Ecosystem Management Case Study- Masai Mara

Location: Southern Kenya

Ecosystem: The MMNR is primarily a savannah ecosvstem. divided by

Mara river. The fertile regions close to the river are a combination of
rich grasslands and woodland - further from the river are open plains
with scattered shrubs and trees. The region is famous for its annual
zebra and wildebeest migrations. Also home to other mammals.

In the past. the region was dominated by the acacia bush.

Land Uses

Farming: Grazing- (semi-nomadic farming) tribe’s Ecotourism: the Masai mara relies on tourism for most
frequent moves depending of climate variation and the of its economic input. Thousands of people transferred
presence of tsetse flies. Allowed vegetation time to to the region each year, eager to see for themselves
recover from the snails l grazing whenever the farmers the vast numbers of animals present in their natural
moved on to another area. Grazing is now limited to habitat. Ecotourism is tourism directed towards natural
areas on the edge of the reserve as local tribes are environments to support conservations efforts to
prevented fork entering the park. observe wildlife – sustainable development which
reduce the impact that tourism has on naturally
Cultivation- the level of cultivation the region of the
beautiful environments
Masai Mara has increased in recent years. As grassland
has been converted to crop land, natural vegetation is
removed and nutrients in the soil are used up. Over
time this leads to reliance on fertilisers for effective
crop growth.

Management
Conservation: pays an important role in the Research: the Michigan State University studying the
conservation of endangered species. Some of the most behaviours physiology of the predator spotted hyena.
popular large mammals have experienced population And the Mara-meru cheetah project aims to monitor
declines in the recent years. Black rhinos are the most the cheetah population and evaluate human activity on
endangered animals in Africa and their horn is cheetah behaviour and survival.
traditionally used for medicine in south east Asia. An
active conversation and protection programme was
established to encourage a balance between the needs
of local communities and those of the wildlife.
Evaluation of Ecosystem Management and the balance
between human/animal populations:l

 Legal hunting is used to cull excess animals.

This can successfully maintain population
numbers and bring in considerable amounts of
obey for conservation work- numbers must be
constantly monitored to ensure that levels are
sufficient to maintain the naobalnce of within
the ecosystem
Exam Style Questions:
1. Describe the ecosystem of the Masai Mara (1 mark)
… Savannah ecosystem, with fertile regions around the Mara river (woodlands and rich grasslands)
and scattered shrubs and trees further away.
2. State two ways in which humans use the lands of the Masai Mara (1 mark)
Grazing - allowing their cattle to eat the vegetation to produce milk and meat
Research - Michigan State University
3. Explain how and why local Masai tribes have changed their style of farming in recent years. (4 marks)
The tribes have moved their grazing to the outskirts of the reserve to allow vegetation to grow and
be consumed by the animals in the reserve. Cultivation has increased to facilitate the increase of
tourism and to produce crops.
4. The Masai Mara region receives around 300 000 visitors each year. State and explain the positive and
negative impacts of this influx of people into the region. (6 marks)
Positive:
The income from tourism supports the conservation of the wildlife in the reserve.
Tourists will get to experience Masai tribe life and observe their way of life
Negative:
Tourist movements may contribute to habitat changes such as; soil erosion.

Ecosystem Management Case Study- Terai region of Nepal

Location: the southern part of Nepal along the border with India

Ecosystem: the region is hit and hiking in the summer months and
is composed of a fertile alluvial soil which is rich in plant nutrients.
Area of extend biodiversity

Sustainability

Forest Management: Agriculture:

First management is provide a livelihood for then local The terai requires a range of management strategies
people ensure the conservation of forests. And provide for sustainable land use to prevent damage of the
the Nepali state with considerable income for general ecosystem:
development.
 Promoting the production of fruits and
vegetables in the hills and mountain regions to
avoid further intensification of the terai.
 Improving irrigation facilities to enhance crop
production

Evaluation of Sustainability:

