Biodiversity Is One of the Term Paper

Because society is built upon the concept of money, the first and most important advantage of biodiversity is economic. Commercial, agricultural and pharmaceutical value can be derived from greater biodiversity. Indeed, increased biodiversity in rainforests is beneficial, because it derives a greater likelihood for the discovery of life-saving products. Critics might however argue that the likelihood of this is not very significant, and the process of "bioprospecting" for the purpose of conservation does not compare well in terms of costs and benefits. The prospect of benefits is somewhat small and unlikely in terms of the cost incurred. Another economic possibility Atkinson addresses is the possibility of ecotourism. This is a somewhat better prospect in terms of money that tourists are willing to invest in seeing animals in their natural habitats.

In conclusion, I do not think that biodiversity is overprotected, if one is to understand the term quite literally. On the other hand, I do believe that the protection that is available for biodiversity throughout the world is handled incorrectly. Authority figures yield their powers from offices, never coming into close contact with the nature that is to be protected.As such, many citizens also spend the majority of their time indoors, and cannot truly understand the nature, costs or benefits of this biodiversity.

The costs of protecting biodiversity are significant. The currently perceived benefits to society are mainly aesthetic and mental. People "like the idea" of bioconservation. However, if biodiversity is to receive the protective attention it deserves, policies and laws must change significantly. In this, urban society needs to be reconnected to the land that sustains it.

Sources

Atkinson, Giles. (no data avail.). The Economics of Biodiversity Conservation. The London School of Economics and Political Science. http://www.fathom.com/course/21701792/session1.html

Ghista, Garda (2004). Biodiversity - Underprotected or Overprotected? Proutist Universal: Biodiversity. http://www.proutist-universal.org/archives/000416.html

Mayell, Hillary. (2001, May 17). Agriculture Viodiversity Protection Must Co-Exist in Conservation, Sutdy Says. National Geographic News. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/05/0516_ecoag.html

Valdegamberi, Stafano Antonio. (2006). Biodiversity and Agriculture. http://www.ambitalia.org.uk/organic_folder/Valdegamberi.pdf.....