Ethics and Biodiversity

Biodiversity, which is Biological Diversity, is, in a nutshell, the existence of a variety of biological organisms within an ecosystem (Balmford, Et.al 212). Environmental Ethics is a field that advocates for the conservation and management of biodiversity by human beings. It dictates that human beings are co-independent with other living organisms. As a result, any conduct by them would either benefit or destroy the biodiversity. Thus, human beings cannot exist independent of other organisms as they enjoy a myriad if benefits from the ecosystem and consequently in their enjoyment, should ensure that those other organisms are preserved and protected. The organisms range from plant to animals, micro to macro amongst others. In support of my argument, the main arguments that people have put forward in support of biodiversity preservation are two. To being with, human beings have an obligation to their future generations to leave the ecosystem in good condition and two; human beings owe it to themselves to preserve biodiversity.
A properly functioning of the ecosystem allows human beings to reap the benefits such as clean air, water, and food. The plants have a huge role to play in the reduction of carbon dioxide and other noxious substances at a minimum. There has been no known another source of oxygen, at levels capable of being consumed by more than 4 billion people, other than plants. The destruction and depletion of such plants would have adverse effects on human beings, and may in effect lead to brain damage and death.

Clean air and water are the basic elements that human beings seek to enjoy. The inability of human beings to produce clean air and water makes a good case for preserving the environment. The maintenance of oxygen levels at high and other gasses at their low is paramount. Oxygen has an effect on the functioning of vital organs in the human body such as brain and heart.

