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The Urgent Need to Maintain Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the description of the natural state of the planet. It is not something that humans can create, they can only manage it. Biodiversity is an important aspect of the earth’s ecosystem. It is extremely unfortunate that mankind will realize this when it is already too late. The most urgent problem right now is to maintain the level of biodiversity in this world but it has to begin with a more in-depth understanding of how different species of flora and fauna can be saved from extinction. The lack of knowledge is the main reason why many are apathetic when it comes to conservation of the earth’s natural resources, especially when it comes to maintaining the earth’s biodiversity.
Three different but related scientific works will be consulted in this study in order to have a more well-rounded view of biodiversity as well as to reach a level of understanding that humans are part of the earth’s ecosystem. Humans must be active participants in conserving planet earth because he could not afford to be indifferent to its plight. Apathy will only bring destruction because no matter how technologically advanced the human race has become, it will not be able to survive without living organisms. According to Lovelock, they are man’s partner in keeping this planet alive. Every organism, including man is dependent on the integrity of the earth’s ecosystem.
Urgent Need to Reform Behavior
There is a common thread that weaves through the works of E.O. Wilson, John Cobb, and James Lovelock. It is the idea that humans must have a heightened awareness of its destructive actions. Wilson said the rate of decline is impossible to measure because of the numerous species that are in the wild and that no one really has an accurate data on every single species of flora and fauna that existed since the beginning of time.
But there is one way to get a basic understanding of how biodiversity has declined in recent centuries. Wilson’s article will help provide this insight when he described the current state of tropical rainforests. Referring to rainforests Wilson wrote, “….although these habitats cover only 7% of the Earth’s land surface, they contain more than half the species in the entire world biota” (Wilson, 8). Knowing that tropical rainforests are being threatened by human activity one will have a basic knowledge of the rapid decline of biodiversity in the planet.
Cobb has the same basic premise but he wanted to emphasize the reason why humans are indifferent to the plight of the earth’s ecosystem and threatened species of flora and fauna. Cobb said that “In the pursuit of economic gain, most people do not want to be bothered by questions about biodiversity” (Cobb, 481). But instead of simply appealing to the scientific mind – the path that Wilson took – Cobb appealed to human life outside the scope of biology. From reading Cobb’s arguments one can get the idea that human life is more than eating nutritious food and inhaling fresh air. By destroying forest cover, killing species of fish and birds man has forever lost the chance to enjoy the interaction with these plants and animals.
Decades from now a beautiful mountain covered with evergreen trees will appear as an eyesore with its bald spots – unable to sustain a single tree. In other words there is more at stake than what was previously thought. The fight for biodiversity is not just about nature but also about the richness of human experience forever lost. Cobb also asserted that Western thought has perpetuated the idea that man is the most important being on this earth and that everything must be done to ensure that man live comfortably and if the acquisition of material possessions require the destruction of the environment then so be it.
Lovelock pointed out that the utter disregard for the condition of the planet is dangerous not only to the species that are pushed to the brink of extinction but also to human life. It is therefore ironic that in man’s desire to build a city that will sustain the survival of his species he has created a trend that will lead to the destruction of every living organism on this earth. Lovelock provided convincing arguments that the earth is not just a piece of giant rock where man, animals and plants use as their habitat but in reality it is also a living organism. Lovelock said that like the astronauts who had the rare chance of seeing the planet in its entirety, humans must also endeavor to see the whole planet not divided by regions and politics but as one whole, and each part is needed for its survival.
Maintaining Biodiversity
In order to maintain biodiversity one must be prepared for an uphill battle. There is very little incentive to protect the planet much less to protect a seemingly insignificant insect living in an island far away from home. Who really cares if a species of ant in Borneo must be conserved for future generations? Life is so short to be bothered by those kinds of problems. This is the main problem faced by conservationists and scientists who are predicting more problems up ahead. Still this is no excuse to give up the fight. As human population has gone past the 6 billion mark it is time to work harder to find ways on how man and diverse living organisms can share this planet.
Biodiversity is one standard that can be used so that concerned citizens will know if they are winning the battle to save planet earth. It is no longer enough to simply plant trees on denuded mountains. It is no longer enough to protect oceans, rivers and streams from pollution. There is now the urgent need to maintain biodiversity. Biodiversity is about maintaining a fragile ecosystem that relies on different species of flora and fauna to attain sustainability.
A basic example is the relationship between predators and the smaller animals that they prey on. If predators are eliminated from the equation there can be no way to maintain the normal number of animals that they consume for food. An imbalance in this scale can be amplified if other organisms are made extinct. The imbalance can create a chain reaction of events that will lead to the destruction of plants and animals needed by humans. Imagine for a moment if all the bees are dead, then who will take care of pollination? Without thinking of biodiversity in the long term man may experience more serious problems aside from the need to eat hamburgers and fries every weekend.
Cobb and Lovelock
The views of Cobb and Lovelock are very important to the discussion of biodiversity and the need to rally humans to take a more responsible outlook when it comes to taking care of planet earth. Cobb’s contribution is in pinpointing the root cause of man’s indifference to this issue. Aside from the need to make profit, the average person was made to believe that he is the dominant species on this planet and therefore lower life forms exist to satisfy his needs. This mental hurdle must be dealt first. Wilson’s rhetoric will not make any sense as long as man believes that his survival is of utmost importance.
Lovelock adheres to this view but he finds a better way of convincing people that it is time to change their ways. Lovelock made a convincing argument that flora, fauna, and Homo sapiens are in the same boat. In other words man has no choice but to help because his apathy will lead to his destruction. Lovelock was able to achieve this by pointing out the scientific evidence that the earth is a living organism and that all the organisms in this planet behave in such a way to maintain life on earth. It is just ironic that while plants and animals cooperate in the process of sustaining planet earth, man is ignorant about this truth. It is time to heed the warning of Wilson that there is a need for further investigation and a need to disseminate information about the current state of biodiversity on planet earth.
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