Systematics And Conservation Evaluation

Conservation of the Earth's diversity is one of the most important and daunting challenges faced by biologists and politicians alike. The challenge has been taken up and declarations of intent issued, but there remains the basic problem of defining what we are trying to conserve, and why. This collection of essays reflects the wide range of views that are held about what constitutes biodiversity; from its perception in terms of species numbers, categorization of landforms, or different ecological levels, to the view that biodiversity is a dynamic and socio-political necessity for our own survival. The problems of matching species numbers, species variety, and the systematic hierarchy to geographic areas which we may wish to save are also addressed. Given that we need to set priorities for conservation, it is suggested that the preservation of the systematic hierarchy - as the most complete representation of the evolutionary legacy - should be the goal of conservation, and ways are outlined by which this may be accomplished.