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Interference with the plants, whether directly or indirectly, would have dire consequences on the removal of noxious carbon dioxide in the air. To make the situation direr, human beings have not developed alternative ways of producing oxygen or removing carbon dioxide from the air, at such high levels.
For most people, environmental ethics are observed based on moral agency. Moral agency is based on the premise that an individual will make a moral decision based on the interest in the outcome of the decision. Human beings are generally selfish, and most decisions, whether corporate or private are made in furtherance of self-interest. This may be prejudicial to the being when it comes to environmental preservation. Self-interests for companies entail focusing on profits and costs saving while for countries is becoming economic and political powers. Silently in the background is the role of the ecosystem. Resources have an influence not only on the economy but also on relations between states, for instance, the supply of oil by Arabian countries to European and African states. Moreover, the ability of states to be independent in the economic sector is based on the interaction of man, plants, and plants. The ability by one state to supply agricultural products such as cheese, milk, butter and other products such as flowers is based on the level of production that the state able to carry out. In any event, trade has promoted globalization.
Agricultural production is based on the interaction of all elements, water, air, soil and other organisms. According to FAO, “Many factors are known to affect the nutrient content of foods, including climate, geography and geochemistry, agricultural practices such as fertilization, and the genetic makeup of the species and subspecies” (Burlingame, Et.al 266).
Reduction in the mineral contents of soil due to erosion, perpetuated by deforestation, has an effect on the quality and quantity of agricultural produce. Many organisms live in the soil and have an effect on the soils temperature, pH and mineral contents. Unsustainably harnessing or destroying those micro-organisms is also destroying the soil, which human beings rely on for food. They have cleared forests for cultivation or settlement, in essence reducing the ability of soil to hold crucial minerals. Moreover, aquifers have been greatly reduced and in some areas depleted in alarming rates. According to Wilson, by 2050 the underground reserves in the Arabian Peninsula are expected to have been depleted (Wilson 5). Moreover, the Ogolla aquifer in the US has experienced tremendous decrease in the level. Such reduction in the water levels has an effect on human health and agricultural production. This situation has been aggravated by the fact that humans lack the knowledge of the precise organisms’ role in the balancing the ecosystem.
Research has predominantly relied on plants and animal breeds. This is because plants and animal varieties in existence have undergone thousands of years worth of evolution, based on the temperatures, pH, natural disasters amongst others. They have thus developed ways of coping with some diseases that may be disastrous to human beings. Scientific knowledge rests on the ability of viruses and bacteria to evolve, before coming up with cures. Such cures are usually sought after in micro-organisms and indigenous plants (UNESCO 43). The ability to manipulate the components of those micro-organisms has led to the production of pharmaceutical products such as aspirin. Thus, the role of biodiversity cannot be overemphasized; biodiversity offers the necessary processes and products that may affect a human’s body ability to achieve optimum well-being. Scientific research is not only beneficial to current generations but also to future generations.
According to UNESCO, only around five thousand (5,000) plant species have undergone the scientific processes in order to ascertain the chemical, biochemical benefits to humans. Moreover, more than twenty thousand (20,000) plants have been used around the world as natural medication. Besides, Bio-mimicry has an opportunity to flourish with the preservation of the environment. Depleting or destroying the chemical components of the plants reduce the opportunity to identify cures to chronic illnesses (UNESCO 43). The destruction of such plants and microorganisms reduces the ability of the future generations to learn the medicinal potential of the ecosystem. As Havel stated (Benyus 1) “we must draw our standards from the natural world. We must honor the humanity of the wise the bounds of that natural world and the mystery which lies beyond them, admitting that there is something in the order of being which evidently exceeds all our competence.”
Intergenerational justice dictates that older generations have a duty to preserve the generation for the future generations (Picard 20). It dictates that the older generations have an obligation not only to leave the earth in good condition, but better that it was found. The most persuasive of the argument is that the changes to the climatic conditions take years to be manifested. The greenhouse effect is responsible for life as it is known. The ability of the greenhouse gasses to radiate heat makes the earth habitable, without them, the Earth would be extremely cold. Maintenance of the gasses at the desirable levels is crucial; the emission of heat in all directions would affect the ability of plants and animals to grow. It would also affect the ability of human beings to live on earth.
The increase in carbon dioxide due to emissions or inability by plants to utilize it, would lead to the retention of heat and thus an increase in temperatures. The cycle that would follow is the evaporation of waters at very high rates, especially the mountain caps as well as predominantly ice-covered areas, leading to an increase in the water levels. Such high water levels would adversely affect coastal states (Elder n.p). The role of forests in the consumption of carbon dioxide is crucial, as it reduces the amount of the gas in the air. Deforestation is a major contributor to climate change and increase in temperatures. As their process takes long, the mostly affected generation is the future generation. It would beat any logic for humans to leave the earth in a desperate state for future generations to seek redress.
The population has an effect on the exploitation of resources. According to Wilson, the population will increase from six to eight billion especially in poor countries. Such countries have been affected by civil strife. He argues,
According to Balmford, et.al, “The global population is precariously large and will become much more so before peaking sometime after 2050. Humanity overall is improving per capita production, health, and longevity. But it is doing so by eating up the planet’s capital, including natural resources and biological diversity millions of years old. Homo sapiens is approaching the limit of its food and water supply. Unlike any species that lived before, it is also changing the world’s atmosphere and climate, lowering and polluting water tables, shrinking forests, and spreading deserts. Most of the stress originates directly or indirectly from a handful of industrialized countries. Their proven formulas for prosperity are being eagerly adopted by the rest of the world. The emulation cannot be sustained, not with the same levels of consumption and waste” (Balmford, Et.al 213).
Very high populations affect human processed such as energy production, shelter creation, and agricultural production. The creation of roads in the Amazon has led to the destruction of the forest by humans. Around 20% of the forest has already been destroyed, particularly due to the large-scale cattle farming. Surprisingly, the government has been aggressively involved in the devastation of forests. The Amazon forest is a source of many rivers which supply water for plants, animals, and humans. Destroying the forest affects the water levels and thus the ability of the beneficiaries to use the water. As earlier discussed, the role of forests in the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is crucial.
In many parts of the world, deforestation has been perpetuated by locals in seeking shelter and cultivation land. This has been largely contributed to the increased population to uncontrollable numbers (Tilman 210). Besides, the current technologies and human knowledge is unable to provide solutions to a vulnerable population. Moreover, urbanization has led to the construction of mega structures and destruction of the viable agricultural land. Urbanization has led to the creation of more industries as demand for more devices increase. This has resulted in the emission of noxious substances in the air, as is the case in China. Management of the population is crucial to the preservation of the environment.
The frequency of tropical cyclones would increase as temperatures increase. This is mainly due to the fact that cyclones are formed over marine waters that are above twenty-six degrees Celsius. More hurricanes and heat waves would be experienced in different geographical regions; as a result, the abrupt change in the climatic conditions due to heat waves and hurricanes would lead to the destruction of vital organisms, which are unable to cope with the conditions, in the ecosystem (Picard 21).
Conclusion
Some argue that they have no responsibility to protect the environment for the benefit of the future generations. While others argue that the older generations owe ‘a duty of care’ to the future generations. While the first argument may hold water, it has been argued that human beings main aim are seeking pleasure and happiness while avoiding pain. As such, the ability of the value of the ecosystem to be assessed, at an estimate of sixteen to fifty-four trillion US Dollars, can offer a viable reason for preserving the ecosystem. The basic needs for human beings are good health, clean air, and water. The ecosystem is able, and does, provide a source for such. The depletion of the biodiversity would also lead to the destruction of one’s interests. As Picard states, if the interests of another cannot lead the current generation to preserve the biodiversity, certainly their own interests can (Picard 20-22)!
Works cited
Balmford, Andrew, et al. “The convention on biological diversity’s 2010 target.” Science 307.5707 (2005): 212-213.
Benyus, Janine M., Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, Harper Collins, 1997. 1 Print
Burlingame, Barbara, Ruth Charrondiere, and Beatrice Mouille. “Food composition is fundamental to the cross-cutting initiative on biodiversity for food and nutrition.” Journal of food composition and analysis 22.5 (2009): 361-365.
Elder, Jane. “Why Should We Talk about Ethics, Values, and Biodiversity.” Biodiversity Project: Ethics for a Small Planet: A Communication Handbook. www.biodiversityproject.org/EFSP%20section%201.pdf
Picard, Kathryn. “Biodiversity and Ethics: Do We Have a Responsibility to Preserve?” www.bama.ua.edu/~joshua/archive/aug06/Kathryn%20Picard.pdf
Tilman, David. “Causes, Consequences and Ethics of Biodiversity.” Nature. May 11, 2000. 405. 6783: 208-211.
UNESCO Working Group 16,’’ Ethics and Biodiversity.’’ Ethics and Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific (ECCAP) Project, 2011. 25
Wilson, Edward O. “To What End?” Consilience. New York: Vintage, 1999.