Natural Heritage, Diversity and Conservation-reflections of a geoscientist

摘要

It is suggested that coherent understanding of nature conservation issues and their management is best served by a systems science approach. Geosystems scientists take an inclusive view of ecosystems. How could they not, when the co-evolution of geological and biological systems forms part of the education of every geology student? By contrast, there is a dearth of evidence that ecosystem scientists (ecologists) give equal weight to geodiversity and biodiversity; to geoconservation and bioconservation; to Earth heritage and biological heritage; to the complex interactions and co-dependence of, earth systems and ecosystems; and to the transient and dynamic nature of systems equilibria on more than decadal timescales. For example, not a single Local Biodiversity Action Plan, in one large area of the UK (Scotland), and precious few in England, contain a reference to the links between geo-and bio-diversity or geo-and bio-conservation.