Conservation Biology

Conservation biology is a scientific field that studies the processes and patterns that maintain or alter biological diversity, and engages with applied research and policy in order to further biodiversity conservation. In order to achieve its [Page 350]positive and normative goals, conservation biology draws upon several subfields of ecology as well as the social sciences and philosophy to understand the human and ethical dimensions of ecological change and inform appropriate policy responses. Ecological subfields that contribute to basic and applied research in conservation biology include genetics, population and community ecology, as well as ecosystem and landscape ecology. Several social science disciplines—including economics, geography, anthropology, political science and sociology—have contributed theoretical and methodological tools.

The long history of human-induced transformations of the earth dates back at least ...