Protecting Biodiversity
The issue of the
world going through a biodiversity crisis is common in the global arena today.
It is estimated that about 16,000 species are in verge of extinction, including
12% of birds, 23% of mammals and 32% of amphibians. Human impact is the main
contributing factor to the biodiversity crisis (Mcneely, p. 20). Effects of
human activities such as climate change, deforestation and pollution continue
to destroy the habitats of wildlife globally. It is important to note that
biologists believe that the problem is reversible. This can be done through
various efforts to reduce human impact on the environment. However, this has
not been politically easy as there are various challenges that hinder the
efforts. Wilson
(1988) notes that it is in the best interest of humanity to protect
biodiversity.
The basic nature
of ecological system is a particular blend or rather variety of living things. Sarkar
(2002) suggests that the biodiversity, or the diverse living things that are
found on earth, is basic to the existence of life. The importance of
biodiversity to the existence cannot be underestimated. Humans have been the
greatest factor behind the destruction of biodiversity. Their role in this
problem has come to light and the awareness of the importance of biodiversity
they have tried to put various efforts to protect it. Biodiversity is a crucial
part of life on the earth. The interdependence of all living things on earth
cannot be over-emphasized. This means that there is a natural interdependence
between living things. Living things from this point of view includes human
beings. The interdependence develops and maintains ecological systems. The most
familiar of these systems are Earth’s biomes: Forests, Tundra, Aquatic,
Grasslands, and Deserts. As a matter of fact, life is the fundamental feature
that makes a distinction between biomes. “Biomes are defined as ‘the world’s
major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized
by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment’[1].”
In the absence of organisms or vegetations, the biomes would not be
distinguished from each other. It is thus evidence that life plays a
fundamental part in the working of ecosystems. The diversity or variety of life
has a major part to play in the evolution (Wilson, p. 134).
The evolutionary
theory holds that the greater the diversity that is there within a specific
family or genus, the more it is adapted to survival in environmental changes.
It is thus clear that evolution is dependent on biodiversity. It is also
important to note that evolution is important for all organisms including human
beings. Nevertheless, human beings have been the main contributing factor to
the speedy evolutionary change (Mcneely, p. 20). Human beings are continually
destroying the ecosystems. Their activities are making plants and animals to
disappear from the face of the earth. It should be noted that the environment
would be changing naturally even without human intervention, but important to
note is that human activities are causing this to happen at a devastating rate.
The changes are so fast that different species and ecological systems are
failing or struggling to adapt. It is for this reason that it is for the best
interest of humanity to protect biodiversity (Sarkar, p. 133).
In the modern
world, there are various ways through which species as well as ecosystems are
being destroyed. Land cultivation and land use is one of the main harmful
activities. It is one of the responsible factors behind the loss of
biodiversity. It is estimated that about a quarter of the surface of the earth
is farmland. This problem is normally overlooked as it is viewed as helpful to humanity. Important to note is that the most productive
areas are in favorable climates. These also happen to be the areas containing
the highest amount of biodiversity. The tropics are a good example to
illustrate this. This is where there are tropical rainforests as well as cloud
forests. Such forests are being cleared to make room for farmlands. Pesticides
and fertilizers are being used in such a large amount that they are harming
land, killing and driving way animals. Those farming fail to understand that
their crops depend on the forests to rains and the other organisms that they
are killing with the chemicals. Additionally, the farmlands are being filled
with chemicals such that they are no longer productive. Farmers are forced to
clear a new plot of land, thus continuing the cycle of destruction (Sarkar, p.
134).
Preservation of
wild animals is definitely for the benefits of humanity. Different species are
becoming extinct at a very high rate. World animals most of which have been a
source of economic benefits are disappearing from the face of the earth at a
very fast rate. Humans are in the habits of waiting until a species is almost
completely gone to begin efforts to reverse the situation. At times, it is too
late to achieve any positive results. The main cause of endangered species is
animal activities such as hunting, fishing and poaching, or complete
destruction of the natural habitats of the animals. Gene erosion is happening
at a very high rate, decreasing the number of species, some of which have many
benefits to humanity (Wilson,
p. 293).
