1.3 WHY PRESERVE BIODIVERSITY?

UNIT I: 1.3

 

 WHY PRESERVE BIODIVERSITY? 

                                 

                                            Prof. D. Balasubramaniam

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

Prof D. Balasubramaniam the author of the article “Why preserve Biodiversity?” says that it is must and necessary for the human to protect diversity to rules this planet.

 

EXPLANATION:

 

Balasubramaniam  gives 3 reasons for preserving Biodiversity.   The first reason for the loss of biodiversity is man’s indifference toward his ethical and aesthetic responsibility of protecting nature. Since he rules the planet it is his duty alone to strive to maintain the balance.

 

The second reason is his utilitarian characteristic that makes him depend on nature. Though there is abundance in the planet at his disposal, his inefficiency in recognizing and utilizing the richness leads him to overuse few things and under using or ignoring the majority. This has resulted in an imbalance in nature.

 

The third reason is his inability to maintain the ecological network. His anti-pragmatic approach toward utilizing the diversity has resulted in misusing nature. Man’s population pressures, leading to hunger and poverty, have lead way to deforestation. His attitude of gaining in short period of time and failure to see the long term benefits makes him strip mine and cut down trees of value for trading. His purely utilitarian attitude has made him indifferent toward his responsibility of conservation of the ecosystem. Economic pressures of certain communities have resulted in loss of tropical forests. Civil issues as well have affected the ecosystem considerably. Man, in short, has created a total imbalance in the ecosystem by not adhering to the principle responsibility he had been trusted with.

He also gives 5 reasons for the biotic degradation  caused by man: 1. Hunger and poverty, 2. Short term gains and long term failures, 3. Anthropocentrism, 4. Economic pressures on certain communities and 5. policy factors.

 

CONCLUSION:

 

Humans rule this planet. So it is the responsibility of man to protect all matter of nature. Unless we protect nature, the beauty and utility of nature cannot be passed on to the next generations. It is only practical to responsibly preserve what has been bestowed on use because man is both aesthetic and ethical.