Environmental Issues Causing Biodiversity Loss
I need a 10-12 page paper based on an outline prepared in a previous week's assignment. The outline and final assignment instructions are attached along with the pdf files of the 3 Ashford resources. Only 3 of the 6 resources needed to be from the Ashford library. The instructor said I do not have my resources formatted to APA standard correctly, so if you could help in that area as well, it would be greatly appreciated. I have to turn in the paper by midnight, Monday, 10 Nov, but would like a few hours to look it over.
Environmental Issues Causing Biodiversity Loss
- Introduction and Thesis:
- Preview your main points (Hint, you should have four).
Human activity is challenging the planet’s environmental sustainability, threatening its ability to sustain current and future generations. At least 40 percent of the world’s economy and 80 percent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change. Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops, greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms, and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters. So, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife. For this to happen, government intervention is necessary.
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- Introduce your thesis statement.
Policies that effectively and efficiently address these environmental issues needs to be developed to prevent the loss of biodiversity.
- II. Environmental Challenges/Problems:
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- Identify your issue and describe three environmental challenges/problems associated with your issue.
Human activity is challenging the planet’s environmental sustainability by altering habitats, polluting the air and water and overexploiting resources, thereby causing a significant shift in our climate. The three environmental problems that will be discussed that have had a great impact on the loss of biodiversity are the alteration and loss of habitats, pollution, and climate change.
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- Include sources that support your points.
“The rate of biodiversity loss due to human activity in the last 50 years has been more rapid than at any other time in human history, and many of the drivers of biodiversity loss are increasing, including habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, climate change, and pollution, including pollution from reactive
nitrogen (Nr),” (Porter, E. et al, 2013). Habitat destruction and fragmentation cause species loss, accelerated due to simultaneous invasions by other species, climate change, overexploitation, and habitat deterioration, (Krauss et al., 2010).
- III. Direct/Indirect Environmental Values:
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- Explain which direct/indirect environmental values are impacted by the three environmental challenges/problems associated with your issue.
Direct values of utilitarian and ecosystem services are impacted by the environmental issues. An indirect value, intrinsic value, for medical potential discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change, is threatened by the loss of biodiversity.
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- Include sources that support your points.
“Ecosystems deliver multiple services and many involve trade-offs in that increasing supply of one reduces supply of another. Carbon sequestration through afforestation or forest protection may enhance timber production but reduce water supplies,” (Cardinale et al., 2012). Clearing land for farming, residences, etc, enhances food production and quality of life, but destroys the natural habitat causing species loss, (Krauss et al., 2010).
- Policy Recommendation and Analysis:
- Recommend a policy that will effectively and efficiently address the three environmental challenges/problems associated with your issue.
USAID Biodiversity Policy. This Policy represents a recommitment of USAID to conserve biodiversity through strategic actions to reduce threats and drivers, as well as a new focus on integrating biodiversity conservation with other development sectors.
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- Discuss the social, political, economic, and environmental pros/cons of implementing your policy recommendation.
An economic con of policy implementation is a growing consensus recognizes that development cannot be sustainable if it results in the degradation of the natural capital that supports economic activity and progress in other areas such as public health, food security, and resilience to climate change.
Also, a pro (if agreed upon) and con (if no agreement) is that cooperation is needed; partnerships with the private sector and nontraditional allies are essential to sustainably address biodiversity loss from activities such as infrastructure development and mining. (USAID Biodiversity Policy, 2014).
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values into their decision-making processes by considering the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and reasonable alternatives to those actions.
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- Include sources that support your points.
“Climate change affects the distribution and abundance of vulnerable species with changes in temperature, precipitation, seasonal patterns, and ocean conditions shifting suitable habitat. Human communities without sustainable climate change adaptation options can put pressure on ecosystems, resulting in further degradation,” (USAID Biodiversity Policy, 2014).
- Conclusion:
- Review your main points and overall argument/thesis.
Anthropogenic events has challenged the planet’s environmental sustainability, threatening its ability to sustain current and future generations by altering habitats, polluting the air and water and overexploiting resources, ultimately causing climate change. Biodiversity is essential for maintaining balance and allowing for opportunities for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change. One policy that would seem to effectively address environmental issues affecting biodiversity is the USAID Biodiversity Policy. However, there are several economic, political, social and environmental challenges that delay progress; one such issue is that development cannot be sustainable if it results in the degradation of the natural capital that supports economic activity and progress in other areas such as public health, food security, and resilience to climate change. Policy development, implementation and enforcement is crucial for the preservation of biodiversity and the health of future generations.
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- Closing
Progress has been made towards understanding how the loss of biodiversity affects the functioning of ecosystems and thus affects society. With policy implementation and cooperation amongst industry/government/individuals, the minimizing of pollution, reducing exploitation and the sustainment and enhancement of natural habitats will preserve the environment, aiding in the reduction of climate change affecting all life on earth.
Environmental Issues Causing Biodiversity Loss
Kimberly V. Adams
POL310: Environmental Policies
Instructor Dr. John T. Ackerman
Date of Submission
Environmental Issues Causing Biodiversity Loss
Introduction
Human activity is challenging the planet’s environmental sustainability, threatening its ability to sustain current and future generations. At least 40 percent of the world’s economy and 80 percent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change. Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops, greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms, and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters. So, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife. For this to happen, government intervention is necessary. Policies that effectively and efficiently address these environmental issues needs to be developed to prevent the loss of biodiversity. This paper seeks to identify and exemplify environmental issues related to loss of biodiversity and policy changes needed to address them. To achieve this, the paper will examine existing literature drawn from various databases and relating to biodiversity.
