The 1992 Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) conceded that the eminent adversity threatening biological and resource diversity is a global calamity. Pertaining to biodiversity alone, studies have revealed that about 1.4 million of all known species (comprising of 26.96% of flora and 73.04% of fauna) are in existence globally (WCMC, 1992; Bhargava, 2006). Despite the rich biological diversities, there are manifestations that, these global diversities are constantly disappearing at quite an alarming proportion. Biodiversity levels are projected to be deteriorating across the globe with about 25% of all mammals threatened by extinction in the next three (3) decades (Yelfaanibe, 2011). Some scholars have advanced reasons responsible for the failure …show more content…
Cocks (2006) stresses that it is vital to explicitly appreciate the responsibilities played by human diversity in biodiversity conservation since biodiversity represents a source of raw material on which the processes of evolution hinge on. The less diversity there is, the greater the chances that life itself could be obliterated owing to lack of resilience to environmental change. There is vital need to sustain and conserve biodiversity since it provides humans with diverse ways of understanding and interacting with the world and ultimately offers diverse possibilities for human futures (Milton, 1996). Cultural diversity has become more intricate and stems from the fact that since humans came into existence, many distinct societies have mutated and surfaced around the globe with marked vicissitudes many of which persist up to the present time. Beyond the obvious cultural diversity that exist between peoples, such as language, dress and traditions, there are also substantial variations in their shared conceptions of worldviews, knowledge and morality, in the manner societies organize themselves, and in the manner they interact and interrelate with their environment (Rist and Haverkort, 2007). Consequently, the role of cultural diversity in sustaining the diversities in biological life form under no circumstance should be under-estimated. The notion of a cultural diversity encompasses the presence of many distinct modes of understanding, different systems of values, different kinds of knowledge within the world as a whole, and within individual societies (Calhoun et al., 1997:99). The belief in the supernatural as couched in the local worldviews or knowledge systems form the basis for safeguarding the way traditional institutions function. In the Upper East Region of Ghana, traditional institutions would include
Jared Diamond, author of the Pulitzer Prize Winning, National Best Selling book Guns, Germs and Steel, summarizes his book by saying the following: "History followed different courses for different peoples because of differences among peoples' environments, not because of biological differences among peoples themselves." Guns, Germs and Steel is historical literature that documents Jared Diamond's views on how the world as we know it developed. However, is his thesis that environmental factors contribute so greatly to the development of society and culture valid? Traditions & Encounters: A Brief Global History is the textbook used for this class and it poses several different accounts of how society and culture developed that differ from Diamond's claims. However, neither Diamond nor Traditions are incorrect. Each poses varying, yet true, accounts of the same historical events. Each text chose to analyze history in a different manner. Not without flaws, Jared Diamond makes many claims throughout his work, and provides numerous examples and evidence to support his theories. In this essay, I will summarize Jared Diamond's accounts of world history and evolution of culture, and compare and contrast it with what I have learned using the textbook for this class.
“A Personal Foreword: The Value of Native Ecologies” in Peter KNUDTSON and David SUZUKI. Wisdom Of The Elders. Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 2001 [1992]: XXI–XXXV
As discussed previously, Kareiva and Marvier argue that focusing on human welfare does not have to sacrifice biodiversity (962-969). However, some find that the argument only holds when conservation itself is tied to a clearly outlined conservation agenda (Sanderson and Redford 389). For conservation efforts to be successful, multiple countries and agencies need to cooperate (“Lecture Week 13”). Conservationists, economists, and political strategists must find conservation issues that do not hinder efforts to alleviate issues of the human condition such as global poverty and world hunger. In actuality, biodiversity loss and poverty are linked, but conservation strategies that will reap success in integrating the two need clear conceptual frameworks (Adams et al. 1146). In order to find a balance and to foster stability for lasting and sustainable development and environmental health, it is important to take humans out of the equation when assessing the status of the environment, and to implement formal scientific strategies to conservation policies (Erwin
Landscape fragmentation contributes to loss of migratory corridors, loss of connectivity and natural communities, which all lead to a loss of biodiversity for a region. Conservation of biodiversity must include all levels of diversity: genetic, species, community, and landscape (CNHP 1995). Each complex level is dependent upon and linked to the other levels. In addition, humans are linked to all levels of this hierarchy. A healthy natural and human environment go hand in hand (CNHP 1995). An important step in conservation planning, in order to guarantee both a healthy natural environment as well as a healthy human environment, is recognizing the most endangered elements.
