How people can protect endangered species. Preservation of the number of animals and their habitat. Habitat disturbance
Humanity has been developing for tens of thousands of years, adjusting the environment to suit its needs. And only in recent years have we begun to think about how detrimentally this very development is affecting nature. We have Red Data Books, the fight against poachers has intensified, nature reserves have opened, but animals continue to die out, and the main reason for this is still .
Why do animals become extinct?
The disappearance of old species and the emergence of new ones is a completely natural process on Earth. For hundreds of thousands of years, extinction has occurred for various reasons, and recently humans have been added to these reasons. But first things first.
All previous periods of extinctions were associated with climate changes, movement of tectonic plates, volcanic activity, collisions with celestial bodies, etc. The current (rapidly increasing) extinction of animals began about 100,000 years ago- just during the period of human settlement on Earth. Our distant ancestors unknowingly invaded ecosystems and destroyed the ecological balance by hunting, destroying habitats and spreading disease.
But then more, about 10,000 years ago we mastered agriculture and began to lead a sedentary lifestyle. By creating his settlements, man changed the local ecosystem to suit himself, which no other species has allowed itself in history. Because of this, some animals simply died, others moved to new territories and, again, displaced local species.
Habitat disturbance
For our own needs, we had to cut down forests, plow the land, drain swamps, create reservoirs - all this radically changed the habitat habitual for living organisms. Animals were deprived of their habitat where they obtained food and reproduced.
The usual habitats of animals become unsuitable largely due to... Pesticides, oil, phenols, metals, toxic and nuclear waste - all this contaminates the atmosphere, soil, oceans and, of course, negatively affects all inhabitants of the Earth.
All living things are interconnected, and the extinction of animals of one species often provokes other extinctions. This phenomenon is called "cumulative effect".
Example. In Malaysia, they decided to radically get rid of malaria mosquitoes by resorting to the use of the pesticide DDT. Mosquitoes are defeated - malaria is not scary! But there were also cockroaches there that were not exposed to DDT. The cockroaches were eaten by lizards, which were weakened by the pesticide. So the lizards became easy prey for cats, which caused the death of the latter. As a result, the number of rats, carriers of diseases comparable to malaria, has sharply increased in that region.
Excessive production
Today we use the animal world not only as a source of food, but also for the extraction of raw materials and many needs that are not vital.
For the production of medicines, perfumes, cosmetics and some industrial products, raw materials are needed, namely animal raw materials. Officially, endangered animals are not used for these needs, but there is no law written for poachers.
Poaching and smuggling of animals is incredibly developed in all countries and causes irreparable damage to nature. So you knew that smuggling of animals and plants can be compared with smuggling of weapons and drugs? And, of course, we are not always talking about the illegal trafficking of rare animals alive, but often about their valuable parts: bone, fur, etc.
A striking example of extinction due to overharvesting is the Dodo bird, which we will talk about later.
Impact of introduced species
There is such a concept "introduction"- This is the intentional and unintentional relocation of various species of animals outside their habitats by humans. In other words, because of humans, new species began to appear where they had not existed before and should not exist. At the same time, introduced species, having no natural enemies in the new territory, begin to multiply and displace local inhabitants.
A classic example is the introduction of rabbits to Australia. They were brought there from England for sport hunting. The local climate was to the liking of the rabbits, and the local predators were not agile enough to hunt them. Therefore, the long-eared animals quickly multiplied and began to destroy entire pastures. To exterminate them, foxes were brought to Australia, but they began to hunt local marsupials, which only worsened the situation. With the help of a special virus, we managed to get rid of the rabbits.
Destruction to protect agricultural and fishing facilities
More than 20 species are at risk of extinction due to the fact that their representatives harm agriculture and fishing. These include birds of prey, rodents, pinnipeds, monkeys, etc.
What animals and birds have become extinct recently?
Over the past 500 years 844 species of animals and birds became extinct. Let's remember some of them.