Through the implementation of sustainable forestry

and agricultural practices the terai region is now being
managed in a manner that will secure bothered the
biodiversity of the region and the economic welfare of
the residents in the future.
Exam Style Questions:
1. Describe the ecosystem of the Terai region of Nepal (2 marks)
The region is hot and humid and the soil of Terai is rich in plant nutrients. There are large areas of
thick forest and also subtropical plants
2. State two ways humans use the Terai region of Nepal (1 mark)
The Terai is the main agricultural region in Nepal and is used for growing crops. Large areas of the
forest have been cleared to sell as timber.
3. Explain how sustainable forestry and agriculture practices are being used in the Terai region to maintain
biodiversity while also meeting the needs of the local population. (4 marks)
Local community forestry groups set prices, rules and plans for the harvesting of the forest and
determine how surplus income is spent. There has been an income generation through forest
protection and an increase in retail price of forestry products, meaning more money is being put in
the economy. Sustainable wood fuel sources contribute to 75% of local household requirements.
Improving irrigation techniques to enhance crop production and growing nitrogen-fixing crops.

Ecosystem Management Case Study- Peat Bogs

What is a peat bog? Region of wet , spongy ground that contains
decomposing vegetation
 Loss of ecosystem:
Lowland raised bogs are one example of a peatland ecosystem. They are a rare and threatened habitat.
In the UK, the area of relatively undisturbed lowland raised bog is estimated to have diminished by
over 90%, from around 950 km to only 60 in the last 100 years. It is essential that the remaining areas
are conserved to maintain biodiversity - their maintenance will a so contribute to flood management,
erosion control downstream, and carbon storage.

Conservation:

The key to conserving lowland bogs is to maintain or restore appropriate water levels:

 Ensuring the leaf and vegetation of the bog surface is as undisturbed and as wet as possible.
 Removal of seedling rollers from the area. Trees have a high water requirement due to transpiration.
 Using controlled grazing do maintain biodiversity of peatland.

Evaluation of Conservation:

Exam Style Questions:

Peat bogs are ecosystems that contain unique communities of invertebrates, bird species, and wetland plants.

Sphagnum mosses represent a vital part of peat bog ecosystems. These species of moss require a high soil moisture
content.

Almost all of the peat bogs in the UK have been affected by human activity.

The following management activities were planned in a peat bog ecosystem:

 the planting of a small area of conifer trees at the edge of the peatland
 a ban on the extraction of peat for use as compost
 reintroduction of natural sphagnum mosses
 the construction of a ditch as a flood prevention measure
 extended grazing by cattle and a large flock of sheep
 managed burning to create new growth for livestock grazing
 the construction of a boardwalk to replace several sets of footpath

1. Suggest improvements that could be made to these plans.

Explain why your improvements would help conservation of the peat bog ecosystem (3 marks)
… No/less burning - death of rare species No ditch - drains the peat bog No/less trees - also drain
peat bogNo/controlled grazing - overgrazing disrupts the food chain

2. Explain why the preservation of peat bog ecosystems is not a strategy that can be used in most cases.

Preservation leaves ecosystems untouched/without human interference Many peat bogs have
been damaged already and require human management
3. Environmentally Sensisive Ecosystems Case Study- The Galapagos Islands
Location: archipelago of volcanic islands that rise up from
the bed of the Pacific Ocean 100km west of Ecuador.

Ecosystem:

Species Present
Animal: Plant:

 The Galapagos giant tortoise  Salt tolerant species such as mangrove and
 Flightless cormorant saltbush
 The marine iguana  Drought tolerant species such as cacti and the
carob tree
 Dense clouds forests- the tees support
populations of mosses and liverworts
 Control of Human Activities:

The whalers disrupted the islands fragile ecosystems by allowing domestic animals to roam loose chopping
Forrest’s for fires to render down whale fat and removing tens of thousands of live giant tortoises.

