Why does it matter? There's a lot online about why it matters ... why we should keep the diversity of species that we have ... why protecting endangered species isn't what some people have framed it to be - it's not just about looking after animals vs. looking after people, and it's not just about protecting nature vs. saving jobs.
Back in the Cold War, when Russia and the US each stockpiled enough nuclear weapons to wipe each other out, the analogy was made that these two superpowers fighting each other with rhetoric was like two giants in a large room. The room is filled with gasoline. Both have matches.
Here are some reasons it can be really valuable to think about Biodiversity and look out to keep it. Admittedly some of this is in the realm of the 'subjective'....
ETHICS ... who are we to decide directly or indirectly whether whole species survive or not?
PRACTICALITY ... wipe out species, eventually we don't have the complex ecosystemic web that sustains ... us as humans ... we're in many ways also just learning about what ecosystems are and how they work together ... not helpful to ruin them first.
INTERCONNECTIVITY ... species we may decide we value ...
AESTHETICS ... more variety is more interesting and more beautiful.
HEALTH CARE ... species we wipe out often contain ingredients that can be used for medicines.
HEALTH OVERALL ... cleaner air and safer water are good for adult humans and children.
ECONOMIC IMPACTS ... human-influenced changes in climate show signs of stirring up negative effects such as - storms that have increased in number and intensity, and crop damage and crop loss that can result from staggered or shortened food growing seasons.
PSYCHOSPIRITUAL ... nature can be tough and challenging from extreme weather to erosion damage to volcanoes and earthquakes ... but a balanced and intimate sense of shared presence with nature seems to be universally agreed upon as peaceful and reassuring while also stimulating creativity and inspiration.
More on this topic in future posts! ...