Dodos (Dodo)
These flightless birds lived in the Mascarene Islands and Mauritius. But the active colonization of these territories in the 17th century caused their rapid extinction. People are not only hunted Dodos immensely, but also brought in some predators (rats, cats, dogs), which also contributed.
These birds received the name “Dodo” (from Portuguese - “stupid”) from sailors. The fact is that in their habitat they had no enemies and were trusting of people. There was no particular need to hunt Dodos - they simply approached them and hit them on the head with a stick. And it was difficult for these birds to hide from danger, because... they could neither fly, nor swim, nor run fast.
The coat of arms of Mauritius features the Dodo The largest representative of one of the subspecies of these birds reached 3.5 meters and weighed about 250 kg. They didn't have wings. Until the 16th century they lived in New Zealand, until they were completely exterminated by the aborigines.
Carolina parrot
This species was the only parrot that lived in North America. But this turned out to be unimportant and the Carolina parrot was exterminated, because harmed fields and fruit trees. They were last seen in the 1920s.
Another example when creatures unable to hide simply died from human onslaught. They flew poorly, or maybe they couldn’t fly at all. That's why hunting it was not difficult for them. Within 100 years of its discovery, the species had completely disappeared.
The last representative of this species died in 1936. It was the largest marsupial carnivore, living mainly on the island of Tasmania. Destroyed by man due to damage to agriculture.
By the way, they tried to clone the Tasmanian tiger using the DNA of puppies preserved in alcohol. But the project failed because... DNA could not be recovered.
The only place where these tigers lived was the island of Bali. With the advent of firearms there, locals began to take an interest in these cats. hunters, and in 25 years they destroyed the entire species.
At one time, representatives of this subspecies of rhinoceros were distributed almost throughout Africa, but through the efforts poachers by the early 2000s, only a few individuals remained. In 2011, the last representative of this species passed away.
By the way, a number of scientists claim that about half of currently existing species will disappear within 100 years.
Lonesome George, the last of this species, died in 2012. These huge land turtles were inhabitants of the Galopogo Islands. Many of them lived to be 200 years old. Unfortunately, these turtles were killed by proximity to people. Delicious meat and gorgeous shell - what hunter can resist this? It would seem that the ban on hunting was introduced in a timely manner, but poachers do not care about the laws...
This unusual animal, resembling a hybrid of a zebra and a horse, was common in South Africa. They were trusting and friendly, so taming the quagga was not difficult. They were exterminated because of their tasty meat and valuable skins. The last representative of the species died in 1883.
Declared extinct in 1964. Lived in North America until he was completely exterminated by local farmers, because attacked livestock.
Be sure to watch the video, which tells about some more animals that became extinct due to our fault:
Animals in danger of extinction
Marsupials living in the eucalyptus forests of Australia. It is on the crowns of these trees that koalas spend most of their lives. In the 18th and 19th centuries they began to be killed because of their valuable thick fur. Millions of skins were exported annually. Fortunately, the Australian government stopped this madness in time, first limiting and then completely banning koala hunting.
Today, the population of these “cubs” is gradually recovering, but there is still a risk of extinction of the entire species. This is due to forest fires, deforestation and disease.
Ivory is highly prized throughout the world, and poachers, of course, know this. They are doing their best, despite international bans.
Annually the elephant population is declining by 30 thousand individuals. And for what? For the sake of producing jewelry and other useless things?!
Several centuries ago, cheetahs were common in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Today it is a representative of a purely African fauna. At the same time, single individuals are found mainly in protected areas. Local farmers see them only as pests that prey on livestock. Yes and poachers are interested in obtaining cheetah skins.
Today there are no more than 12 thousand individuals left in the world, while 100 years ago there were about 100,000 (!).
Found on the grassy plains between Kenya and Somalia, this antelope species suffers greatly from disease, predators and, of course, humans. We are gradually destroying the habitat of these animals, hunting them and depriving them of food by grazing herds of livestock.
Today the number of hirola does not exceed 1000 individuals. However, they are not kept in zoos or placed in nature reserves.