In the article The Clash of Cultures, William Cronon and Richard White delve into “the interrelations between people and their environment,” (11) specifically, between the American Indians and the Europeans and the Americas. The reason Cronon and White wrote this article was, “In part, a result of our current concern with pollution and the exhaustion of valuable natural resources, but it has also proved to be a valuable way of learning more about how people of past generations and different cultures dealt with nature and with one another.” (11)
Susan Lindee and Ricardo Santos’ goal was to understand the contexts of genesis and development of biological anthropology around the world from an international standpoint, focusing on engagement with living human populations. Their contributors, scholars in history of science, science studies, and anthropology, were guided by key questions about national histories, collections, and scientific field practice.
Ember, Carol R., Melvin Ember, and Peter N. Peregrine. Anthropology. Thirteenth ed. Boston, MA: Prentice Hall, 2011. Print.
The Human Impact on Rainforests Human Impact on Rainforest is it a necessity? Rainforest are the beautiful gift of Mother Nature. It consists of the most magnificent species and plants in the world. 4.2% of the world’s animals live in the rainforest. This statistic it self shows how bad it would be to destroy such essential part of the worlds biodiversity.
Sodhi, Navjot S., and Paul R. Ehrlich. 2010. Conservation Biology for All. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
== = = Human beings are dependent on the Earth's diversity of species for our survival. Wild species play a vital role in the maintenance of the planets ecological functions, yet everyday on the planet 40-100 species become extinct.
Throughout history, many individuals wish to discover and explain the relationship between nature and society, however, there are many complexities relating to this relationship. The struggle to understand how nature and society are viewed and connected derives from the idea that there are many definitions of what nature is. The Oxford dictionary of Human Geography (2003), explains how nature is difficult to define because it can be used in various contexts as well as throughout different time and spaces. As a result of this, the different understandings of what nature is contributes to how the nature society relationship is shaped by different processes. In order to better understand this relation there are many theorists and philosophers
Boas, F. (1930). Anthropology. In, Seligman, E. R. A. ed., Encyclopaedia of Social Sciences. Macmillan: New York.
Biodiversity loss can lead to extinction, and hurt human life. It is our responsibility to take care of the environment. We bring in machines that harm the environment and destroy animal life. We need to limit ourselves on how much land and resources we consume. There are major issues that are causing species to become extinct and hurt our way of life and other animals do to the change in food chain.
Biodiversity crisis is the accelerating loss of species diversity and ecosystems mainly because of human actions. Biodiversity crisis is a greater threat to the survival of human beings on the earth because human beings are entirely dependent on biodiversity for livelihoods. The direct uses of biodiversity includes food, fiber, medicine, fuel wood, timber, building materials, industrial products (waxes, rubber, oils), and like. The indirect benefits of biodiversity are mainly the ecosystems services such as water purification, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, climate regulation, soil and water conservation, water quality, pollination, nutrient cycling and like. Currently, a large number of poor people in the developing world rely directly
Nowadays it is common to read articles in newspapers and magazines regarding biodiversity issues. Human beings have been knowingly and unknowingly destroying biodiversity since their existence. Biodiversity is the measure of the variety of species of animals living in an area. Forests are usually areas with high biodiversity while deserts are the opposite. Human beings have always destroyed biodiversity either by deforestation, or by some other means. Biodiversity depletion is a natural phenomenon. But the present levels of biodiversity depletion are many times higher than the natural rate. Recently the levels of loss in biodiversity have started causing global concern. Some of the main causes for loss in biodiversity are alteration of habitats, increasing levels of pollution and human population growth.