Pollution and
toxification are a major concern in the world. There are very many pollutants
and other toxins that are being emitted into the environment. Through the chain
of life, entire ecosystems can be destroyed by long-term pollution. Pollutants
affect soil as well as ground water causing major harm to life. Pollutants into
the atmosphere cause acid rain which affects crops and building among other
serious effects. Reproduction anomalies
in various species such as those found in water have been noted as a result of
pollution and toxification. There is fear from scientists that such anomalies
could eventually affect human beings (Cracraft and Grifo, p.25).
According to Wilson (1992) climate
change is a major issue in the world today, believed to be caused by various
human activities. Natural climate changes have occurred for ages affecting
biodiversity as well as ecological systems. However, the increase in the speed
in which the changes are taking place in the current times is attributed to human
activities. The changes caused by human beings are threatening biodiversity and
thus life on earth. “Were the average temperature to rise by several degrees
Celsius, that warming would probably be followed by potentially large
reorganizations of some ecological communities[2].”
Overpopulation is
another factor that has major effects on biodiversity. Recent development in
technology in science and technology has led to increase in populations. This
leads to destruction of the natural environment to create more space to live, as
well as agricultural and industrial space (Wilson, p. 225).
It is painfully
evident that human beings are the main contributors to the destruction of
biodiversity, as well as the environment in general. It is important to
recognize that as rational beings, human beings are able to realize the problem
they have developed and the solutions that are required to reverse the
situation (Mcneely, p. 22). They also have the ability to complete these tasks.
Two points of view exist to explain the
reasons why it is in the best interest of humanity to protect biodiversity as
well as the environment in general: intrinsic reasoning and anthropocentric.
There is a belief
that there exist intrinsic reasons for protecting biodiversity, detached from
their desires and needs. The argument in this case is founded on the idea that
human beings are part of nature. They are not separate from nature. For
instance, evolution is what caused the humanity to be, and human beings are the
same people destroying the biodiversity that made evolution possible. A
comparable, but somewhat different perspective behind this theory is that
nature was not created by humans and thus they have no right to hard it. All the species have the right to be and
should not be destroyed by human beings. Additionally, because humans have
caused destruction to the nature, they should take necessary measures to
rectify it (Cracraft and Grifo, p.65).
The other theory
explaining why humans should protect nature is the anthropocentric theory. The
theory is founded on the point of view that biodiversity is of value to
humanity. One of the reasons is based on the goods that are gotten from nature.
One such good is food. Food, from vegetables to animals, is very essential to
human existence another example is clothing. Closes are made from biodiversity,
whether cotton used currently or skin that was used in the past. Other goods
are medicines that are obtained from natural sources. There are various other
crops that have not been tested leaving room for more discoveries (Wilson, p. 245).
There are various
services provided by the natural environment that have economic benefits. For
example, biodiversity assists in keeping water clean as well as naturally
managing watershed and waterflow. Plants and trees maintain clean air because
of the constant exchange of gases, carbon dioxide and oxygen. The diversity
also helps in regulating the climate. It is approximated that would require in
excess of three trillion dollars to use man-made services in place of the
natural services (Mcneely, p. 23).
The nature has a
recreational as well as aesthetic benefit. Humans are always participating in
activities like hiking, camping, and birding. Additionally, the value of
tourism is great. Ecotourism, for instance, has become very popular in the
recent past. This has increased the awareness regarding biodiversity (Wilson,
p. 335).
In summary, it has
emerged that biodiversity is a basic element of life on earth. It developed
multifaceted ecological systems that would not be created by man. The value of
the biodiversity, essentially and to human beings, is beyond measure, and
therefore ought to be protected. Humanity both wants and needs biodiversity. Although
humans continue to destroy biodiversity, sometimes without being aware of the
impact of their actions, more and more humans are becoming aware and understand
the need to preserve biodiversity.
Work cited:
Cracraft Joel & Grifo, Francesca
T. The Living Planet in Crisis:
Biodiversity Science and Policy,
Columbia:
Columbia University Press, 1999
Mcneely Jeffrey A. The Nature of
Biodiversity Protection, Nomadic Peoples
7(1) (2003) pp. 20-
28
Sarkar Sahotra. Defining “Biodiversity”; Assessing Biodiversity,
The Monist 85(1) (2002) pp.
131-136
Wilson E. O. Biodiversity, Contributions from a National Forum on BioDiversity.
National
Academy Press, Washington, D.C.,
1988,
Wilson E. O. The Diversity of Life, Harvard
Univ. Press, Cambridge, Mass.,
1992
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