The Loss of Biodiversity on the Ecosystems
A person’s health and welfare is subject to ecosystem benefits supplied by natural surroundings, such as the purification air and water, fisheries, woodlands, and nutrient recycling. These are principally commodities with no retails as well as no prices, hence their depletion frequently is not sensed by new economic money methods and may thus endure unrestricted. Resulting in a variety of pressures from population growth to climate change that causes biodiversity to deteriorate, and ecosystems are ceaselessly being defiled (EPA, 2011). Therefore, protecting biodiversity is essential to aiding and safeguarding the existence of many species in diverse ecosystems and everyone’s health and welfare.
Biodiversity depletion is driving ecological components nearer to a critical point where the situation leads to a new and irreversible development, from which they may never be capable of fulfilling their fundamental and important purposes again (EPA, 2011). The infinite preponderance of research of climate effects on different native collections expose dependable answers to global warming developments, including shifts of plants, animals, and people. Responses of native animals to the warming across the earth are thoroughly acknowledged by alterations in the timing of growth in plants, characteristically the early onset of spring, bird migration, and expansion of the growing period. This is because the ecosystem is a symbiotic, operating system of vegetation, wildlife, and microbes and may be as the desert, or as small as a small creek. Moreover, when one fundamental species is gone the life of the other entities within their own ecosystem would not live on or even thrive. Ecosystems support s...
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... species and supplies an economical method for concurrent preservation and recovery of an assortment of species. Even though species by species method however tremendously consequential to our endeavors of preserving biodiversity is ineffective (Graz, 2004).
While humankind develops, a new understanding of the proof that whole ecosystems and collections of species are in the declined and protecting special animals under the Endangered Species Act will not resolve all preservation difficulties. Furthermore, it will not essentially avert the requirement for imminent listings on the E.S.A; the justification of ecosystem preservation grows to be more compelling (Noss, LaRoe, & Scott, 2003). Proving that protecting biodiversity is essential, by aiding and safeguarding the existence of many species in diverse ecosystems, it will benefit everyone’s health and welfare.
One view on preserving biodiversity argues that it is imperative solely because species have intrinsic value. In his “What is Conservation Biology?” Soulé argues that the primary aim of conservation is the protection and continuity of entire communities and ecosystems, with an emphasis on protecting biodiversity because species have intrinsic or inherent value (Soulé 728). While it is valid that species should be conserved because they have value in themselves, it is not enough, nor is it the only aim of conservation. Soulé elaborates, however, that it is also important to improve biodiversity by modifying the rate at which biodiversity is changed because small changes in the present can yield large-scale results in the long run (733). This
I would argue that at the very least, there needs to be some form of triage implemented. The way the Endangered Species Act is currently allocating funds is mediocre at best and has many flaws. There is no denying there are limited resources so that makes efficient use of them even more important. Each of the systems of triage outlined in this paper have valid points and problematic components. Elements of each system could be combined into a nicely working plan that recovers the greatest number of species on a limited budget.
Humans have played major roles in destroying and protecting a variety of ecosystems. Currently there are many people involved in changing others views on protective earth practices and aware of their impact on changing environments. This is best seen in climate change, conservation movements, and hunting and fishing practices and policies. However, there are already major impacts from climate change, particularly in northern areas, the future impact of a changing climate is rarely considered when determining land-use, including environmental assessments. With expanding resource removal behaviours, the impact of a changing climate and human activities on vulnerable wild life and ecosystems is a big problem. Adding to the problem is a lack of
Soulé, M., & Orians, G. (Eds.) (2001). Conservation biology: Research priorities for the next decade. Washington, D.C.: Island Press.
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
Our ecosystem provides free services like water supply, waste treatment and detoxification, water purification, natural hazard protection, regulation of air quality, regulation of regional and local climate, regulation of erosion, spiritual fulfillment, and aesthetic enjoyment. We live off of these services and often use them at a rate too high for replenishing. The usage of fisheries and fresh water has reached a stage that surpasses sustainability. Fisheries are being overharvested to meet the demands of the growing population and we’re overdrafting the groundwater supplies. The main idea is that if we continue to use our resources at such high rates, soon we will have nothing left for future generations.
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.
Neel, M.C., Leidner, A.K., Haines, A., Goble, D.D., Scott, J.M. 2012. By the numbers: How is recovery defined by the US Endangered Species Act? Bioscience. 62:646-657
"If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function, no amount of money will save us."
Sodhi, Navjot S., and Paul R. Ehrlich. 2010. Conservation Biology for All. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (hereafter: “CBD”) is an international treaty adopted by United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held at Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 and came into force on December 29, 1993. Initially when it came into force there were 168 members now it is 193 in total. The aim to protect biodiversity and the dramatic steps taken for conservation, sustainable use and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits attracted the world communities to become members (History of the Convention, n.d). In principle the convention on biological diversity changed the ownership concept of biodiversity protection i.e. (“common heritage of humankind”) to the “sovereign right” of each member country (Hirsch, 2012). It is the responsibility of the each member to develop and implement policies in a way that helps in the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. It also recognizes the knowledge of local and indigenous people for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity (Brahmi et al., 2004).The article 8(j) of CBD has an important provision which gives the member state rights to “respect, preserve and maintain” traditional style and knowledge about the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The protection must promote the wider application of such knowledge and stimulate innovation and also ensure that the benefits are shared in fair and equitable manner to the communities.
Lazaroff, Cat. “Biodiversity May Need Many Millions of Years to Recover.” Environment News Service: We Cover the Earth for You. ENS,
Loss of biodiversity is an environmental issue that is causing a lot of global concern. Some of the main causes for loss in biodiversity are alteration of habitats, increasing levels of pollution and human population growth. There are measures that are being taken worldwide to prevent loss of biodiversity. Many wildlife sanctuaries have been built worldwide to preserve the lives of various endangered species. However, it is important to remember that every individual has a role in the protection of wildlife and biodiversity. Every human being should play his part of the role by following simple rules such as stopping others from the hunting of endangered species, preventing deforestation, encouraging reforestation and creating awareness among fellow human beings.
Forest conservation has become an increasingly important practice with the development of civilization due to the negative effects of human activity on wildlife (JT JACKSON, 2012). An endangered species is defined as a population of a living being that is at the danger of becoming extinct because of several reasons. Either they are few in number or are threatened by the varying environmental factors.
In many parts of the world, ecosystems’ temperatures begin to rise and fall to extreme levels making it very difficult for animals and plants to adapt in time to survive. Climate has never been stable here on Earth. Climate is an important environmental influence on ecosystems. Climate changes the impacts of climate change, and affects ecosystems in a variety of ways. For instance, warming could force species to migrate to higher latitudes or higher elevations where temperatures are more conducive to their survival. Similarly, as sea level rises, saltwater intrusion into a freshwater sys...