The Future Of Life By Edward O. Wilson
In the Future of Life, Edward Wilson describes the problems that the Earth is experiencing, the causes of them, and some of the solutions that can be done to save it. Some problems facing the planet are invasive species, overpopulation, extinction, and killing of biodiversity all have solutions to them. First of all, the Earth faces the problem of invasive species which kill the native plants in the population. An example of an invasive species is the giant land snails from Africa were introduced widely to serve as garden ornaments in Hawaii. Achatina fulica, the land snails, were multiplying quickly, consuming crops, and killing off the native snails. A solution began to rise in the 1950’s to introduce Euglandina rosea, rosy wolfsnail, to Hawaii. However, the plan backfired when the snails decided to attack and eat the native snails. This along with other variables such as rats, shell collectors, and deforestation helped wipe out 50 to 75 percent of the 800 Hawaiian snail species. This example is one of many invasive species taking out native species in Hawaii, and it raises some thoughts of how to battle the invasive species. I believe that you can fight the invasive species by capturing them and putting them where they belong. This plan may take a while but I think that it may be able to
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work if we either kill off the invasive species in the place or just move them to where they were originally from. Second, another problem facing the entire planet is overpopulation of humans. On October 12, 1999, the world reached the population of 6 billion people while the population now is 7.125 billion people. The number needed to have zero population growth and keep the population size constant is 2.1 if the number of children dropped to two per woman immediately in the beginning of 2000, the population would be near leveling off and by 2050, it would be 7.3 billion. However, nowadays it’s reaching 7.3 billion but it is only 2017, which gives the reason that we are overpopulating and taking up resources. For example, in at least 68 countries more than 40 percent of the population is under fifteen years of age. Most of these countries can’t even provide the medical and educational needs for these children such as Haiti, Libya, Syria, and etc. There is no certain number to how much the earth can support but it is believed that when the population reaches or peaks at 9 to 10, we will shortages of food. There are some solutions to this problem such as giving women birth control. For example, the United States and Europe have a 70% population of women that use birth control to not get pregnant. Lately, there has been an increase in the rates of birth control using worldwide. I believe that a solution to the overpopulation problem is to tell how many children a woman can have and I believe she can only have two kids and maybe 3 if she qualifies for it. This solution should bring a stabilization to the world population. Third, another problem that is happening in this nation is the extinction of the animals, plants, bacteria, and other organisms in the world. For example, a big threat of extinction is an animal known as the Sumatran rhino in which its classification is Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. Edward Wilson got to meet one of these rhinos in May 1994. In 2001 when he was writing that book only three hundred rhinoceros were still alive, but was believed it was a fifty fifty chance of survival in mid-century. Some people don’t believe that this rhino isn't special but it's special because it originated in the Oligocene Epoch which was 30 million years ago in 2001.These animals were facing a threat of extinct by being hunted down for their horns. The Sumatran rhino wasn't the only rhino being hunted down for their horns. In Taipei, the African black rhino’s horn was hunted down $12,000 per kilo which is almost the price of gold. However, the Indian rhino’s horn sold more at $45,000. Since people were looking to get money, they were killing rhinos to sell for their horns in the 1970’s. Wilson suggests two ideas: captive breeding and protection from poachers. So far captive breeding has not been the most effective to Mr. Wilson, but protecting the rhinos from the horn stealers will be effective and bring back the rhino. In 2017 there is fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos left in the wild and they are being captive to breed to hopefully save the species. I believe that a way we can save these species is to simply leave them alone but protect them from horn stealers. This way, they can breed them to together without force and have them still normal and hopefully boost the population. Finally, the last problem facing the whole planet is the killing of biodiversity. Observations of ecosystems lead to the conclusion that species that live together, make the environment more productive and stable. However, humans have been killing off biodiversity because it's simply cheaper. For example, John Burley was a botanist who was sent to the Malaysian state of Sarawak near the island of Borneo. He had caught samples of trees and fruits, and came across Burley-and-Lee 351. This sample was positive protection against the effects of HIV-1 infection, and stopping the replication of it. They were surprised that they found the cure, and they went back to the islands to find the tree’s like it gone. The trees were cut down by the natives living there for firewood, so they collected other Calophyllum trees but were ineffective. They did find enough raw materials to identify the anti-HIV substance, and they are under way to determine the suitability of the cure for market distribution. The chopping down of this tree for firewood could have killed off the species there entirely, and could’ve halted an anti-HIV substance. We go looking for things of medicine, heat, and other things we need in order to survive but what we don't know is that we kill off species for these which can directly affect the ecosystem. A solution to this problem is to first discover the species and learn more about it before we begin to use it to benefit us. Another solution according to Wilson, is to economically assist Global NGO’s which aid the developing countries that harbor the planet's biodiversity. This can help save the environment and its biodiversity, but about 4 billion is needed to secure two million square kilometers of tropical forest wilderness which is now protected thanks to the effort. In the novel “The Future of Life”, Edward O.
