Why should we preserve endangered species?
- Thread starter Pandaman
- Start date
jbnbsn99
Well-Known Member
Considering the sun will eventually explode in a supernova does it matter how many pandas, tigers etc. we save? All life on planet Earth will be destroyed.
Humans are the only species with the potential to leave planet Earth via a space ship, surviving the supernova. Should human progress be prioritized over preservation of endangered species?
Humans are the only species with the potential to leave planet Earth via a space ship, surviving the supernova. Should human progress be prioritized over preservation of endangered species?
jbnbsn99
Well-Known Member
With that mentality, why care about anything?
The responses we've seen aside, to some degree, it's a valid question in some cases. After all, extinction is a natural process - if not, why isn't there a T-Rex stomping past my window? Evolution, surivival of the fittest, the ability to adapt to a changing environment, are factors that any nature lover should take into consideration.
I was once horrified by footage of a tuatara eating a seriously endangered skink - what are we going to do? If pandas are so specialised that they can only survive in a very limited habitat, would they have been doomed regardless of human encroachment?
Don't get me wrong, I'm fully down with doing whatever we can to save any wildlife, but nonetheless, it's a valid point for discussion.
I was once horrified by footage of a tuatara eating a seriously endangered skink - what are we going to do? If pandas are so specialised that they can only survive in a very limited habitat, would they have been doomed regardless of human encroachment?
Don't get me wrong, I'm fully down with doing whatever we can to save any wildlife, but nonetheless, it's a valid point for discussion.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
And when will this occur?
Is that a reasonable time frame towards which to plan the future of an entire planet of hundreds of thousands of species?
In fact, if it hinges on humanity's ability to abandon ship, would it not be wisest to put all efforts into doing so ASAP and letting the remaining species get on with it?
Adding to Question Time: What happens if we do not preserve other species? (that is, the ones we are actively destroying). What are the costs in human spirit? potential medicines? ecological disasters? happiness and sex lives of Sumatran tigers? etc.
Or, taken another way, why ask "Why should we preserve endangered species?"
Why not ask "Why do we obliterate other species? Why do we crowd out other species?" Just because, to our knowledge, other plant and animal species have not revealed their potential to build spaceships are they somehow less valuable? Is the simple fact that humanity can destroy life on this planet give us carte blanche to do so?
Or yet another question: If humanity has treated this planet as it has, is it moral to move on to another planet? Ought other species to stop us?
Questions are fun!
HyakkoShachi
Well-Known Member
Why live when we will just die later on?
Why abandon earth when the sun explodes, when by that time we will either be extinct as well or have technology so advanced that we could just turn the earth into one huge spaceship, thus saving the entire planet?
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
I think he has asked valid questions that have complex answers. I don't think he should jet off anyway. If he doesn't deserve to be here then who is?
Pandaman, I know that you are playing devil's advocate, but I had a colleague once who thought the exact same thing more or less. He argued that so many species have gone extinct before our time, so why should we care if a few more go extinct in our lifetime. He was a bible-thumper from Zimbabwe who felt that man had dominion over animals, but there are many people on earth who think just like him.
To get conservation working (especially in developing countries) we need to have a cogent argument to prevent species from going extinct. Having lived in a developing country I can say that the average Joe would not buy into "we have a moral duty to preserve species". Clearly we need a better reason. One needs to understand and accept the selfish nature of "what's in it for me" humans and then pander to that. Conservationists are catching on and showing local communities the value of keeping species alive in dollars. This, I think is the zeitgeist, especially in developing countries.
You may call me a "bible thumper" (Im an American Southern Baptist) but I feel just the opposite. I believe that God put us here to be good stewards of the environment. I am of the active management philosophy. I believe in conservation and husbandry. I believe our resources are here for us to manage and propagate for our benefit. And I also believe that the best long term benefit is to encourage biodiversity not stifle it.
As far as endangered species, if human action has been the ultimate factor in their decline I believe its a moral obligation to ensure the species survival.
Comparing Dinosaurs and a rare species of modern hoofstock hunted to extinction is a dishonest comparison. Dinosaurs were selected by nature and died out. If I go shoot all the Hunters Hartebeest then its ultimately on me.
But many in the conservation movement probably see me as an enemy because I farm, I am a hunter, I raise pulpwood for a living, etc.
As far as endangered species, if human action has been the ultimate factor in their decline I believe its a moral obligation to ensure the species survival.
Comparing Dinosaurs and a rare species of modern hoofstock hunted to extinction is a dishonest comparison. Dinosaurs were selected by nature and died out. If I go shoot all the Hunters Hartebeest then its ultimately on me.
But many in the conservation movement probably see me as an enemy because I farm, I am a hunter, I raise pulpwood for a living, etc.
WildlifeGirl89
Member
I believe extinction is an important natural process, but humans are hurrying the extinction rate of many species faster than normal. Therefore I think humans owe it to the other species on this planet to protect and conserve as much as we can, given the damage humans have done/are doing.
