OOC: Yup, I'm back at it again, but this time, I have a draft about animal population fragmentation. I have read it and feel that something is missing with it, and so I ask you, the writers and voters of the WA, to help me figure that out. I also don't believe this is finished at all, and so I am open to opinions about it. Let me clear up one thing before I do, however. I received a comment about it from IA on the Ideas topic, and he believed it would be an issue to the evolution and natural selection of species. That is not the intention or result of this proposal. Ending fragmentation or creating solutions to it allows species to continue living and mating, increasing biodiversity all around. As we see in China in the modern-day, populations of pandas within the country are fragmented, and the animals are already endangered. The fragmentation seems to only continue being an issue and may end up with pandas being extinct in the wild. That threatens biodiversity where they live, since the bamboo they eat may grow without stopping, causing issues for the environment (unless humans come in to intervene, but that is a factor that may not come in). Real-world example over. There are, indeed, solutions to fragmentation, such as bridges for wildlife, as well as sectors being built for wildlife, expanding their habitat, and more among solutions. It matters what situation and what animal it is, though. The only reason this is not in the proposal itself is because, as it is written now, there is no real appropriate space to include solutions especially considering that not all subjects of fragmentation are the same.
Ending Animal Population Fragmentation
Category: Environmental | Area of Effect: All Businesses-Mild
The General Assembly,
Understanding the previous legislation passed by the General Assembly on endangered animals, protecting them from harm,
Considering that it is not complete, and only protects from a small part of the entire problem,
Knowing that in that case, an enhancement may be needed to ensure that other reasons for endangerment are addressed, and
Establishes that animal population fragmentation is detrimental to affected species due to potential reduction of genetic diversity, limitation of population growth, increased danger of extirpation, lower carrying capacities in their areas of residence, loss of ability to reach resources in some cases, lower life expectancy, and potential extinction in the wild, among other issues,
Notes that, while natural changes may result in the change of a fragmented population to be able to be free of fragmentation, nature is not certain, and can not wholly be accounted for to any degree in the immediate time,
Understanding that, by the nature of the detrimental effects listed above, fragmentation of animal populations potentially reduces the diversity of species and the overall biodiversity of the land on which they reside and in the nation that is in,
Hereby enacts the following:
- The following definitions are reviewed:
- “Animal population” is a group of individuals, classified as non-sapient wild animals, that make up the amount of that animal in a given area, excluding microscopic species.
- “Fragmentation” is the separation of animal populations by natural or artificial barriers that may cause a net detriment on an animal population.
- “Fragmenters” is further defined as the barriers keeping animal populations fragmented.
- "Microscopic Species" is defined as a species of non-sapient wild animals at or below a measurement of 0.25 mm in length.
- The World Assembly Endangered Species Committee (WAESC) shall:
- Research barriers between animal populations, both natural and artificial,
- Collect and provide data and information on fragmented species for use by national efforts to end fragmentation, and
- Assess whether the species in question is both able to be assisted at the time and is in danger of detriment from fragmentation.
- Member nations shall assist and cooperate with the WAESC in finding and researching said barriers.
- All member nations must conduct independent research on the effects the specific species gains from fragmentation, and submit the results to the WAESC to increase the information database on fragmented populations.
- All construction plans within any area of a member nation must be reviewed by an independent environmental body to implement plans to mitigate or neutralize foreseeable fragmentation from the construction project.
- All artificial fragmenters within an area of fragmentation must be reviewed and a decision made on the best course of action to assist the fragmented population, on non-microscopic populations.
- All member nations are required to take action to mitigate and minimize the effects of fragmentation if the animal in question meets the guidelines and the fragmentation is caused by artificial barriers.
- All member nations are encouraged to conduct programs to find and implement ways to mitigate fragmentation in areas where fragmentation is due to natural features while retaining said natural features.
- Funding shall be allocated from the General Fund to finance endeavors spawned from this resolution to member states who are unable to pay for such activities to occur.
Coauthored with Onionist Randosia