Wilson describes the problems that this planet is facing mainly because of human activities. He suggests solutions to these problems, and in which we are following them to help protect the Earth. Some problems facing the earth are invasive species, overpopulation, extinction, and killing of biodiversity. In this book it made me realize the damage that we are causing the Earth and I believe that we need to help. Sometimes we don't realize that we are hurting the planet but deep down we are destroying our home. Together humans can help save the planet that has been destroyed and create a better environment for
everyone.
work if we either kill off the invasive species in the place or just move them to where they were originally from. Second, another problem facing the entire planet is overpopulation of humans. On October 12, 1999, the world reached the population of 6 billion people while the population now is 7.125 billion people. The number needed to have zero population growth and keep the population size constant is 2.1 if the number of children dropped to two per woman immediately in the beginning of 2000, the population would be near leveling off and by 2050, it would be 7.3 billion. However, nowadays it’s reaching 7.3 billion but it is only 2017, which gives the reason that we are overpopulating and taking up resources. For example, in at least 68 countries more than 40 percent of the population is under fifteen years of age. Most of these countries can’t even provide the medical and educational needs for these children such as Haiti, Libya, Syria, and etc. There is no certain number to how much the earth can support but it is believed that when the population reaches or peaks at 9 to 10, we will shortages of food. There are some solutions to this problem such as giving women birth control. For example, the United States and Europe have a 70% population of women that use birth control to not get pregnant. Lately, there has been an increase in the rates of birth control using worldwide. I believe that a solution to the overpopulation problem is to tell how many children a woman can have and I believe she can only have two kids and maybe 3 if she qualifies for it. This solution should bring a stabilization to the world population. Third, another problem that is happening in this nation is the extinction of the animals, plants, bacteria, and other organisms in the world. For example, a big threat of extinction is an animal known as the Sumatran rhino in which its classification is Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. Edward Wilson got to meet one of these rhinos in May 1994. In 2001 when he was writing that book only three hundred rhinoceros were still alive, but was believed it was a fifty fifty chance of survival in mid-century. Some people don’t believe that this rhino isn't special but it's special because it originated in the Oligocene Epoch which was 30 million years ago in 2001.These animals were facing a threat of extinct by being hunted down for their horns. The Sumatran rhino wasn't the only rhino being hunted down for their horns. In Taipei, the African black rhino’s horn was hunted down $12,000 per kilo which is almost the price of gold. However, the Indian rhino’s horn sold more at $45,000. Since people were looking to get money, they were killing rhinos to sell for their horns in the 1970’s. Wilson suggests two ideas: captive breeding and protection from poachers. So far captive breeding has not been the most effective to Mr. Wilson, but protecting the rhinos from the horn stealers will be effective and bring back the rhino. In 2017 there is fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos left in the wild and they are being captive to breed to hopefully save the species. I believe that a way we can save these species is to simply leave them alone but protect them from horn stealers. This way, they can breed them to together without force and have them still normal and hopefully boost the population. Finally, the last problem facing the whole planet is the killing of biodiversity. Observations of ecosystems lead to the conclusion that species that live together, make the environment more productive and stable. However, humans have been killing off biodiversity because it's simply cheaper. For example, John Burley was a botanist who was sent to the Malaysian state of Sarawak near the island of Borneo. He had caught samples of trees and fruits, and came across Burley-and-Lee 351. This sample was positive protection against the effects of HIV-1 infection, and stopping the replication of it. They were surprised that they found the cure, and they went back to the islands to find the tree’s like it gone. The trees were cut down by the natives living there for firewood, so they collected other Calophyllum trees but were ineffective. They did find enough raw materials to identify the anti-HIV substance, and they are under way to determine the suitability of the cure for market distribution. The chopping down of this tree for firewood could have killed off the species there entirely, and could’ve halted an anti-HIV substance. We go looking for things of medicine, heat, and other things we need in order to survive but what we don't know is that we kill off species for these which can directly affect the ecosystem. A solution to this problem is to first discover the species and learn more about it before we begin to use it to benefit us. Another solution according to Wilson, is to economically assist Global NGO’s which aid the developing countries that harbor the planet's biodiversity. This can help save the environment and its biodiversity, but about 4 billion is needed to secure two million square kilometers of tropical forest wilderness which is now protected thanks to the effort. In the novel “The Future of Life”, Edward O.
Wilson describes the problems that this planet is facing mainly because of human activities. He suggests solutions to these problems, and in which we are following them to help protect the Earth. Some problems facing the earth are invasive species, overpopulation, extinction, and killing of biodiversity. In this book it made me realize the damage that we are causing the Earth and I believe that we need to help. Sometimes we don't realize that we are hurting the planet but deep down we are destroying our home. Together humans can help save the planet that has been destroyed and create a better environment for
everyone.