I know that an asteroid could hit us at any moment, but why stop and wait for it to happen? Therefore preservation of endangered species is also important so future generations have the chance to see a tiger, rhino, etc in real life than looking at pictures of them in books.
I know that an asteroid could hit us at any moment, but why stop and wait for it to happen? Therefore preservation of endangered species is also important so future generations have the chance to see a tiger, rhino, etc in real life than looking at pictures of them in books.
Well we are not obliged to save species, but we would be VERY stupid if we didn't!
Species extinction is a direct consequence of habitat degradation, something we humans are very good at. Extinction rates are now about more then 1000X times higher then normal, so that is something to care of.
For the simple fact that if we keep degrading earth and do not learn to use natural resources sustainably, we will commit suicide as human beings. Because we depend on earth and if we destroy it, it wil have very very large consequences for us.
Two examples in the past have showed this: both the native people of Easter Island and the Maya's have experienced that being non-sustainable means extinction....
Species extinction is a direct consequence of habitat degradation, something we humans are very good at. Extinction rates are now about more then 1000X times higher then normal, so that is something to care of.
For the simple fact that if we keep degrading earth and do not learn to use natural resources sustainably, we will commit suicide as human beings. Because we depend on earth and if we destroy it, it wil have very very large consequences for us.
Two examples in the past have showed this: both the native people of Easter Island and the Maya's have experienced that being non-sustainable means extinction....
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
Humans, especially in developing countries where a lot of extinction is taking place, have the attitude that "it's my family and I, or the animals, and I will do what it is necessary to survive". There is rarely any feeling of "I must lower the standard of living of my family so that some animals can have a good life". This, coupled with the superiority complex humans have over animals means that a purely moral "obligation" will never save animals from extinction. For this reason, conservationists always give locals an alternative, like being employed in Eco tourism, raising rabbits instead of hunting bushmeat etc.
Most of the comments here appear to be from first world, city dwellers that think idealistically. Well, where extinction is happening is far far from ideal I'm afraid.
Most of the comments here appear to be from first world, city dwellers that think idealistically. Well, where extinction is happening is far far from ideal I'm afraid.
Pandaman, you are on the wrong site buddy.
tschandler and FBBird hit the nail on the head and I couldn't agree more.
Also, if you don't have a problem with the extinction of endangered species (and an endangered species could be any species, by the way. Would you not try to save Domestic Dogs if they were endangered!?) then why is your username that of an endangered species. Obviously you like pandas (both Giant and Red Pandas are endangered) yet seem to have no problem whatsoever letting them die out.
~Thylo
tschandler and FBBird hit the nail on the head and I couldn't agree more.
Also, if you don't have a problem with the extinction of endangered species (and an endangered species could be any species, by the way. Would you not try to save Domestic Dogs if they were endangered!?) then why is your username that of an endangered species. Obviously you like pandas (both Giant and Red Pandas are endangered) yet seem to have no problem whatsoever letting them die out.
~Thylo
Extinction is happening in each and every one of our backyards, nanoboy. An Aussie like you should know that.
~Thylo
From a utilitarian view keeping ecosystems intact and evolutionary processes in motion is essential. We need the genetic diversity of the wild congeners of our crops to find new variants to fight crop diseases and adapt crops to changing environmental conditions. This isn't fantasy or science fiction, but verifiable reality: http://udini.proquest.com/view/genetic-and-ecological-approaches-goid:518812729/
From an ethical perspective I think that if we can conserve viable, wild populations of giraffes, elephants, lions, etc. through this century and beyond it means that we can also live with ourselves on this planet and that we have learned the lessons of Easter Island, the decline of Mayan civilization, the European Dark Ages, and the numerous other examples of civilization collapse.
No doubt many endangered species will be lost and nobody will care. Some people will care about saving some of them, and lots of people will care about saving a few of them. If you care about saving endangered species and ecosystems there are multiple ways to help conserve and protect them. If you don't care about endangered species, then it is the job of those of us that do to try and convince you that you should. If you still don't care, then please don't get in the way of those of us that do and just carry on watching tv or whatever.
From an ethical perspective I think that if we can conserve viable, wild populations of giraffes, elephants, lions, etc. through this century and beyond it means that we can also live with ourselves on this planet and that we have learned the lessons of Easter Island, the decline of Mayan civilization, the European Dark Ages, and the numerous other examples of civilization collapse.
No doubt many endangered species will be lost and nobody will care. Some people will care about saving some of them, and lots of people will care about saving a few of them. If you care about saving endangered species and ecosystems there are multiple ways to help conserve and protect them. If you don't care about endangered species, then it is the job of those of us that do to try and convince you that you should. If you still don't care, then please don't get in the way of those of us that do and just carry on watching tv or whatever.
I wonder when it comes to the large macrospecies like you mentioned David that we focus on saving the "giraffe" by combining populations.