Ecology Conference

ECOLOGY CONFERENCE

Compiled byElla Bokhenska,

a teacher of English,

school-gymnasia №1 of Ratne

“Our ancestors viewed the Earth as rich and bountiful, which it is. Many people in the past also saw nature as inexhaustibly sustainable, which we now know is the case only if we care for it. It is not difficult to forgive destruction in the past which resulted from ignorance. Today, however, we have access to more information, and it is essential that we re-examine ethically what we have inherited, what we are responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations. Our marvels of science and technology are matched if not outweighed by many current tragedies, including human starvation in some parts of the world, and the extinction of other life-forms. The exploration of space takes place at the same time as the Earth's own oceans, seas, and fresh water areas grow increasingly polluted. Many of the Earth's habitats, animals, plants, insects, and even micro-organisms that we know as rare may not be known at all by future generations. We have the capability, and the responsibility. We must act before it is too late.”
The Dalai Lama

Video film “Environmental Problems”

Compere 1: People all over the world think about the planet – air, water, plants, animals... They say our planet is in danger. Many people don't know how to keep the water clean and the air fresh. But they are ready to do it. They try to help nature, to solve the problem of protecting life on the Earth and saving the planet for people.

Compere 2: We know the names of about one million animals. But there are more than thirty million species of animals in the world. Every year some of these species disappear and we'll never see them again.

But with thirty million different species, do one or two matter? Different people give various answers to this question, but more and more people are saying, “Of course they are – they are all important!” Why do people think so?

Compere 1: Animals make the world a richer, a more interesting and a more beautiful place for us to live in. They help us in many important ways – give us meat to eat, milk to drink, fur or skin to make clothes.

Compere 2: People and animals live in one world. Our land is their land; our rivers are their rivers; our trees are their trees. We should protect animals because at the same time we are protecting our world. A lot of animals are in danger. Without our help, many of them are going to die. WHY ARE ANIMALS IN DANGER?

Pupil 1: A million years ago there were a lot more kinds of animals than there are now. Some species disappeared naturally, but today they are disappearing faster than before. Animals are in danger from natural accidents, weather changes or people's attitude. We cannot protect animals from disasters, but we are able to change our behaviour towards these living creatures.

Pupil 2: People put up new buildings on empty land not thinking about animals. They build roads moving rivers and cutting down trees.

Pupil 3: Sometimes they take animals from their natural home to a different country. Black rats went by ship from Asia to the Galapagos Islands and killed many different bird species. Some of those birds lived nowhere but the Galapagos, but after the rats had come, they disappeared.

Pupil 4: Some visitors to new places take pictures of animals, but others hunt and kill them. They don't kill animals for food, just because they like hunting. In many countries people can also make money with animals. Elephants die because people want ivory. Rhinoceros disappear because their horns are desired. Many bigger animals are in danger because their fur is expensive.

Pupil 5: Air, water, soil pollution is getting worse and worse. The Earth is becoming a dirty place. Many animals cannot live in it. Pollution is killing animals. Sooner or later it is going to kill people too.

Pupil 6: Civilization takes the natural homes of animals away. Where can they go? The answer is simple – nowhere. And it leads to the disappearance of animals.

Compere 1:By 2025 as many as one fifth of all animal species may be lost, gone forever. In recent times, hundreds of species havebecome extinct as a result of human activities: habitat destruction by logging, ever-encroaching human settlement; pollution of water, soil, and air; unmanaged fishing that exhausts fish stocks; and illegal hunting to supply the demand for skins,hides, traditional medicines, food, and tourist souvenirs all threatens species’ existence.

We must act now. Time is running out.

Compere 2: Since life began on Earth, countless creatures have come and gone, rendered extinct by naturally changing physical and biological conditions. Since extinction is part of the natural order, and if many other species remain, some people ask: “Why save endangered species? Why should we spend money and effort to conserve them? How do we benefit?”

Compere 1: Anendangered speciesis a population of organisms which is facing a high risk of becomingextinctbecause it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. TheInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has calculated the percentage of endangered species.

Many nations havelawsoffering protection toconservation species: for example, forbiddinghunting, restricting land development or creating preserves.

Compere 2: Dear friends, we are glad to see Mary Brown, a member of the Endangered Species Coalition, among our guests todays. She is going to inform us about The Endangered Species Act.