In nature, these monkeys are the closest relatives of humans. But this does not stop us from cutting down the forests where they live, and constantly hunt for them.
Today, the orangutan's range is limited to Borneo and Sumatra. Their total number is about 70 thousand, which is several times less than in the middle of the last century.
The orangutan is the smartest creature on Earth after humans, and in just 10 years it could completely disappear if the rate of extinction continues.
Outwardly, this animal resembles a large fluffy cat. True, he is quite ferocious in character and it is very difficult to tame the Pallas's cat. It is on the verge of extinction because of its valuable fur.
Today it is the world's largest lizard. Some representatives of the species reach 2 meters in length.
Their disappearance is associated with tourism, settlement of territories and the destruction of their usual food.
These marine animals are found off the northern shores of the Pacific Ocean. In the 18th and 19th centuries, sea otters began to be exterminated en masse for valuable fur. Fortunately, the lawlessness was stopped through international efforts, and hunting them was banned almost everywhere.
Today the sea otter population is 88 thousand. However, its growth is not observed. The reason for this is a number of environmental problems associated with ocean pollution.
This is the largest land predator. There are about 25 thousand of them on the planet. In recent decades, despite attacks from poachers, the polar bear population has been relatively stable.
However, scientists are sounding the alarm, predicting the complete extinction of this species between 2050 and 2100. Reason – global warming, because of which the Arctic. And without them, polar bears cannot fully hunt.
By the way, the polar bear is the only predator that tracks and hunts humans as ordinary prey.
What is being done to protect animals from extinction
First of all, hunting for certain species is regulated by law, both at the international and state levels. Our document is Federal Law “On the Animal World”.
The Red Book is used to record endangered animals. It is available in every country and also has an international version.
It should be mentioned that depending on the risk of extinction, certain species may have different protective status, proposed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
- Extinct. This includes species that have completely disappeared (EX) and those that are no longer found in the wild - only in captivity (EW).
- Endangered. This category includes animals that in a few generations may completely disappear from the wild (CR), endangered (EN) and vulnerable species (VU).
- The risk is low. These include conservation-dependent (CD), near-threatened (NT) and least-threatened (LC).
Animals with status "Disappeared in the Wild" (EW) are one example of human attempts to preserve endangered species. Such animals can only be found in an artificially created environment, which are various zoological institutions. Unfortunately, several of these types have already been given up, because their representatives cannot give birth to offspring and simply live out their last days.
Nature reserves and sanctuaries are one of the most effective ways to preserve endangered animals. There are about 150 nature reserves in our country. In such areas, hunting, tree cutting, and sometimes human presence are prohibited.
In addition, there are also animals whose threat of extinction is simply not assessed for one reason or another. All these criteria are applied in the IUCN Red List.
A species is officially considered extinct when its last representative dies out. There is also a concept functional extinction– all remaining individuals can no longer reproduce, for example due to age or health conditions.
Who was saved from extinction?
Once common throughout North America, today it is a rare bird species. Their number does not exceed 150 individuals.
The condor was a prestigious game for hunters. It got to the point that in 1987 there were only 27 representatives of this species left. Fortunately, they managed to be placed in nature reserves, where they began to multiply quickly.
The rarest type of wolf. They lived in the southeastern United States. They were exterminated mainly by farmers, unhappy that red wolves were attacking livestock and birds.
As of 1967, there were 14 representatives of the species left in the world. They were placed in captivity, and today the number of red wolves is 100 individuals.
Back in the 17th century, saigas were one of the most widespread species in Eurasia, but due to humans, their range was narrowed to the relatively small steppe regions of the southern Volga region, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia.
Because of uncontrolled hunting Saiga antelopes were almost extinct by the beginning of the 19th century. But thanks to timely conservation measures, the population was restored and permission to hunt them again appeared. Their numbers again sharply decreased to a critical state.
Today there are about 50 thousand saigas left in the world. The set of measures to preserve the species includes strict suppression of poaching and ensuring the safety of the protected area.
