Question

Should we mount a massive effort to restore ecosystems that we have degraded even though this will be quite costly? For this weeks environmental controversy we explore this question. Using the textbook, and any additional outside resources, answer the questions below. Write a 1-2 paragraph response to the questions posed to you. Remember to cite your sources using APA.

Ecological restoration, which is discussed in your textbook, has a critical role in protecting and understanding the Earth's environments. Unfortunately, even if personnel and financial resources are available, many sites are too damaged to be effectively restored. In such cases, alternatives to restoration must be pursued, including: rehabilitation, remediation, replacement, or the creation of artificial ecosystems.

Some individuals worry that large-scale ecological restoration could mislead the public into believing that any amount of environmental damage can be undone. Ultimately, a massive and expensive restoration program could be offset by weakened regulations and increased environmental damage in other areas. Furthermore, alternatives to ecological restoration may be able to repair more sites at less cost.

Based on what you have read and researched, do you believe that the loss of biodiversity is a concern for humans? Should the government not only preserve but restore ecosystems that we have degraded the biodiversity even though this will be quite costly?

Answer 1

Loss of biodiversity is definitely a concern for humans , because all the plants and animals as well as human beings are interlinked forming an interdependent ecosystem, if at any level of the ecosystem,there is a loss or disruption than the entire system gets disturbed .

The loss of biodiversity can destabilize the ecosystems, increasing the outbreak of infectious diseases, and reducing the developmental progress, nutrition, security and protection from natural disasters.

People depend on biodiversity in their every day life, in various ways , they depend on ecosystem for the availability of fresh water, food and fuel resources which are required for their daily needs. In absence of them it will greatly impact the human health and other related things.

Beside this biodiversity of microorganisms , flora and fauna plays a significant role, in the development of medical and pharmacological discoveries,it helps in saving the mankind from dreadful diseases. Loss in biodiversity may put negative impact on discovery of major treatments for many dreadful diseases. By the loss of biodiversity many valuable genes and chemicals of nature will be lost before their discovery.

Nutrition and biodiversity are interdependent as it gives a variety of foods and nutrition , loss of it leads to nutritional deficiencies and shortage of food products.

Yes the government should preserve as well as restore the ecosystems, to maintain the biodiversity, because biodiversity is declining rapidly by various direct and indirect factors . These factors interact and enhance the loss of biodiversity. The direct factors are habitat loss,by land use, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution, the indirect factors are  changes in human population, incomes or lifestyle.

Due to pollution and overexploitation of land , it's putting a great impact on climate , changing its normal course of action ,as a result the entire ecosystem gets affected,causing loss of biodiversity.

The areas whose biodiversity is already lost , Government should implement methods to replace the entire area, introducing some new species of plants and animals which can sustain in that area, increasing the productivity of the land and leading towards a valuable future.

Though the project is costly but effort should be made , by various government as well non government organization, as well as by every individual, Because biodiversity loss will drag the mankind towards destruction, due to loss of animals and plants the prey and predator relationship wll be imbalnced, in absence of proper predator some organism species will keep increasing, but the non availability of their specific food will lead them to death.If the biodiversity will not be restored one day will come when earth will be without any plants and animals , To save our mother nature , nothing is costly , as that will help us for our surviival rather our existance in future.