Diversity
Diversity
The Increasing Threat to Biodiversity
Our Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old. The story of planet Earth has a long history behind it that leaves the human race to investigate. This planet is the only known planet in our solar system that harbors life and water, an element that is essential to keep life growing. But the question is; how was Earth created? Why are we here? Who or What created us? As the new age of Technology began and continues to advance, questions have been answered, but many more questions have been left unanswered. With that one itty bitty organism that created life, human life has expanded in knowledge and therefore human life constructs newer and comfortable ways to live. The beauty of the planet is slowly vanishing before our very eyes as human life proceeds. With the increase of human population, biodiversity is threatened and the number of plant and animal species decreases at an alarming rate.
Biodiversity is a term used to describe life itself. It is the population, nature, and the planet. Biodiversity is made up of people, wild and cultivated plants, domesticated and wild animals. Biodiversity is also made up of natural climates, environments, languages, cultures and food. Across different regions and climates, the world harbors a very large amount of plant and animal species, and yet, these areas, are being threatened by habitat destruction. Life exists even in hostile environments. A vast array of plants and animals can be found in hot spots, which provides examples of evolution that are in danger of annihilation.
Human population growth now totals 6.5 billion. Human life is responsible for colonization of remote wilderness areas and for providing a market for the eradication of ancient forests and wildlife. The clearing of land is being used for farming and livestock. Forests have the largest number of species in danger. Tropical forests throughout the world have about half the world's plants and animals on 7 percent of the planet's land mass. Environments all over the world are being threatened by pollution. Rivers and waterways of the United States have the greatest number of species in the world, but government dam and water projects have caused hundreds of mass extinctions. Grasslands, where a century ago wild antelope, bison and other creatures roamed in millions, are slowly dying off as they are being killed to feed the human population.
According to the World Conservation Union, as of April 9th, 1998, the United States is the major leading cause to plant extinction along with animal extinction. In the United States alone, plants put in danger totals to 4,669. The Percent of total species is 29.0 percent. In Australia, 2,245 plants are put into danger out of a total of 14.4 percent of total species. In South Africa, 2,215 plant species are in jeopardy out of a percentage total of 9.5 percent. In Mexico, 1,593 plants are in peril, out of a total percentage of 6.1 percent. Brazil has a total of 1,358 species in danger with a percentage total of 2.4 percent. In India, 1,236 plant species are on the brink of extinction out of a total percentage of 7.7 percent.
Many of the factors that affect biodiversity are related to Biotechnology for Agricultural Production. Increasing human population has increased agricultural production leading to rigorous extinction to land mass. Ammann, director of the botanical garden at the University of Bern, Switzerland, said, "Biotechnology can actually improve and protect biodiversity by not only saving land but by using that diversity to improve agriculture in the long-term". He also said, "Scientists should come out of their box and talk with the public and fight 'corporate antagonists' like Greenpeace." Ammana concluded that some plants have been bombarded with radiation which is one of the major causes to plant extinction. He concludes that all species are going to die out whether or not it's by natural causes, or by human development.
The countries of the North are more aware of the value of biodiversity. But the Third World is in debt even as it advances in technology. The U.S. has argued that this biodiversity constitutes a "common heritage" of humanity which should be freely available to those (corporate) interests who wish to work with it. Nevertheless, the U.S. has argued that the corporations which are engineering seeds commercially and relying on these genetic materials to do so should be allowed to patent (and thus control) and profit from them.
Why is Biodiversity important? Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. This includes all of the plants and animals that live, grow, breathe, walk, fly, and swim on the Earth's surface, all of the habitats that they call home, and all of the natural processes that they are a part of. Biodiversity is the very foundation for all the Earth's essential goods and services. The air we breathe, water we drink, and the food we eat all depend on the Earth's rich biodiversity.
Plants and animals provide people with food and medicine. Forty percent of all prescriptions written today are composed from the natural compounds found in different species. An estimated 80,000 edible plants are found in the world, and one in every three mouthfuls of the food you swallow is prepared from plants pollinated by wild insects and animals. While plants and animals keep you well fed and healthy, trees play an important role in absorbing greenhouse gases. Through photosynthesis, trees absorb and store atmospheric carbon, helping to combat global warming and purifying the air we breathe. Forests also control soil erosion and purify water.
In order to protect Biodiversity one must understand what Biodiversity is. Biodiversity is a vast subject that needs to be taken into consideration if the human race wants to continue thriving on this planet. Biodiversity is the foundation in which earth was found upon and if it's destroyed, the balance of life will cease to exist. Conservation and Preservation are methods of protecting Biodiversity. National Park Reservations, Breeding Programs, or introduce laws and rules to reduce pollution or safely reduce human population and agricultural development.
Works Cited Page
Website
Animal Welfare Institute. 1983. "Biodiversity Endangered Species Handbook."
13 September 2009
Entire Web Page
USAID Environment. 27, Feb, 2007. The American People. 13, September, 2009
[http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/biodiversity/why_conserve.html].
Article in Web Magazine
William K. Stevens. "Plant Survey Reveals Many Species Threatened With Extinction."The New York Times. (9, April, 1998). 13, September, 2009.
Library Database
Howie, Michael. "Biotechnology Is Not a Threat to Biodiversity." Current Controversies:Biodiversity. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Glendale Community College.
14 Sep. 2009
Library Database
Kline, Gary. "Governments Should Reduce Resource Exploitation." Current Controversies: Biodiversity. Ed. William Dudley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. OpposingViewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Glendale Community College.
14 Sep. 2009
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