Conservation for the People [BE8]

blog #8

Conservation for the People

by Peter Kareiva and Michelle Marvier

October, 2007
Scientific American

The article discusses extinction and measures of prevention against it. Furthermore, it lists why conservation is important. In regards to ethics, humans have a responsibility to protect biodiversity for the purpose of protecting the earth. However, the extinction of a species has direct impacts to societies functioning as a whole.  For this, the article outlines a case study of the extinction of a species of vulture from India and South Asia, allowing for cow carcasses to be left un-decomposed, resulting in the growth of the feral dog population. With the increase in feral dogs, citizens of the surrounding communities faced higher risk of rabies. Additionally ecosystems can provide services that protect population. For example, wetlands and mangroves can protect against lethal storms. Damage to ecosystems can kill species populations, but can also hurt local economies by lowering profits from tourism. While biodiversity is uncommon to most people's vernaculars, many "do value nature as a source of food, fuel, building materials, recreation and inspiration", even if not understanding its source. Biodiversity is essential to the study of Environmental Science, for without it, the organisms and species present upon this earth would not be able to exist. Furthermore, as a result of this, the ecosystem services that biomes provide would no longer be available. In the future, to secure the safety and health of the environment, financiers may need to parter with ecologists, for if humans will not choose to protect the environment out of selflessness, they might be persuaded to do so if it protects their economic interests.