Biodiversity - Page 5 - By Mara Hurwitt


Intangible Benefits of Biodiversity
Conservation of biological diversity is critical to maintaining a healthy biosphere, economic prosperity, and the availability of products necessary to the health and welfare of mankind. Beyond these, biodiversity also provides us with spiritual, aesthetic, and educational benefits. The belief systems of many cultures place a great moral value on the preservation of biological diversity. And for many people, the incredible diversity of natural ecosystems is an inspirational reminder of the interconnectedness of all of Earth's living creatures.
The Precautionary Principle
A final note on the value of biodiversity. Only a fraction of the Earth's life forms have been described by scientists, and even fewer have been screened for their potential applications in medicine, agriculture, etc. or in helping us adapt to changing environments and ecological circumstances. Yet human beings continue to destroy and degrade natural habitats and drive species to extinction at an alarming rate. The Precautionary Principle is a simple warning: like the periwinkles of Madagascar, there are other potential life saving substances to be discovered among the Earth's diverse species. Of that we can be certain; however, we do not know where these resources will be found - or even if some have already been forever lost to extinction.
Preserving Biodiversity
Although the Earth exhibits a remarkable degree of biological diversity, we are now experiencing a rapid loss of that diversity both regionally and globally. This steady decline - which is occurring at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels - will critically impact the stability and sustainability of a biosphere capable of supporting both human and non-human life.

Man's conversion of highly diverse natural ecosystems into species-poor managed ecosystems has been responsible for most of this decline. These transformations have had a serious impact on basic ecological services. Many ecosystem processes exhibit acute sensitivity to even minor declines in local biodiversity, and modifications to one part of an ecosystem can have unforeseen effects on other parts of the community due to the complexity of ecosystem interrelationships. Well before a species reaches total global extinction, its' declining populations will cease contributing to local ecosystem processes necessary for soil fertility, water and air quality, plant productivity, pest and disease control, and resistance to drought and floods.

The conservation of biodiversity endeavors to maintain essential ecological processes and the life support system they provide. Man's survival depends on the sustainable use of biological resources vital to his existence and well-being. Left unchecked, the continued erosion of biological diversity threatens future sources of food, medicines, and our very ability to adapt to global change.

The last of these provides one of the most widely supported justifications for conserving global biodiversity per se, rather than only those elements that are presently exploited for human use. The value of biodiversity in ensuring our potential for future adaptation has been associated by biologists with the variety of genes, and their useful phenotypic traits or characters. Because it is impossible to predict which of these genes or characters will be of future value, it is in mankind's best interests to preserve as many as possible.

If only in our own self-interest, biodiversity conservation must, therefore, address all three of the traditional levels of biological diversity: Ecosystem diversity for the maintenance of a life-sustaining biosphere, species diversity for the biological resources it provides, and genetic diversity for our ability to adapt to change.

Because of the intrinsic values of diversity it seeks to preserve, biodiversity conservation differs from traditional programs aimed at nature conservation. It requires comprehensive, proactive efforts that will promote sustainable use policies and maintain the Earth's biotic wealth for the future.

Conserving biodiversity entails a combination of international, national, and local actions. Although most decisions regarding conservation are made at the local level, those decisions are often influenced by international policies - and their outcomes, such as habitat destruction, may have international ramifications. The 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement providing a comprehensive legal framework for the preservation of world ecosystems. It has so far been ratified by 176 countries, the United States not among them.

The United States has enacted a variety of environmental legislation aimed at protecting diversity within its own borders, such as the Endangered Species Act. However, responsibility for environmental and ecological protection is gradually shifting from the federal government to the individual states. The states are already responsible for most wildlife management within their borders and, to a great extent, control land use and development - and habitat destruction or preservation. Only four states have formal policies concerning biodiversity, yet decisions on land use made at the local and state levels directly affect the rate of species extinction.

Each extinction is irreversible and represents a loss of unique genes, undiscovered resources, and critical ecosystem processes. We are only now beginning to appreciate the true value of the natural world and its preservation to our own future. Hopefully, it is not too late.

Conserving biodiversity begins with individual and community efforts. You can make a difference by becoming involved in existing programs - or establishing new ones - in your local community.

If you would like to learn more about biological diversity, a great deal of information can be found on the world wide web, including the references listed on our reference and link page. The wonderful book The Diversity of Life, by Pulitzer Prize winner Dr. Edward O. Wilson, is among many other excellent resources available on the subject.
References and Links >>

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