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VERSION:2.0
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:iCalendar-Ruby
BEGIN:VEVENT
LAST-MODIFIED:20070321T162155
SEQUENCE:0
CONTACT:events@earthwatch.org.uk
ORGANIZER:Earthwatch
DTEND:20070913T203000
UID:2008-09-07T23:30:59-0400_331034416@socialweb1
DESCRIPTION:The conservation of species and their habitats is a priority\, 
 but it is a complicated business. The public's major focus is\, not unnatur
 ally\, on saving 'big profile' species\, while scientists and conservationi
 sts must take difficult and delicate decisions on how best to safeguard a w
 hole ecosystem by considering all the elements within it\, from major preda
 tors down to the smallest invertebrate. Focusing on one species at the expe
 nse of others can have serious outcomes for all. Here\, two of our scientis
 ts give insights into the interrelationship between large herbivores and th
 eir refuge in Africa's oldest park\, and investigate the role of threatened
  bat populations in Malaysia's rainforest ecosystems. \n\n*Malaysian Bat Co
 nservation*\n_Dr. Tigga Kingston (Boston University)_\n\nSince the mid 1990
 s\, Malaysia has been losing its rainforests at a rate of 2.4 percent a yea
 r to logging\, agriculture\, and resort development\; and with this rainfor
 est loss\, Malaysia is also losing bats. Today\, 34 species in Malaysia are
  listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened and endangered species. Rainfore
 st bats are particularly vulnerable as they are adapted just for forest liv
 ing. Not only are bats a key component of Malaysian biodiversity\, they als
 o provide valuable services in pollination\, seed-dispersal and the predati
 on of troublesome insect pests.\n\n*Zebras\, Giraffes & Rhinos of the Savan
 nah*\n_Sue van Rensburg (KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service)_\n\nHlu
 hluwe-iMfolozi Park in South Africa was the last refuge for white rhinos a 
 century ago.  Now it harbours a healthy population of 1\,650\, as well as b
 lack rhinos\, giraffes\, elephants\, zebras and others\, but all these larg
 e herbivores have an enormous impact on the ecosystem.  An overpopulation o
 f any one of them can mean massive destruction to their habitats and instab
 ility to the other wildlife populations.  Sue van Rensburg is conducting an
  ongoing survey of the 15 largest herbivores in the park\, thereby contribu
 ting to a long-term database of population trends and supporting effective 
 management.
SUMMARY:Animals and their Ecosystems
DTSTART:20070913T190000
CREATED:20070321T162154
DTSTAMP:20080907T233059
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