The reason for the decline in panda numbers was mainly the destruction of their habitat when China's forests were cut down for human settlements and arable land.
Today, areas inhabited by pandas are under strict control and are protected areas. Poaching is punishable by death. However, despite good living conditions, the panda population is recovering slowly. Today there are about 500 individuals.
The reasons for its decline are poaching, destruction of natural habitats and erosion of the food supply.
Today, about 550 Amur tigers live in the protected areas of Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krai. It is planned to resettle them in those places where they were exterminated - this will significantly increase the population.
These animals are no larger in size than an ordinary cat. They were well distributed on the islands near California until all eagles there were exterminated in the early 90s. These birds posed no danger to foxes and hunted only fish. The place of the eagles was soon taken golden eagles, who no longer hesitated to hunt foxes, and quickly destroyed almost the entire population.
The remaining foxes began to be raised in captivity until the golden eagles problem was resolved. Today the population has been restored and amounts to 3 thousand individuals.
This is the last representative of wild bulls in Europe. In the wild it completely destroyed by hunters. Fortunately, these animals were still kept in many zoos.
Thanks to the efforts of scientists, today bison have returned to the wild. Their total number is close to 4 thousand individuals.
Conclusion
Despite all the efforts of conservationists, almost a third of species are at risk of extinction. In many ways, this happened because we realized it too late. Official prohibitions today are ignored by poachers who, for the sake of profit, will not hesitate to kill the last elephant or tiger. Much of the blame also lies with the end consumers of the “product” supplied by poachers, who are crazy about possessing the skulls of rare animals, wearing coats made of valuable fur, or rubbing “healing” fats into their skin.
The population of our planet is increasing year by year, but the number of wild animals, on the contrary, is decreasing.
Humanity is influencing the extinction of a large number of animal species by expanding its cities, thereby robbing the fauna of their natural habitats. A very important role is played by the fact that people are constantly developing more and more new lands for crops and crops.
It should be noted that sometimes the expansion of megacities has a positive effect on some species of animals: rats, pigeons, crows.
Conservation of biological diversity
At the moment, it is very important to preserve everything, because it was created by nature millions of years ago. The diversity of animals presented is not just a random accumulation, but a single coordinated working connection. The extinction of any species will cause major changes to the entire ecosystem. Each species is very important and unique for our world.
As for endangered unique species of animals and birds, they should be treated with special care and protection. Since they are the most vulnerable and humanity can lose this species at any time. It is the conservation of rare species of animals that becomes a primary task for each state and people in particular.
The main reasons for the loss of various animal species are: degeneration of the animal's habitat; uncontrolled hunting in prohibited areas; killing animals to create products; habitat pollution. All countries of the world have certain laws to protect against extermination of wild animals, regulating rational hunting and fishing; in Russia there is a law on hunting and use of wildlife.
At the moment, there is the so-called Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, established in 1948, where all rare animals and plants are listed. In the Russian Federation there is a similar one, where a record of our country’s endangered species is kept. Thanks to the state policy, it was possible to save sables and saigas, which were on the verge of extinction, from extinction. Now it is even allowed to hunt them. The number of kulans and bison has increased.
Saigas could have disappeared from the face of the Earth
The alarm about the extinction of biological species is not far-fetched. So, if we take the period from the beginning of the seventeenth century to the end of the twentieth (about three hundred years), 68 species of mammals and 130 species of birds became extinct.
According to statistics maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, one species or subspecies is destroyed every year. The phenomenon of partial extinction, that is, extinction in certain countries, has become very common. So in Russia in the Caucasus, humans contributed to the fact that nine species have already become extinct. Although this happened before: according to archaeological reports, musk oxen were in Russia 200 years ago, and in Alaska they were recorded before 1900. But there are still species that we can lose in a short time.
List of endangered animals
3. . The reproduction of sea lions is negatively affected by deteriorating environmental conditions, as well as infection from wild dogs.
