The Loss of Biodiversity
The Loss of Biodiversity
Brenda Peace
POL310 Environmental Policies
Instructor: Arthur Piervencenti
February 10, 2013
It seems that in today’s time, the discussion of biodiversity and what it means is being discussed frequently. There are those who feel that biodiversity is something that will possibly take care of itself. Then there are those who realize that the Earth is changing and there are some things that need to be done to ensure that the Earth is preserved. This is going to require policymakers and Scientists coming to an understanding. It will require addressing the social and economical perspectives of biodiversity. There will be some things addressed that government currently has in place but seem to work against each other. However, there are some recommendations that may help educate citizens and give some incentive for being more responsible in regard to biodiversity.
Biodiversity speaks of the diversity of life. As defined in the purposed US Congressional Biodiversity Act. HR1268 (1990), “biological diversity means the full range of variety and variability within and among living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur, and encompasses ecosystem or community diversity” (Jensen, D., Tom, M. & Harle, J., 1990). There are several levels of biodiversity which include species, ecosystem, and genetic diversity. Species diversity is defined as the number and extent of individual species existing. Ecosystem diversity involves the ability of the Earth to support the assortment of ecosystem which includes low-lying tropical jungles to high alpine rock and ice. Then there is a genetic diversity which refers to genes and organisms that sustain the genetic pool. All of these things define what biodiversity consists of.
Policymakers often bump heads with scientists in regard to whether prevention of species going extinct can be effective by intervention of humans. There is further disagreement as to how conserving biodiversity
Brenda Peace
POL310 Environmental Policies
Instructor: Arthur Piervencenti
February 10, 2013
It seems that in today’s time, the discussion of biodiversity and what it means is being discussed frequently. There are those who feel that biodiversity is something that will possibly take care of itself. Then there are those who realize that the Earth is changing and there are some things that need to be done to ensure that the Earth is preserved. This is going to require policymakers and Scientists coming to an understanding. It will require addressing the social and economical perspectives of biodiversity. There will be some things addressed that government currently has in place but seem to work against each other. However, there are some recommendations that may help educate citizens and give some incentive for being more responsible in regard to biodiversity.
Biodiversity speaks of the diversity of life. As defined in the purposed US Congressional Biodiversity Act. HR1268 (1990), “biological diversity means the full range of variety and variability within and among living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur, and encompasses ecosystem or community diversity” (Jensen, D., Tom, M. & Harle, J., 1990). There are several levels of biodiversity which include species, ecosystem, and genetic diversity. Species diversity is defined as the number and extent of individual species existing. Ecosystem diversity involves the ability of the Earth to support the assortment of ecosystem which includes low-lying tropical jungles to high alpine rock and ice. Then there is a genetic diversity which refers to genes and organisms that sustain the genetic pool. All of these things define what biodiversity consists of.
Policymakers often bump heads with scientists in regard to whether prevention of species going extinct can be effective by intervention of humans. There is further disagreement as to how conserving biodiversity
References: Clark, D., & Downes, D. (n.d.). What Price Biodiversity? Economic Incentives and Biodiversity Conservation in the United States. Retrieved from www.ciel.org/Publicatins/summar.html Dale, L. (2011). Environmental Policy. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Frisvold, G.B., & Condon, P. (1984). Biodiversity conservation and biotechnology development agreement. Contemporary Economic Policy, 12(3), 1-1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/274288925?accountid=32521 Jensen, G., Tom, M., & Harte, J. (1990). In Our own Hands: A strategy for conserving Biological Diversity in California. Lewis, M. E. (1992). Asia general—biodiversity: Social and ecological perspectives by vandana shiva and others. The Journal of Asian Studies, 51(4), 871-871. Retrieved from http://serch.proquest.com/docview/230385463?accountid=32521 Picard, K. (2006). Biodiversity and Ethics: Do We Have a Responsibility to Preserve? Retrieved from www.bama.ua.edu/~joshua/archive/aug06/Kathryn%20Picard.pdf Ruhl, J. B. (2011). The endangered species act’s fall from grace in the supreme court. Rocheester, Rochester:doi. http://clx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1953339 TEEB_The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for National and International Policy Makers (2009). Retrieved from www.unep.org/pdf/TEEB_D1_Summary.pdf