Ch. 3— Status of Biological Diversity • 83 



produce particular characteristics and took dec- 

 ades to develop may be lost in a single year. 

 The rapid rate and large scale of agricultural 

 modernization imply that genetic diversity 

 losses are great, though quantitative estimates 

 have not been made. 



Data for Decisionmaking 



In recent decades, inventories and monitor- 

 ing of ecosystems, species, and genetic types 

 have improved, and the knowledge of what ex- 

 ists has greatly enhanced abilities to maintain 

 diversity. Biologists, resource managers, and 

 conservationists concur that information avail- 

 able now is adequate in virtually every coun- 

 try to guide programs to maintain diversity. 



The circumstantial case for diversity loss in 

 the United States and other industrial countries 

 is bolstered by abundant site-specific data as 

 well as by regional survey data on ecosystems 

 and species. This information has moved pub- 

 lic and private organizations to allocate sub- 

 stantial resources to the establishment and man- 

 agement of nature reserves, abatement of 



pollution, and other programs that sustain bio- 

 logical diversity. Opportunities to improve the 

 use of these data are discussed in chapter 5. 



The situation is quite different in developing 

 countries. Circumstantial evidence of diversity 

 loss is compelling, and many countries have 

 designated parks and natural areas in recent 

 years. But the available data are not adequate 

 to support policy decisions to allocate enough 

 funds and other resources to maintain diver- 

 sity. Both money and trained personnel are 

 needed to develop the necessary information. 



Public and private funds that might be used 

 for conservation are extremely scarce. There- 

 fore, a great need exists for good data and com- 

 prehensive planning, so that whatever funds 

 can be allocated will be used effectively. Orga- 

 nizations such as The Nature Conservancy and 

 the lUCN are working to develop the data and 

 local planning expertise needed to adequately 

 assess the status of biological diversity and 

 prospects for its conservation. More concerted 

 support from public institutions is needed, how- 

 ever, both in the United States and abroad. 



CHAPTER 3 REFERENCES 



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4. Bean, M.)., The Evolution of National Wildlife 

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5. Connor, E.F., and McCoy, E.D., "The Statistics 

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6. Crawford, M., "Rhinos Pushed to the Brink for 

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7. Crawford, R.D., "Assessment of Poultry Genetic 

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