1. Do you think humans should be concerned about the rate of extinction of speci
ID: 110406 • Letter: 1
Question
1. Do you think humans should be concerned about the rate of extinction of species? Give one solid reason why or why not.
2. The Case Study in Section 8-3 of your textbook called “A Disturbing Message from the Birds” says that 70 % of bird species are declining and 12% are threatened. What is the main reason for this and why should we care?
3. What is the precautionary principle? How does it apply to sustaining biodiversity? Do you think we should heed the precautionary principle?
4. The Worldwatch Institute says that up to 60% of wood consumed in the US is wasted unnecessarily. (See Section 9-2 of your textbook.) Name one way wood is wasted in the US and one way that problem could be reduced.
5. What is a biodiversity hotspot? Why do some scientists urge us to protect them?
Explanation / Answer
Yes, we should be concerned about the rate of extinction of species.
Extinction is a natural process that has been occurring since long before the existence of man. Normally, new species develop, through a process known as speciation, at about the same rate that other species become extinct. However, because of air and water pollution, forest clearing, loss of wetlands, and other man-induced environmental changes, extinctions are now occurring at a rate that far exceeds the speciation rate. Each extinction diminishes the diversity and complexity of life on earth. The loss of a single species may result in few environmental repercussions however, all life on earth is interconnected. If enough "living connections" are broken, whole ecosystems could fail the balance of nature could be forever altered, and our own survival could be jeopardized. Furthermore, the diversity of animal and plant life provide us with food and many of our life-saving medicines. When a species is lost, the benefits it might have provided are gone forever.
The precautionary principle, or precautionary approach, is now widely accepted in environmental law and policy at international and, increasingly, national level. However, the principle remains highly controversial, its meaning contested, its acceptance and implementation inconsistent across sectors and contexts and its impacts unclear. This paper aims to inform and assist IUCN and its members in developing greater shared understanding of the meaning and implementation of the principle in the context of biodiversity conservation and natural resource management, respecting priorities of both conservation and sustainable development. It examines the meaning of the precautionary principle and its incorporation into biodiversity and resource management law and policy, and discusses a series of issues raised by its implementation in this sector for biodiversity conservation and for livelihoods and poverty alleviation.
The term biodiversity hotspot specifically refers to 25 biologically rich areas around the world that have lost at least 70 percent of their original habitat.
The remaining natural habitat in these biodiversity hotspots amounts to just 1.4 percent of the land surface of the planet, yet supports nearly 60 percent of the world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.