the Board of Governors and regional sections conducted members meetings that allowed for networking by region and topic.

- Green Globe Award project as supporting the encouragement and dissemination of works to conserve natural resources and environment of the community, including youth.