Accept No Substitute: Diversity Matters By David Dudgeon

Ecosystems in our world act as vital and fundamental sections to maintain health, living, well-being and survival of human beings and other creatures (Robert Costanza et al, 1997; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), 2005; TEEB Foundations, 2010; TEEB Synthesis, 2010). They provide different kinds of service, such as production of goods, life support processes, and life-fulfilling conditions (Gretchen C. ,2000). Ecosystem significantly contributes to both economic and non-economic value of our planet, but when compared to market efficiency, it seems to be paid less attention when involved in decision making. In the majority of the ongoing projects that have numerous debates on, it seems common for people put a price tag on ecosystem services and evaluate them by means of commodification. When the immediate or intuitionistic benefits fail to be derived, it is less likely for ecosystems to be protected or reserved. Therefore, the importance of ecosystem services is often poorly appreciated and only to be seen when facing severe problems. People are less likely to come up with solutions to protect the ecosystems of their own will than to make a better trade to exchange ecosystem services for money. Also, it is quite often to fail to define the difference between “valuation” and “privatisation”, considering ecosystem services more of tradable products than a part of nature system. It is often overlooked that the market

When the federal government decided to build the dam and the reservoir, people in San Francisco could benefit from the water. However, as we can see now, people at a larger context, i.e., people from the country and all over the world, lose a significant part of the complex ecosystem. We must notice that once a part of the ecosystem is lost, it is almost impossible to restore it. This fact can be seen from the instance of Hetch Hetchy dam. In this century, people start to consider the restoration of the valley’s ecosystem for the sake of its biodiversity, which is ironic that a century ago, the valley was considered to be dammed because of human’s needs. To me, there is no point to converting it back because the loss cannot be restored. If people now try to turn the area back to what it once was, the project will include advanced engineering steps like using the explosion to take down the huge dam. Such kind of work will again harm the vulnerable ecosystem. When the Hetch Hetchy Valley was dammed, the trees and animals in the area were destroyed and exiled. Even if we restore it, the damaged ecosystem may not come back and what’s more, we are trying to invade the currently defenseless ecosystem. What we should do now is to preserve those lands that are not used by humans, prevent them from industrial use and protect their biodiversity.

Like many eager non native environmentalists, waiting to be engulfed by the green revolution, I saw the Indigenous culture as a link that could bring me closer to the earth. I believed that the generation of biodiversity could only

To begin, conservationists would argue that wildlife has already deteriorated so much and so people must conserve natural habitats for future generations of both people and animals to enjoy. For example, there are 41,415 species currently on the International Union Conservation of Nature’s

Two texts were reviewed: Chapter 2 of Meffe, et al.’s Ecosystem Management: Adaptive, Community-based Conservation (2002) and excerpts from Weddell’s Conserving living natural resources in the context of a changing world (2002) in order to compare and contrast ideas presented by the two authors. Generally, Meffe et al. (2002) and Weddell (2002) use different terms but present many of the same ideas. First, that it is useful to learn about the perspectives and philosophies that have contributed to modern-day environmental management. Second, that ‘environmental management’ is not a new concept nor a static concept. And third, that the new phase of environmental management - what both authors identify as ecosystem management - is and ought to be more inclusive in every way.

Potential effects to vegetation as a result of this Project will be mitigated through multiple ways which include and not limited to employing a new revegetation program (Millennium EMS Solutions Ltd. 2, 2012). Where the goal is at the long-term re-establishment of the pre-existing communities of vegetation and wetland that were present on the land before the Project came too, which will allow the land to return to the way it was before this Project (Millennium EMS Solutions Ltd. 2, 2012). Try and minimize the actual area used for this project by not constructing and operating on all the land, focusing on only using the smallest area of land they can to preserve adjacent vegetation communities and wetlands, which will then decrease the

Dinosaurs were once the earth’s kings and megalodons the sea’s rulers, yet both of these seemingly unstoppable species fell to an even greater power: extinction. Now humans reside at the top, but as another extinction threatens earth’s ecosystem, humans and billions of other plants and animals may perish similarly to the many species before them. Alexander Pyron explores the degree to which humans should preserve biodiversity and endangered species in his article “We don’t need to save endangered species. Extinction is part of evolution.” Pyron writes to convince conservationists that their fear of a mass extinction of biodiversity is unwarranted. Through stipulating key definitions, example-based evidence, and an appeal to the value of biodiversity, Alexander Pyron persuades his audience that humans should have a greater emphasis on saving themselves rather than endangered species.

