Biodiversity in the Next Century- January 31st

Seminar Leaders: Thomas Langrell, Irene Wong, Larissa Blumenschein, Kelvin Koots, Saeed Zaenab, May Theint Htun Ni, Kathleen Nicanor, Stella Chainho, Livya Chanya. 

Natur-Park Sudgelande: Linking Conservation and Recreation in an Abandoned Railyard in Berlin-

In Berlin train use grew to a minimum and eventually died off allowing for the railyards to be taken over by plants and animals. The railyards eventually were so over grown it resembled a park, this type of nature is known as nature of the fourth kind. There was a debate over whether or not the railyards should be constructed into a park with paths and such, or if it should be left alone as natural habitat. Problems however arose, the grass land is where most endangered species resided in and if nature took its own course then the trees that were coming in would reduce the species and cause extinction. However if the park was maintained as a park there was fear of trampling the wildlife and killing the park and these species. Eventually it was decided that the railyards would be transformed into park. The old railyard was kept as it was and was not torn down. A path was formed over the old tracks that was above the ground helping keep visitors to remain on it at all times. Part of the park was left to let nature do its own thing without any human contact and the other part was maintained as to keep the grass lands from being taken over by wooded ares so that the species living there were still protected. Today the park is very popular and receives over 50, 000 visitors a year.1

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Key Arguments- Do you think the park should be left to its natural state or should it be open to the public?: There was lots of debate, some people think that natural extinction would be good for the world because thats how we got to where we are today. Also some people believe that human intervention to save the grass land areas is good because we are the main reason for the loss of biodiversity on earth and this is our way to help give back. 
-Do visitors see the park as a conservation of nature or just as a recreational area due to the way they promote the site?: The site was visited before it was turned into an 'official' park and the huge protest when it was said to be turned back into a railway proves that people were using the site for their own reasons and purposes before. There were no paths before and people still explored through it, the fact now that there are paths to keep people from destroying the natural habitats now benefits not only the people getting active, but helps save the species.
-Is the park a good example of a successful integration of nature and wildlife into an urban environment? Yes I believe it is, however it was not humans that started the process which helps the land actually be a 'natural environment.' This is a true park, not like the little ones they make in the city with a swing set and some fake grass rolled out, those will never bring back the biodiversity that we have lost but the Natur park can. 

Personal Reflection- I personally think the way they chose to go about making the park is great. They did not completely take over it all and allowed for parts to just be taken over by nature how it naturally would have been, but to help reduce extinction I like how they are constantly removing trees and maintaing the grasslands to support biodiversity. Something that really stuck out to me was how they did not tear any of the railyard down to produce the park and left it how it was naturally decaying. If they had ripped out the railyard to build the park they would of released so much CO2 and caused more corruption then good. This is a great example of sustainable design because they are reusing what no longer was in use and bringing it back as a natural habitat. The point was brought up in class that just because we are the smartest animals on earth why should we be responsible for saving everything else? I think we are 100% responsible, if it was not for our cars, and electronics and so on then we would not have destroyed the planet that we are only guests on. We need to somehow give back to earth of what we have taken. I also agree that natural extinction has happened over thousands of years already and if it had not happened the way it did then humans could very well not be here today, so allowing for the park to take on natural extinction to a point is not a bad thing either, its allowing what should happen to happen. We could also quite possibly have left the park to completely do what nature intended and used the money put into the project in other areas that are in dire need of attention and saving. 

Scenarios for Global Biodiversity in the 21st Century- 

This review discusses how it is impossible to predict how a species will react to global changes in the environment because there are so many factors involved. Even if there is a change in a species ecosystem it is impossible to say that the species that relied on this environment will now become extinct due to this change. Yes the species numbers can decline but they also adapt. Adaptation takes years to occur and is getting much more difficult today since climate change is so rapid however species are finding ways to survive and are not necessarily becoming extinct as a result. "Many species can persist for long periods, by exploiting secondary habitats or by surviving in small populations," (Pereira et al. 2010, pg. 4). Marine animals are being greatly affected by climate change and increasing water temperatures. The warmer the water gets the more north they swim or lower from the surface they go, causing fishing and diversity to decline in many areas of the world. By limiting greenhouse gas emissions, global warming can slow down allowing more time for the species to adapt on earth and not become extinct. 2

Key Arguments- What are some of the factors that could account for massive differences in projections for biodiversity in the next century?: It was discussed that global warming could change drastically and cause extinction at quicker rates or that species could adapt to the new conditions, or even migrate. Also land use could greatly affect what happens int he future, if we use all the land for the growing human population there wont be any room left for the thousands of other species on earth. There is no accurate way to predict what can happen because there are so many factors involved that the slightest change in the environment can have a massive impact on the entire world. 

Personal Reflection- This article brings up a valid point that had never crossed my mind before, we cannot actually predict what will happen in the future. Because of the all technology and sciences today telling you if we keep on going the way were going this and this will happen, you do not really take the time to think about the what ifs. There are so many factors involved that can cause extinction in species and there is no accurate way to tell someone what will happen. Sure you can guess but thats all it is. We do not know if the species just migrated somewhere when here we are saying they are extinct, we have never even reached the deepest part in the oceans yet so who are we to say that dinosaurs really are extinct? Yes we may be able to tell up to some point what is causing all these things to happen but it will never be 100% accurate so we need to stop focusing on the future and try and save the present so there will even be a future. 

Text:

1) Kowarik, Ingo, and Andreas Langer. "Natur-Park Südgelände: Linking Conservation and Recreation in an Abandoned Railyard in Berlin." Planning Group ÖkoCon & Planland. : 1-13.

2Pereira, Henrique M., and et al. "Scenarios for Global Biodiversity in the 21st Century." Science AAAS. 330. no. 1496 (2010): 1-7. 10.1126/science.1196624.

Photos: 

1) Phillip , Von. Foto Community, "Naturpark Südgelände in Schöneberg." Last modified 2013. Accessed February 3, 2013. http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/display/511572.

2) HellMar62, . Flora Urbana, "Berlin-Naturpark Sudgelande." Last modified 2011. Accessed February 3, 2013. http://floraurbana.blogspot.ca/2011/01/berlin-naturpark-sudgelande.html.