Loss of biodiversity - caused and solved by globalisation?: Difference between revisions

Loss of biodiversity - caused and solved by globalisation? (view source)

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 The following text covers all three dimensions of this definition- genetic, species and ecological diversity. However biodiversity is often equated with the rate of species. Because quantifying the other two dimensions is even harder there will be given just an amount of species- epitomizing the other two: There are different estimations about the whole quantity of species<ref> For further reading visit [http://knol.google.com/k/how-many-species-on-earth# ''How many species on earth?'']. </ref>, realistic ones are about 13.5 Millions, but just 1.5 Millions are currently described (cf. Gaston & Spicer, 2004, p. 48; UNEP, 2007, p. 162).
-The distribution of this variety is much clearer: In geographic terms biodiversity is concentrated near to the equator- the tropical regions contain at least two thirds of all extant teresstrical species (cf. Gaston & Spicer, 2004, p. 89). In social terms it must be emphasized, that there is a global asymmetry between diversity and material wealth: the major remaining sites for biodiversity conservation lie primly within the developing world (cf. Swanson, 1999, p.312). These two distributions are not related to each other.<ref> An interesting tool the [http://stort.unep-wcmc.org/imaps/gb2002/book/viewer.htm ''World Atlas of Biodiversity'']. </ref>
+The distribution of this variety is much clearer: In geographic terms biodiversity is concentrated near to the equator- the tropical regions contain at least two thirds of all extant teresstrical species (cf. Gaston & Spicer, 2004, p. 89). In social terms it must be emphasized, that there is a global asymmetry between diversity and material wealth: the major remaining sites for biodiversity conservation lie primarily within the developing world (cf. Swanson, 1999, p.312). These two distributions are not related to each other.<ref> An interesting tool the [http://stort.unep-wcmc.org/imaps/gb2002/book/viewer.htm ''World Atlas of Biodiversity'']. </ref>
 ===Value===
 Talking about biodiversity loss the value of the variety of life must become clear: On the one hand there is a direct use-value: Consumption or production of marketable commodities: Providing products for example food, medicine, industrial ones, recreation, genetic information for medicine etc.
-On the other hand there are indirect use-values, more difficult to quantify: More diverse systems are more resilience in the fact of natural and anthropogenic variations in their environment (cf. Heal, 2002, p. 3). This value stands for itself but is as well related to the main indirect use-value: Ecosystem services- on that all people fundamentally depend. For example: bacteria and microbes that transform waste into usable products or coral reefs and mangroves that protect coastlines (cf. UNEP, 2007, p. 158). In newer times lots of economic science tries to quantify in monetary aspects these ecosystem functions: For example “Honeybees as pollinators for agricultural crops – US$ 2-8 billion/ year” (UNEP, 2007, p. 161).<ref> For further information about assessing the the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being visit [http://www.millenniumassessment.org ''Millenium Ecosystem Assessment'']. </ref>
+On the other hand there are indirect use-values, more difficult to quantify: More diverse systems are more resilient in the fact of natural and anthropogenic variations in their environment (cf. Heal, 2002, p. 3). This value stands for itself but is as well related to the main indirect use-value: Ecosystem services- on that all people fundamentally depend. For example: bacteria and microbes that transform waste into usable products or coral reefs and mangroves that protect coastlines (cf. UNEP, 2007, p. 158). In newer times lots of economic science tries to quantify monetary aspects these ecosystem functions: For example “Honeybees as pollinators for agricultural crops – US$ 2-8 billion/ year” (UNEP, 2007, p. 161).<ref> For further information about assessing the the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being visit [http://www.millenniumassessment.org ''Millenium Ecosystem Assessment'']. </ref>
 Apart from these use-values biological diversity may have a variety of non-use values including
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 On the ecosystem dimension of biodiversity there is already a high degradation: The graphic on the left side illustrates this fact impressively. [[File:Status.JPG|200px|thumb|left|Source: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2007). ''Global Environmental Outlook. GEO4. environment for development'' [http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/report/GEO-4_Report_Full_en.pdf]. Valetta, MLT: Progress Press Ldt, p. 163.]]
-In history there where many natural extinction of species (cf. Gaston & Spicer, 2004, pp. 20ff), but the current rates of extinction are estimate to be roughly 100 times higher than typical rates in the fossil record: There are estimations that the increase will be 1000-10.000 times higher in the future (cf. UNEP, 2007, p.164).
+In history there were many natural extinction of species (cf. Gaston & Spicer, 2004, pp. 20ff), but the current rates of extinction are estimate to be roughly 100 times higher than typical rates in the fossil record: There are estimations that the increase will be 1000-10.000 times higher in the future (cf. UNEP, 2007, p.164).
 Quantifying loss of genetic diversity is difficult, but it is clear that the extinction of species and declines of population lead to a loss of genetic diversity (cf. UNEP, 2007, p. 165).
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 But you cannot separate globalization and change in biodiversity either:
 Close to the developing of trade related to globalization there were cultivations of rivers- with a huge impact on the ecosystem and the biodiversity in these parts.
-Another main reason for the loss of biodiversity are invasive alien species: For example New Zealand lost 40% of it’s own bird species and even 40% more are threatened- since settlers brought their own European species to these countries (cf. Forum Biodiversität, 2002, p. 3).
+Another main reason for the loss of biodiversity are invasive alien species: For example New Zealand lost 40% of its own bird species and even 40% more are threatened- since settlers brought their own European species to these countries (cf. Forum Biodiversität, 2002, p. 3).
 These movements of population and genetic material increase with the development of technology, trade, specialization in agriculture and environment- trade and homogenization in all dimensions (unintentional as well in biodiversity) are main thoughts of globalization (cf. Olorode, 2004, p. 532). A current, alrming example for this is the bee death in Norther America caused by an Australien virus.<ref> For further information about this example read an article [http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/news/587.docu.html ''Imported viruses are likely cause of bee death ''] by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. </ref>