Mary Brown: Dear participants of the conference and guests! My name is Mary Brown. I’m a member of the Endangered Species Coalition. I live and work in Washington, DC. The Endangered Species Coalition is a national network of hundreds of conservation, scientific, education, religious, sporting, outdoor recreation, business and community organizations working to protect our nation’s disappearing wildlife and last remaining wild places.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was passed in 1973 in order to protect those plant and animal species that are at risk of becoming extinct. Species that receive protection under the ESA are classified into two categories, "Endangered" or "Threatened," depending on their status (how many are left in the wild) and how severely their survival is threatened. A species that is listed as Endangered is in danger of becoming extinct throughout a significant portion of its habitat range (the areas where it lives). Threatened species are those that are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.

Compere 1: Thank you very much, Miss Mary. Another ecologist from the USA, Alice Blake, is a member of Defenders of Wildlife. You are welcome, Miss Blake.

Miss Blake: Thank you. I’m happy to take part in this conference. My name is Alice Blake.

I’m a member of Defenders of Wildlife. This non-profit organization has been working since 1947. Defenders of Wildlife is a major national conservation organization focused only on wildlife and habitat conservation and the safeguarding of biodiversity. We believe in the inherent value of wildlife and the natural world. Our work is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities.

Compere 2: What are your current actions?

Pupil: Polar Bears are distributed throughout the Arctic region around the earth. There are 7 particular areas where Polar Bears carry out their activities. They are Wrangell Island, western and northern Alaska, northern Canadian islands, Hudson Bay, Greenland, Spitsbergen, and Franz Joseph Land. From these centers, the bears would spread out to a radius of about 125 - 200 miles (200 - 325km).

They have a small head and a short neck comparative to their body. Polar Bears have a pear-shaped body which suits them for swimming. This body shape helps them cut through the water easily. The fur of the bear is white. Though their fur is white or has a yellow tint, the skin of Polar Bears is actually black. This is another feature that aids the bear to keep warm. Since the skin is dark, it can absorb the heat from sunlight. These bears are the fastest walkers of all bears. They can go up to 25 miles per hour (40km/hr). Polar Bears are great swimmers also. They can swim for hundreds of miles (kilometers). They can swim about 6 miles per hour (10km/hr).

These bears of the North are nowendangeredbecause of excessive hunting. Since now technology is so advanced, people can reach the frigid North with planes and helicopters. This provides them easy access to hunt down Polar Bears. Now waterpollutionalso has an affect on the bears depending on which region they live.

Pupil: Giant Pandas now only live in provinces of western and central China. The name "panda" means "bamboo-eater." It came from Nepal, a country northeast of India. Pandas are black and white. Their large head is white with 2 black ears, and 2 black circles around the eyes. Their body is black with a large patch of white on their back. Contrary to the soft fur of stuffed pandas, the fur coat of the Giant Panda isn't that soft. This outercoat is 2 inches (5cm) thick. Underneath is another layer that feels oily. These two layers keep out the cold during winter. The four legs are also black. Giant Pandas are solitary animals. They only come together for mating.

They eat mostly bamboo leaves and stems, bulbs, grasses, and small animals. Giant Pandas areendangeredbecause ofhabitatloss and destruction of their food source. Since humanpopulationis ever growing, more land has to be clear in order to house all the people. The pandas' habitat is shrinking each day. The bamboo forest is growing smaller also. Since pandas' main food source is bamboo, they are dying out because of starvation. The Chinese government, in cooperation with World Wildlife Fund are devising plans to save these creatures. They are setting up more reserves so the pandas can live in their natural environment. It is estimated that this plan will cost them at least $50 million.

Pupil: Black Rhinoceros roam the areas of eastern and southern Africa. They live in bushes, forests, and grasslands. The largestpopulationsof rhinos are located in Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. They total to about 2550 in these areas.

Rhinos produce 1 calf every 2 -4 years. The horns of the rhinos are made of hair-like fibers. They grow about 3 inches (7.62cm) each year throughout the life of the rhinos. These horns are used for their protection, but instead they are the major reason why people kill rhinos. Hunters illegally hunt down rhinos for their horns and thick hide. Since the 1970s, the population of rhinos dropped from 70,000 to only 3000 in 1992.

