Ecosystem Management and Biodiversity
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There has been a shift from managing individual species
and their habitats toward managing the
ecosystem in which the species
reside. Although management of an individual species is often
required, managing ecosystems is a more effective approach to
maintaining the whole range of species that live in a geographical area
or landscape. This form of management is also described as
managing for biodiversity of the landscape.
The landscape approach for wildlife management is the only practical way to cover all the species because it is almost impossible to individually study all the animals that live in an area -- there are just too many. For example, protecting prairie wetland communities will save habitats and populations of all the plants and animals that live there, including the western blue flag and leopard frog (both threatened species). Maintaining healthy ecosystems is far more effective than last-minute efforts to rescue individual species.
Alberta Environment works closely with other government departments and services, university and private researchers, landowners, conservation groups, and federal government agencies such as the Canadian Wildlife Service and Parks Canada to conserve the biodiversity of our province.