4. Cheetah. They are killed by farmers because cheetahs prey on livestock. They are also hunted by poachers for their skins.
5. . The decline of the species is due to degradation of their habitat, illegal trade in their young, and infectious contamination.
6. . Their population has been reduced by climate change and poaching.
7. Collared sloth. The population is declining due to tropical deforestation.
8. . The main threat is poachers who sell rhino horn on the black market.
9. . The species is being forced out of its habitat. Animals have a low birth rate in principle.
10. . This species is also a victim of poaching as ivory is of great value.
eleven. . This species was actively hunted for its pelts and pasture competition.
12. . Changes in the bears' habitat due to global warming are affecting the decline of the species.
13. . The population is declining due to.
14. . The species has been reduced due to hunting and the danger of bears to humans.
15. . The species is being destroyed due to conflicts with people, active hunting, infectious diseases and climate change.
16. Galapagos tortoise. They were actively destroyed and their habitats were changed. Animals that were brought to the Galapagos had a negative impact on their reproduction.
17. . The species is declining due to natural disasters and poaching.
18. . The population has been reduced due to shark fishing.
19. . The species is becoming extinct due to infectious diseases and habitat changes.
20. . Illegal trade in animal meat and bones has led to a decline in the population.
21. . The population suffers due to constant oil spills.
22. . The species is declining due to whaling.
23. . The species has become a victim of poaching.
24. . Animals are suffering due to habitat loss.
25. . The population is declining due to urbanization processes and active deforestation.
The list of endangered animals is not limited to these species. As we see, the main threat is a person and the consequences of his activities. There are government programs for the conservation of endangered animals. And each person can make a contribution to the conservation of endangered animal species.
The “Strategy for the Conservation of Rare and Endangered Species of Animals, Plants and Fungi” developed by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources was approved back in February 2014. The document defining the basis for the conservation of biodiversity in Russia for the next 16 years (until 2030) was signed by Dmitry Medvedev. The strategy will significantly increase the effectiveness of the fight against poaching. To achieve this goal, measures will be strengthened to protect certain species of animals and plants that are of particular interest to illegal businesses, in particular, the Amur tiger, Far Eastern leopard, snow leopard, saiga, large species of Falconiformes, early flowering plants - wild species of galanthus, cyclamens and orchids . The strategy provides for the implementation of special biotechnical measures, the expansion of nurseries, fish breeding centers, botanical gardens and arboretums to preserve rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi. The document is also aimed at improving mechanisms for the protection of animals kept in captivity, including confiscated animals in reintroduction and relocation programs. The document provides for state registration and monitoring of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, and the development of international cooperation in this area. One of the priority areas of the strategy is environmental education and the formation of citizens’ responsible attitude towards natural complexes and objects, the ministry adds. The implementation of the measures provided for by this strategy will be carried out within the framework of the state program of the Russian Federation “Environmental Protection” for 2012-2020, approved by order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated December 27, 2012 No. 2552-r, and the state program “Reproduction and use of natural resources ", approved by order of the Government of the Russian Federation of March 26, 2013 No. 436-r. Financing of the activities provided for by the strategy will be carried out within the limits of the federal budget for the implementation of state programs for the corresponding year, funds from the budgets of the constituent entities of the Federation and local budgets, as well as from extra-budgetary sources. Order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated February 17, 2014 No. 212-r instructs the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation together with interested federal executive authorities develop and approve by November 30, 2014. action plan for the implementation of the Strategy approved by this order.
The draft Action Plan for the implementation of the strategy for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi in the Russian Federation for the period until 2013 (Stage I (2014 - 2017) is posted for review and receiving proposals from the authorized executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation .
Contact person for sending proposals - Latypov A.A., e-mail: [email protected].
Every year there are fewer and fewer animals on Earth, while some representatives of the fauna are on the verge of complete extinction. The reason for this is human activity, which has the most negative impact on the lives of living beings. To prevent terrible losses, it is very important to ensure the protection of animals.
