BIOLOGY Volume 1 - A Guide to General Biology - 2004

10. ORGANISMS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

10.9. Environmental Conservation

Environmental conservation is the maintenance of a stable state of the biosphere, wherein its abiotic parameters do not degrade, and species do not experience population declines or, worse, extinction. Achieving this requires an understanding of how the biosphere Functions and, as a first approximation, how organisms interact with their habitat. In other words, it is essential to advance ecology and other environmental sciences.

However, successful conservation demands more than just scientific breakthroughs; it requires a concerted effort from governments and the public alike. This is why eco-activists strive to communicate the practical benefits of maintaining the biosphere at least at its current level to everyone.

Extinction

As the fossil record shows, the extinction of species has occurred throughout The history of life on Earth. However, with the advent of humans, many new drivers of species loss have emerged, directly linked to the anthropogenic exploitation of natural resources. Initially, entire species were likely hunted to extinction; however, over the past 400 years, Water and air pollution, the degradation of terrestrial ecosystems (Sec. 10.8), the widespread use of pesticides, the fragmentation and Destruction of natural habitats, and the intensification of agriculture have come to the forefront. As Fig. 10.34 demonstrates, The rate of extinction has increased markedly with the onset of the industrial and agricultural revolutions.

Research indicates that birds and mammals are currently going extinct 10 to 100 times faster than under "natural" conditions. Many more species are becoming rare, making their long-term survival precarious. They suffer from what is known as genetic erosion—a reduction in the overall Gene pool—which diminishes their likelihood of adapting to changing environmental conditions. As a consequence, rare species may vanish due to environmental fluctuations that larger populations easily weather.

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Fig. 10.34. Extinction trends for various vertebrate groups since 1600. (Begon et al. (1996) Ecology: individuals, populations and communities, 3rd ed., Blackwell.)

Biological Diversity

A straightforward definition of biological diversity is the number of different forms of life. However, this concept can be viewed at various scales. For instance, one might aim to maximize intraspecific diversity, which serves as a safeguard for adaptation to changing environments. In this case, the primary focus would be on genetically distinct subspecies or subpopulations, such as heavy metal-tolerant strains of common grasses. Alternatively, the emphasis could be placed on preserving phylogenetic diversity—that is, saving species that have no close taxonomic relatives. This helps elucidate the course of evolution and potentially uncover unique properties within these species. Equally important is the preservation of natural communities and ecosystems as a whole: the larger the portion of the functioning biosphere we leave to our descendants, the richer Earth's flora and fauna will be, and the lower the threat of extinction.

10.9.1. Why Conserve Nature?

For many, the need to preserve wild species and prevent the degradation of natural habitats is self-evident. Yet, others question the utility of these efforts, especially given the substantial financial investments they require. Government-level decision-making is still largely dictated by economic considerations, and traditionally, natural resources have been deemed free and worthless unless exploited.

A paramount task of our time is The Development of an ecological, or "green," approach to economics and Life as a whole. Its benefits are quite obvious when it comes to species capable of generating financial profit, such as edible or medicinal plants. It is harder to explain the indirect or long-term advantages of preserving scenic areas or establishing nature reserves, even though the inconveniences associated with their conservation can, in principle, be offset by tourism revenue. It is even more challenging to advocate for the protection of unappealing detritivores, weeds, or predators.

The educational outreach of eco-activists emphasizes the benefits to all humanity of maximizing biotic diversity and preventing habitat degradation. Broadly speaking, the arguments for nature conservation can be categorized as aesthetic, utilitarian, and ecological (scientific), alongside ethical considerations.

ETHICAL REASONS. Our attitude toward nature is shaped by cultural traditions, religion, political beliefs, and other "spiritual" factors. Some insist that humans have no right to alter the natural world handed down to us for their own purposes. We have a duty to coexist on equal terms with all forms of life without "suppressing" any of them. Closely related to this is METABOLISM/2.html">THE CONCEPT OF "stewardship": modern humanity is obligated to pass on to future generations the full diversity of wildlife and environmental quality in the exact state inherited from their ancestors. However, this approach makes it difficult to justify any use of natural resources, as a purely ethical rationale does not recognize utilitarian goals.

AESTHETIC REASONS. People take pleasure in a high-quality natural environment teeming with an Abundance of other organisms. While this assertion is difficult to back up with objective data, its validity is evidenced by the numerous voluntary organizations at various levels that promote the conservation of picturesque landscapes or specific species. Our admiration for nature is reflected in visual arts, design, literature, and music, and it influences vacation destination choices. Some even argue that simply "connecting" with nature is beneficial to health.

UTILITARIAN REASONS. Even today, wild nature satisfies our immediate needs in various ways, encompassing agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. We directly or indirectly rely not only on wild plants but also on pollinating insects and predatory animals that control pests. Flora provides us with a multitude of medicinal species, while fauna enables us to study and effectively treat our own diseases. Many Industrial processes are based on the Processing of PLANT AND ANIMAL raw Materials. The application of microorganisms in manufacturing is expanding, such as for the concentration of valuable metals in mining and processing plants.

ECOLOGICAL (SCIENTIFIC) REASONS. Our well-being depends on much more than just the utilization of species or their genetic resources. We require a stably functioning biosphere—specifically, balanced biogeochemical cycles that prevent pollution and eutrophication (Sec. 10.8.1 and 10.8.2), as well as undesirable climate shifts (Sec. 10.8.1). As previously mentioned, deforestation and desertification (Sec. 10.8.3), i.e., the destruction of natural vegetation cover, lead to soil erosion, the siltation of rivers and shallow marine waters, and ultimately, the potential disruption of weather systems with unpredictable consequences.