Course Introduction

Christine Sheppard, PhD
Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo Department of Ornithology
2300 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10460

Phone 718 220 6882
Fax 718 733 7300
e:mail bigbird@westnet.com

Lois Levin, PhD (Clinical Psychology)

Phone 617 527 1237
Fax 617 965 6555
e:mail lal118@columbia.edu

In the various modules required for the Certificate, you will learn about extinction and its causes, degradation and fragmentation of habitat, effects of global warming and pollution _ a discouraging list. This module will explore possibilities for action by individuals and grassroots organizations: how to make intelligent conservation choices in daily life, the underlying complexity of these issues, the ways that human behavior influences conservation choices, and how to set priorities for action.

Each student will select one (or more) project(s), devising and implementing solutions to conservation-related issues. The objective is to gain experience in problem-solving by putting conservation beliefs into practice. During the fall semester, we will discuss project ideas, examine approaches to solutions, decide what information will be needed and what actions should be taken. We may do some short exercises to get experience with techniques.

For each exercise or project we will:

• Develop a lucid, specific statement of the problem

• Review the history of the problem and underlying issues

• Examine approaches others have taken to this problem

• Brainstorm solutions

• Discuss the skills and strategies needed for the project

• Outline action steps

Many zoo storm drains empty into exhibits, which has resulted in oiled animals when someone ignorantly dumps or washes oil into a drain. How can we educate staff?

Zoo staff commutes from everywhere, often over an hour. Why arenŐt there more carpools? How could we change that?

Develop a program to stop staff from idling vehicles when not in use.

Educating consumers:

Fish
Fisheries around the world are in trouble and it is difficult to know what fish comes from sustainable fisheries _ so that eating fish in restaurants and cooking fish at home can create an ethical conundrum. Recently, several organizations have been trying to make available information on fisheries (and farmed fish - not necessarily a good alternative) that addresses this issue. How should this information be communicated to consumers to make purchasing decisions easier?

Plastic bags
Plastic bags are everywhere _ in the trees, on the ground, even flying around in the air. People seem unable to carry any item without a bag and often are unaware that there are alternatives. Bags are seldom re-used or recycled. Although paper bags are easier to recycle, they take up more space in landfill and decompose no faster than plastic in the anaerobic conditions of dumps. Plastic bags have been banned in parts of Italy. How can we do something about this right here?

Shade grown coffee/cacao
Plantations which produce shade grown coffee or cacao are not untouched forest, but provide significantly more wildlife habitat than sun grown coffee. Shade grown coffee also requires fewer herbicides/pesticides. All the CERC consortium member institutions (for example) would loudly endorse shade grown coffee/chocolate as positive for conservation, but how many of these institutions use shade grown coffee/chocolate in their cafeterias and food services? What can be done about this?

Suburban lawns
People wonder why they see fewer songbirds than in the past - but they donŐt connect this to the pesticides and herbicides they use to produce golf-course simulacra in their yards. What do they think birds eat? How might you go about addressing this problem?

Conservation network
This is the fourth year of the CERC certificate program in conservation biology. Students tend to be well educated and highly motivated, an excellent target group for promoting conservation activities. Several alumnae of the program have expressed an interest in having continuing involvement in conservation activities through CERC. How would you promote this?