Meaning of Animals
For many hundreds of years, animals have been of enormous importance to humanity. If at the dawn of civilization they were used only as a source of food, then later people learned to take maximum benefit from everything that our smaller brothers could give.
Such benefits include:
- food (meat, fish, milk, honey);
- medicines (bee products, snake venom);
- clothing and footwear (wool, leather);
- home furnishings (carpets, pillows, blankets);
- work assistants (horses, camels, oxen, dogs, cats).
Rice. 1. Horses are man’s faithful helpers.
In addition, each animal plays a large role in the natural food chain. If one species becomes extinct, this causes a disruption in the existing scheme, even leading to an environmental disaster.
Unfortunately, people do not always treat nature and its gifts with care. Ruthless deforestation, soil, water and air pollution, hunting, destruction of plants - all this leads to a decrease in the number of animals on our planet.
TOP 4 articleswho are reading along with this
When animal species began to rapidly disappear on the planet one after another, scientists sounded the alarm. As a result, the International Union for Conservation of Nature was founded in 1948. The purpose of its creation is to save plants and animals that are on the verge of extinction. An impressive list was compiled, which it was decided to call the Red Book.
It took 14 years to compile the first ever international Red Data Book. Biologists and ecologists from all over the world have been counting the losses that human activity has caused to nature.
Rice. 2. Red Book.
Red is the color of danger, warning. With its color, this book seems to warn people that it is time to stop and think about their actions. After all, if a species disappears from the face of the Earth, then there is no way to restore it - this is a terrible loss for the ecosystem of our planet.
Animal protection measures
Rare animals are saved at the state level. For this purpose, special measures are being taken and environmental protection complexes are being created.
- Zoo - a zoological park where animals are kept. This is a place where visitors can get acquainted with different species of animals, learn their habits and interesting features. In addition, work is underway in zoos to study the lifestyle, behavior, feeding methods, and reproduction of wild animals.
- Nursery - a place specially created for breeding and raising animals, as well as an area where they are studied.
- Reserve - a piece of land or water within which all or only some species of animals and plants are protected.
- National Park - a section of a protected area that is divided into several zones. There is a zone of complete peace for animals - you cannot walk here for purposes other than scientific ones. Excursion trips are possible in the recreation area. Economic activity is allowed on the territory of the neutral zone, but only for the purpose of servicing the national park.
- Reserve - a section of water or land where careful protection of the entire natural complex in its natural state is carried out. On the territory of the reserve, any human activity is strictly prohibited: hunting, lighting fires, building houses, etc.
Currently in Russia there are 104 natural state reserves. The oldest reserves are Barguzinsky, Caucasian, Astrakhan, and the largest is the Great Arctic.
4.5. Total ratings received: 201.
In 1981, the population of mountain gorillas living in Central Africa was threatened with extinction. The animals were literally confined to a small piece of the mountain range. They fled here from the attacks of poachers and civil war. There are so few of them left that all the monkeys could be put on one Boeing 747 plane and sent to another place in search of a better life. Today things are somewhat better. A study conducted in 2012 showed that the population had increased to 880 individuals. On the one hand, this is a big step forward, but on the scale of the entire planet, mountain gorillas are still few in number. These animals are still under threat.
This happens everywhere
Similar stories can be gleaned from the stories of scientists from all over the world. We have heard that Ussuri tigers, pandas, California condors and even coral reefs are in danger of extinction. Wildlife is suffering everywhere. And if after the first fact they hear people are able to get upset, then insight comes.
Should we worry?
Undoubtedly, the disappearance of animal populations is a sad event for the entire planet. However, should we worry about this? By and large, the Earth will not stop functioning if the panda population disappears. Many people realize that nowadays it is much more appropriate to take care of their own kind: the victims of natural disasters, famine, disease and civil wars. People, with their endless pressing problems and struggle for survival, cannot afford to spend tens of millions of dollars on the preservation of this or that species of wildlife. What will the existence of one species or another give humanity?