The Galapagos national park used to protect the living and the non living parts of the this unique ecosystem:

 Introduction is park ranger s across the islands

 Limiting human access to particular islands
 Controlling migration to and from the islands
 Strict controls over movement of introduced animals

Environmentally Sensitive Ecosystems Case Study- Antarctica

Location: southern continent in the world, containing the
South Pole and stretching an area of 14 million km2 . The
majority of Antarctica is covered in ice, making it the
largest ice sheet in the world - it holds 90% of all of the
Earth’s surface freshwater

Ecosystem: one of the most extreme environments in the

world with temperatures averaging the -40°Cs. Antarctica
is so dry that it can be considered a desert, making it
scientifically speaking the largest desert in the world.

Species Present
Animal: Plant:

 Penguins  Antarctic hair grass

 Seals  Antarctic pearlwort
 Orca
 Some invertebrates
 Control of Human Activities:
The Antarctic treaty of 1959 governs the activities in Antarctica in the last 100 years increasing
numbers of tourists have been visiting Antarctica:
 Scientific cooperation between nations
 Protection of the Antarctic
Environ ment
 Conservation of plants and animals
 Designation of management of protected areas
 Management of tourism

Environmentally Sensitive Ecosystems Case Study- Snowdonia National Park, Wales

Location: covers
2000 square kilometres of countryside in north-west
Wales.

Ecosystem: It contains the highest mountain range in

England and Wales, with four peaks over 1000
metres (including Mount Snowdon at 1085m). This
rugged terrain includes lakes and fast-flowing rivers,
and wide tracts of accident woodland and heath.

Species Present
Animal: Plant:
 Coast and estuary birds such as choughs,  Snowdon lily
cormorants and oystercatchers.
 Oak
 Forest birds such as pied flycatcher,
redstart, and wood warblers.  Alder
 Moorland and mountain bird such as  Wych elm
ospreys, buzzards, and sparrow hawks 
There are also over 40 species of land mammal
present in Snowdonia including badgers, voles,
 Control of Human Activities:
Snowdonia National Park was created in 1951 to conserve the biodiversity of the region. The Park is
home to over 25,000 people, many of whom work on the land. It also attracts several million visitors
each year. Climbing, walking, cycling and water sports are some of the most popular activities.
The key purposes of the Park authority are to:
 Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area.
 Promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Park.

Environmentally Sensitive Ecosystems Case Study- The Lake District, Engl

Location: The Lake district is England's largest National Park,

at over 2292 km².

Ecosystem: The National Park contains Scafell Pike, England Highest mountain, and wastwater, its deepest
lake. Terrain within the park includes regions of moorlands and fell, and includes 16 lakes dammed by
glacial moraines (soil and rock debris) around the end of the last ice age. The dales and fringes of lakes
provide a rich variety of habitats, including areas of ancient woodlands.
Species present:

Animal:

 Water voles
 Natterjack toads
 A number pf species of bats
 Red deer
 Golden eagle
 Osprey

Plants:

 Purple saxifrage
 alpine cinquefoi
 Dwarf juniper and dwarf willow (Salix herbacea)

Control of human activities:

The role of the Lake District National Park Authority is like that of Snowdonia - to conserve the region while
enabling access for many millions of visitors each year. Through the active management of the countryside,
for example, through replanting native tree species, this fragile ecosystem is being secured for generations
to come.
Environmentally Sensitive Ecosystems Exam Style Questions : Answer based on one of Galapagos,
Antarctica, Lake District, Snowdonia

1. Using a named region, state and explain how a human activity is controlled to limit its effect on the
populations of flora or fauna (4 mark)
Antarctica. The human activity of whaling causes a reduction in population of fin whales. This has
been controlled by a worldwide ban on whaling
2. Environmentally sensitive regions often receive many visitors each year. State and explain the social and
environmental impacts on the region of this influx of people (6 marks)

Snowdonia National Park:

- social: visitors bring money whcih creates jobs and enhances local population and supports local
businesses
- environmental: visitors bring money which can be reinvested in conservation projects and visitors raise
profile of a region to enable environmental campaigns to gain publicity. However many visitors cause
erosion of paths/poaching