Pupil: A century ago, tigers can be seen from eastern Turkey and the Caspian Sea through all parts of Asia. Now they can only be found in some areas of India, Nepal, Manchuria, China, and South East Asia. Tigers live in various types of habitat. They can survive in rainforests, grasslands, savannas, and mountain countries. There were about 100,000 tigers in existence, but now there are only 3,250 - 4,700 left in the wild. The South Chinese tiger is on the verge ofextinction. It is estimated that there about 30-80 of them left. Tigers are the largest cats in the world. They weigh between 250 - 700 pounds (113.4 - 317.5kg). Tigers usually live alone. They are only together when mating time comes or when raising up cubs.

Tigers areendangeredbecause of the loss of habitat. Also tiger parts are sold for traditional medicine used. Parts like bone, blood, and skins are highly priced. A tiger is worth at least $60,000. In 1972 the World Wildlife Fund join up with the Indian government to save the dying tigers. This project was called "Operation Tiger." As a result the population of Bengal Tigers doubled from 2,000 to 4,000 since the last 20 years. Conservationistsare still working hard to set up more reserves so the tiger population will increase in the future.

Pupil: Asian Elephants mostly populate the rainforests of Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

From the ground to the shoulder, Asian Elephants measure about 10 feet (2.9m) high. They can weigh as much as 11,000 pounds (4989.5kg). Comparatively speaking, they are smaller and have smaller ears than African Elephants. Their trunk has only one "lip" or "finger." The tusks are about 4 - 5 feet (1.2 - 1.5m) for males, and females have really small ones that they are not noticeable. The elephants eat about 310 pounds (140kg) of food each day. Their favorites include grass, bamboo, bark, roots, and foliage. They also like bananas, rice, and sugar sugar cane. Asian Elephants care for each other. When one of them is sick or dying, the whole herd stands around that one to comfort it. They would stroke their trunks on it and refuse to leave it alone.

The Asian Elephants now areendangeredbecause ofhabitatloss. People are cutting down forests quickly in Asia. They either cut down trees to sell, or clear the land for farming. There may be less than 35,000 elephants left in the wild. To preserve these elephants,conservationistsdig waterholes and replant more trees so that they can have food and water. In Malaysia, people are relocating the elephants to better and safer environment.

Pupil : Red Pandas live in the remote high-altitude bamboo forests of the Himalayas to southern China. They like to climb onto trees for rests.

Red Pandas usually lay on forks of branches. When the weather is cold they cure up to keep warm. An advantage of resting that high is that they are safe from enemies like the leopard and the bear. Their body is covered with red-brownish fur. The face has patches of white. Without the tail they can grow to as big as 16 - 24 inches (40.6 - 70cm). They weigh around 7 - 11 pounds (3.2 - 4.9kg). Red Pandas are most active during twilight and daybreak hours, and the night. They are awake for 10 - 14 hours every day. Their primary food is bamboo leaves. They also eat fruits, roots, acorns, and lichens.

Red Pandas areendangeredbecause the humanpopulationis over taking their land. Bamboo forests are cut down to accommodate the ever-growing human population. The pandas can't adjust to the changing environment and begin to die.

Pupil : Grizzly Bears live on the western side of North America where there are mountains and wide spaces. They are mostly located north of the United States, but some can be found within the lower 48 states. The males usually travel alone, but the females with their cubs. The grizzlies are brown. Grizzlies eat a variety of foods. They eat fish, especially salmons, young elks, deer, or caribou. Grizzlies also are plant eaters. They consume berries, roots, grass, and nuts.

In 1975, the United States officially announced that Grizzly Bears were threatened. Aspopulationand tourism grow around bear country, more of their habitat is being taken away. With the loss ofhabitat, they are reduced to a small space. Their sources of food are also affected. People kill bears for the sport and the excitement. Still others hunt them down for their precious parts.Poacherskill bears for their paws, fur, and skin. They ship these parts to Asia where they are used as medicine. The most important thing, however, is to preserve their natural habitat.

Pupil : The bald eagle was adopted as the American symbol in 1782 for its "fierce and independent image." Bald eagles mostlyinhabitwestern Canada, Alaska, and sparsely spread throughout the lower 48 states. Adult eagles have black-brown bodies, yellow beaks and legs, and white heads and tails. It takes 4 years for theplumage to develop. Pesticides, once used to kill off pest in farmlands endangered the eagle population. Another reason the eagles are endangered is that hunters shoot them.

Pupil :Koalas are found in the coastal regions of Eastern Australia. It is a marsupial mammal that gives birth to underdeveloped young and the young are carried around in their mother's pouch.