The latter half of the twentieth century was host to the greatest and most widespread advancements in environmental awareness in human history. It was during this time that people began to consider the effects of their polluting cars and their wasteful habits. People began to realize that something must be done to curb humans’ negative impacts on their surroundings and thus the environmental movement was born. One of the most important factors that resulted from this expansion of environmental consciousness occurring over the last several decades has been the protection of endangered species. Much has been done in the legal world to ensure the continued longevity of our planet’s diversity, including two major policies: CITES and the

Many of the issues of biodiversity loss can be traced back to human interaction to the environment. One of the issues is alteration and loss of habitats. A lot of this issue is based on the destruction of habitats and for the land to be used for human consumption. The land is either used up for agricultural use

Vietnam is home to 10% of the world 's mammal, bird, and fish species, and over 40% of local plant species are endemic (IUCN, 1999). However, accelerated deforestation, habitat loss and illegal poaching (TRAFFIC, 2005) has led to the rapid depletion of endangered animals, such that Vietnam has become one of 10 countries suffering from a remarkable biodiversity reduction (VNN, 1999). As such, biodiversity conservation has become an important policy device in Vietnam’s environmental sector (Zingerli, 2005). Conservation practices and priorities have changed over time in response to changing societal needs (Vasseur & Hart, 2002). Likewise, Vietnam has taken various approaches to conservation since its 1986 ‘renovation’ policy of doi moi. In this essay, we will be reviewing the effectiveness of current approaches of a community-based approach to conservation in resettlement projects conducted in Vietnam’s national parks.

World conservation is at a crossroads of judgement making and New Zealand provides an extreme example of issues and possible solutions. On the positive side, more than 30% of total land area in New Zealand has been set aside for as National Parks (DOC, n.d.) and various reserved land and is run by the Department of Conservation. Single species recovery programmes have been successful with the use of eradication of offshore islands pests to for reintroduction of threatened onshore species such as the Kakapo on Cod fish island. However, this is in marked contrast to biodiversity decline with up to 50% of native birds threatened due to introduced pests such as mustelids and possums. With legislation (Conservation Act 1987), public opinion and changes in current practices, conservation and development might be able to coexist to a point where each can be sustainable (Craig, 2000).

However, constituting ecological coastline in Hong Kong would be a positive strategy towards balancing nature and human activities for mutual development

Environmental planning and restoration are processes and practices that foster the goals of sustainable development. Environmental planning, though not explicitly defined within the dimension readings, includes planning and resulting decision-making that focuses on natural resource protection and management. The objective of environmental planning would not only be to promote a sustainable physical environment, but also sustainable governance and economic conditions within cities. The other aspect of the dimension is restoration, which is defined by the Society for Ecological Restoration, through Riley (1998), as “the process of intentionally altering a site to establish defined indigenous, historical ecosystem” (in Wheeler &

Due to improved healthcare and sanitation, the size of human population is ever increasing with detrimental effects on the environment. The use of the planets resources and human disruption is currently in excess to what is considered sustainable, which has led to damage to the Earth’s flora and fauna. The issue of conservation has been long recognised. It takes many forms and can span from conservation of national parks as early as the late 1800s. Conservation is often described to be the maintenance of biodiversity through either human action or management.

Recent growth in scientific knowledge has helped humanity comprehend the complex relationships in ecosystems and the devastating effects of human interference. As a result we have become increasingly aware of the need to protect and manage the ecosystems that we do have remaining for their utility, genetic, intrinsic and heritage values and also for the need to allow natural change and thus evolution to take place. Natural ecosystems have provided much that has been of benefit to humanity and with careful protection it can last for many more generations. Management strategies involving sustainable development, total preservation and the educating of the populace are becoming progressively more important in today's society and for the