Environmental Challenges/Problems
Human activity is challenging the planet’s environmental sustainability by altering habitats, polluting the air and water and overexploiting resources, thereby causing a significant shift in our climate. There various different environmental problems that lead to loss of biodiversity and this section examines three specific issues including alteration and loss of habitats, pollution, and climate change. Arguably, the three problems emancipate from human activity and has had dire effects on biodiversity. The rate of biodiversity loss has been increasing over the years to surpass that of the background rate. It has been projected that the rate of extinction may surpass the background rate by over 10 thousand times over the next century if drastic measures are not taken to reverse and/or stop the effects of human activity. This view is shared by Porter and colleagues (2003) who points out that “The rate of biodiversity loss due to human activity in the last 50 years has been more rapid than at any other time in human history, and many of the drivers of biodiversity loss are increasing, including habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, climate change, and pollution, including pollution from reactive nitrogen (Nr).” This is true regardless the fact that humans depend to a large extent on biodiversity for survival. The food, water and energy sources which light up human life are dependent on the livelihood of biodiversity, but these are being threatened by the very people who depend on them. Habitat destruction and fragmentation cause species loss, accelerated due to simultaneous invasions by other species, climate change, overexploitation, and habitat deterioration, (Krauss et al., 2010).
Pollution
Pollution is one of the major factors that threaten the survival of biodiversity and general environmental sustainability. Pollution is a big stressor to the biodiversity survival and has a negative effect on the resilience of the ecosystems. Different types of pollution, including water pollution, dry land pollution and air pollution affect how the ecosystem will adapt to changes in climate. Pollution from industrial waste such as in the case green gas emissions, biochemical wastes, and household waste and other sources of pollutions affects the survival of biodiversity (Cardinale, et al. 2012). Air pollution emancipating from chemicals such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen affects the lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere which in turns has a negative effect on lower life forms as compared with higher life forms. In this context, plants, which depend on the constant intake of atmospheric gases, are the most affected by air pollution. Pollution from stationary sources such coal electrical firms and from mobile sources, including but not limited to automobiles all have a negative effect on biodiversity. Water pollution as a result of depositing of various substances into the water stream also has negative effects not only on water based activities, but also on human and animal health and the holistic ecosystem. Microorganisms derived from untreated waste contaminate surface and underground water, the rainwater and oceans. In a society that is increasingly relying on industrialization, water pollution is one of the worst threats to biodiversity. The discharge of effluent into water streams also affects activities such as fishing, diving and swimming. Porters and colleagues (2003) observe that industrial and agricultural activities have led to an increase in the level of nitrogen and chemicals such as phosphorus which are being washed to water points. They warn that such chemicals can be limiting for autotrophic and can easily lead to eutrophication, a process that reduces the amount of oxygen available for these plants. This process favors fast growing plants in aquatic and terrestrial systems and by extension reduces the amount of oxygen and light available for other species.
Alterations and loss of habitats
The alteration, fragmentation and change in the environmental surroundings of species is a big threat to their survival. Out of human activities, the environment has been modified, forests cleared and animal displaced. The increase in demographics as well as industrial and agricultural activities increasingly conflicted with the welfare of other species. As people clear more land for farming and industrial expansion, animal species are pushed to lesser geographical areas and plant species become destroyed. A good example of how alteration and loss of habitants can destroy biodiversity can be drawn from the Mediterranean sea. The sea grass meadow which is common in this area is very crucial for the production of oxygen, offering shelter to various biological species not to mention food for these species. Further, it protects the sea coast offering guarantees of stability. Still, the bottom fishing activities which utilize the trawling net has started to threaten the very existence of this ecosystem, tearing away the grass to leave behind a bear sandy coastline. Changes occurring due to alterations and loss of habitats have been instrumental in shaking existing eco-networks and related activities (Porters et al. 2003). Over the last couple of years, alterations in terms of increased agricultural activities, surface area taken for urbanization and the building of infrastructure and exploitation of underground natural resources has threatened the survival of species. Fragmentation on the other hand leads to cross breeding and loss of the original populations. By extension, the resulting populations become increasingly vulnerable to genetic deterioration, anthropic disturbances and epidemics.
Climate change
As aforementioned, biodiversity is very crucial to short run and long run needs of human beings. Climate is also a very important part of the ecosystem within which human beings live. There are direct and indirect effects of changes in climate on human being and the ecosystem as a whole. Issues such as acidification rise in sea level and altered climatic conditions have had long standing effects on the balance in the ecosystem. Extreme weather events including but not limited to floods and drought have increased in the last couple of years and this has been attributed to unregulated human activities. Arguably, the relationship between climate change and biodiversity is interdependent with a change in one affecting the other (WHO, 2014). Understanding this relationship merely requires one to review the major goal of environmental conservation, which in this regard is the conservation of freshwater, terrestrial and marine ecosystem and the restoration degraded or destroyed biodiversity. This in itself is essential, especially given the fact that biodiversity plays a vital role in maintaining the balance in climatic conditions and the global carbon cycle while at the same time providing useful services, essential for the welfare of human beings. The goal is also important in the attainment and management of global millennium development goals. A change in climate can and has been proved to increase the effects of other stressors, including but not limited to overexploitation of natural resources, alterations and fragmentation of inhabitants, pollution and invasion of alien species.
Direct/Indirect Environmental Values:
Direct values of utilitarian and ecosystem services are impacted by the environmental issues. An indirect value, intrinsic value, for medical potential discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change, is threatened by the loss of biodiversity. As Cardinale et al. (2012) points out, “…ecosystems deliver multiple services and many involve trade-offs in that incre...