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The Need for Flexibility in Conservation Practices: Exotic Species as an Example

Environmental Management volume 47, pages 315–321 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

To garner support for biodiversity from the World’s human population, conservation biologists need an open-minded, integrated conservation strategy. We suggest that this strategy should include efforts to (1) preserve existing high quality, diverse ecosystems, (2) remediate impaired systems, (3) balance the needs of people and ecological resources, and (4) engender appreciation of nature and its services. We refer to these four key tenets as reservation, restoration, reconciliation, and reconnection. We illustrate these concepts by presenting the debate surrounding the management of exotic species from an unusual perspective, the benefits of exotic species. By this example we hope to encourage an integrated approach to conservation in which management strategies can be flexible, adjusting to society’s needs and the overall goals of conservation.

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Acknowledgments

Our thanks to Ilona Bossanyi for her professional careful editing work of the English manuscript. This work was financially supported by the CNRS, MNHN, Universities Paris 6 and Paris 11, as well as the Institute for Communication Sciences (ISCC, PIR 2009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR7204 CNRS-MNHN-UPMC – labo CERSP, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CP 51, 55 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France

    Anne-Caroline Prévot-Julliard, Pauline Teillac-Deschamps & Romain Julliard

  2. Institut des Sciences de la Communication du CNRS (ISCC), 20 rue Berbier du Mets, Paris, 75013, France

    Anne-Caroline Prévot-Julliard

  3. Université de Philosophie et Lettres, Liège, Belgium

    Joanne Clavel

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  1. Anne-Caroline Prévot-Julliard
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  2. Joanne Clavel
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  3. Pauline Teillac-Deschamps
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  4. Romain Julliard
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Correspondence to Anne-Caroline Prévot-Julliard.

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Prévot-Julliard, AC., Clavel, J., Teillac-Deschamps, P. et al. The Need for Flexibility in Conservation Practices: Exotic Species as an Example. Environmental Management 47, 315–321 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9615-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9615-6

Keywords

  • Conservation policy
  • Reservation
  • Restoration
  • Reconciliation
  • Reconnection