Staggering expenses
We reassure ourselves and say that there is no particular reason for these expenses. We probably won't be able to save all endangered species. Scientists in 2012 estimated that the conservation of all terrestrial animal species would cost the world's governments $76 billion a year. And if we add to this figure the costs of saving marine species, the amount will increase several times. Should this money be spent on saving wildlife or would it be better to use it to save people dying of hunger and serious illnesses? It is quite difficult for an inexperienced person to understand why conservationists advocate so much for the safety of wolves, because these animals destroy livestock and threaten people. Everyone could name several species of the planet's inhabitants, without which everyone would be better off. 
The most famous cases in history
Animal populations disappear from the face of the earth regularly. This happens not only today, it has always been like this. History includes at least five mass extinctions. During the most recent one, dated 65 million years ago, the dinosaurs disappeared. Subsequently, the rate of extinction of individual populations increases exponentially. But what if this disappearance was planned by nature itself in order to avoid overpopulation? And we are again going to interfere with the natural course of history.
Humans are to blame for the extinction of animals
Let's face it and admit that the rapid extinction of some wild populations would not have been possible without human influence. This is evidenced by a recent study in which scientists closely looked at rates of change in species abundance over the last century. Indeed, people themselves are to blame for the extinction of wildlife: poachers, civil wars, deforestation and widespread urbanization.
People want to live in more natural conditions
Despite the increase in the number of megacities, people dream of living in a secluded place, closer to pristine nature, enjoying peace and tranquility. People love to watch animals, explore the depths of the sea and look at mysterious coral reefs. There will always be desperate lovers of flora and fauna who will selflessly defend the right of each species to exist. People enjoy the paintings of great painters in an art gallery, but they also want to get aesthetic pleasure from seeing the beauty of wild nature. 
Preservation of medicinal plant species
The reason that we voiced earlier is not the main and decisive one in the discussion on preserving the populations of some formidable predators. We need stronger arguments. In statements by government officials and public figures at the highest level, we often hear about the safety of the ecosystem as a whole. Thus, there are many medicinal plants in tropical forests. If one of them completely disappears from the face of the earth, we will probably never find a panacea for cancer. No one needs to be convinced of the value of medicinal plant species.
But what about the ferocious predators (tigers or wolves) that constantly encroach on the integrity of nearby settlements? In addition, modern medicine can easily replace traditional medicines with chemically synthesized drugs. It's hard to convince us again.
The subtle mechanism of the ecosystem
A big breakthrough in the global dilemma of humanity was made in the 90s of the last century. Biologists began listing the virtues of each individual species and their “ecosystem services.” Thus, insects are needed for pollinating plants and producing seeds. Photosynthetic plankton and green spaces produce oxygen. After all, we eat some plants as well as animals. We considered only direct “environmental services”. Sometimes the influence of the animal world on our lives can be more subtle.
A little imagination
In order to imagine how the ecosystem works, let’s assume that humanity lives somewhere far from its home planet, on a huge spaceship. Of course, people, fleeing some kind of global apocalypse, did not take any animals on board. There are also no plants on board, so no oxygen is produced. Travelers will have to develop a new technology that replaces the process of photosynthesis. 
There is no natural water there; it will also have to be produced artificially. There will be no organic products, so you will have to make do with synthesized chemicals to maintain energy. And it will not look appetizing at all. Just imagine an artificial hamburger! It turns out that the scale of “ecosystem services” is truly enormous.
How much does life cost on Earth?
Ecologist Robert Constanza and his colleagues calculated back in 1997 that the biosphere provides “services” to humanity worth $33 trillion a year. For comparison, let's say that the entire world economy of that period was estimated at 18 trillion dollars. If we fail to keep species extinction under control, we will miss 18% of global production by 2050. Five years later, Robert Costanza's team produced even more convincing figures. Biodiversity conservation is worth the investment by a factor of 100. In other words, the fight for wildlife diversity seems like a good investment. We now have a compelling case for preserving endangered species.
Loading...