Lisa Warner
Mrs. Murphy
Action Research Project
10 March 2011
Literature Review
Introduction:
Most people have heard of biodiversity; if they haven’t heard of that particular word, they
have certainly heard of various organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund (or assorted local
groups) who plead to the public to make donations in order to save the tigers, protect a local
wetland, or help the plight of the panda bear. What few people realize is how important
biodiversity actually is in our world. I chose this topic because I am interested in biosystems
engineering, but wanted to know exactly why something like biodiversity is so essential. I began
this research by asking the question, “What is biodiversity, and why exactly is it important and
relevant?” In short, what are its practical applications? As it turns out, it has many
applications—it’s not just some cute furry faces or sandhill cranes that are in danger, but society
(and particularly the economy) as we know it. It is my hope that you would read the following
research summaries, and decide for yourself how important the issue of biodiversity really is.
"Biodiversity." Global Issues in Context Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2011. Global
Issues In Context. Web. 6 Mar. 2011.
This article attempts to summarize the formidable issue of biodiversity. It defines the
topic, explains the problem (including statistics), mentions why the environment’s problem is
also our problem, and describes the action that has been taken worldwide.
This article (which has no listed author) describes biodiversity as “an ecological concept
referring to the number of distinct varieties or types within a group of living systems at a range
of hierarchical levels” (Biodiversity 1). Biodiversity is exactly what it sounds like: The
assortment of unique species, genes, etc. found in nature. It is often used to describe the number
of species living in an ecosystem, or in this case, Earth. The creation of these new species takes
an estimated few million years. Even though 15 to 20 thousand new species are classified every
year, the total number of species is in decline due to extinction. Extinction is a natural process,
but it has been accelerated by human activity such as insensitive land use and development,
deforestation, over-hunting, over-fishing, and pollution. According to January 2011 estimates,
the average global populations of amphibians, birds, fishes, reptiles, and non-human mammals
have decreased by about 30 percent from 1970 estimates. This is important not only to nature
but to the world at large; the losses of both plant and animal species are relevant to the world’s
economy, threatening agriculture, medical research, biofuel production, and tourism. At the UN
Convention on Biological Diversity (January 2010), 20 key targets to cut biodiversity loss by 50
percent were established with the completion goal of year 2020.
Olmsted, Paige. "Getting the price right: paying for ecosystem services recognizes the
payback that these life-supporting processes offer." Alternatives Journal 36.6 (2010): 14+.
Global Issues In Context. Web. 6 Mar. 2011.
In this article, Paige Olmsted emphasizes how biodiversity is essential to a healthy
environment, and how inextricably the environment and our society (especially the economy) are
linked. For example, diversity builds resilience to both disease and invasive plants, giving
ecosystems the ability to adapt to changing conditions. In order to most productively function,
the environment requires diversity of species, genetics and ecosystems (in other words,
biodiversity). Olmsted quotes Shahid Naeem, a professor at Columbia, who says that “the more
diverse our world, the more productive and stable it will be” (Olmsted 1).
Olmsted also emphasizes our society’s dependence on biodiversity. Biodiversity is the
foundation for a properly functioning ecosystem, which is in turn critical to the sustainable
production of goods. In reality, the environment is a service provider. It has been estimated that
the global value of worldwide ecosystems is about twice the global GDP. There are many
assumptions behind this calculation, but the fact remains that the value of the environment is
gigantic; if this was realized by more organizations, decisions regarding the surrounding
environment might be made a little differently. Ecology is most definitely linked to the world’s
economy. In Ollmsted’s words, “nature is an asset we cannot afford to take for granted”
(Olmsted 3).
Freedman, Bill, Ph.D. "Conservation Biology." Environmental Encyclopedia. Ed. Marci
Bortman, et al. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2003. 306-308. Global Issues In
Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2011.
In this article, Bill Freedman explains the importance of biodiversity, threats against it,
and possible actions. Freedman groups the value of biodiversity into three classes: Intrinsic
value, or biodiversity’s own worth unrelated to human needs; utilitarian value, as a source of
food, materials, and energy; and provision of ecological services, the benefits biodiversity gives
both directly and indirectly (helps maintain ecosystem health through nutrient cycling, erosion
control, oxygen production, carbon dioxide removal, etc.). Freedman quotes the American
biologist Peter Raven, who says that “biodiversity keeps the planet habitable and ecosystems
functional” (Freedman 1).
Freedman mentions the main causes of the current biodiversity crisis: the disturbance of
natural habitats, excessive hunting, commercial forestry, climate change, and other stressors
(such as air and water pollution) coming from human activities. He mentions two main ways of
protecting biodiversity. One of these is controlling population levels by preserving habitats,
establishing captive-breeding programs, and researching genetic variation and other ecological
needs of the species. The other concept he mentions is that of protected areas, such as parks and
ecological reserves. These could protect endangered species, threatened communities, or
representative samples. According to Freedman, “a national system of protected areas [that]
would provide for the longer-term conservation of all native species and their natural
communities” would be ideal (Freedman 2). However, he says that no nation has yet created a
system of ecological reserves to protect its natural biodiversity.
Ross, Nicola. "Biodiversity[TM]: is Walmart's environmental program a substitute for
government policy?" Alternatives Journal 36.6 (2010): 20+. Global Issues In Context. Web.
9 Mar. 2011.
In this article, Nicola Ross highlights a practical way to get society to really attempt
major environmental change. Before this comes up, however, she looks at the effectiveness of
convincing businesses to take action to protect biodiversity. She does this by comparing
regulations to a stick and praises or “pats on the back” to carrots. Neither are very effective—
companies “eating the carrot” take environmental action (but not nearly as much as is needed),
and businesses tend to fight rather than embrace regulations. Ross quotes Steve Hounsell, an
advisor for Ontario Power Generation, who says that “if we want to prevent global collapse, we
have to engage the engine of economic activity” (Ross 1). In other words, the forces of the
market—not carrots or regulations—must be used to push for environmental change. This is
where the infamous Walmart corporation comes into play. They released an environmental plan,
which included efforts to “green” its supply chain. The concept is simple: If a supplying
company complies with the new plan, it will be a preferred supplier; if not, it will slip down in
the rankings of Walmart’s go-to companies. The result is that last August, the company Kruger
Products LP (which is not known for being environmentally friendly) announced a major
environmental program. Walmart’s strategy functions as both a carrot and a stick; no company
wants to be left out of the retail giant’s supplier list. This is a practical, effective example
highlighting how the economy can be effectively used to push for the protection of
environmental issues such as biodiversity.
Conclusion:
It is clear that there is more to biodiversity than meets the eye. The media pushes wideeyed seals and plush panda bears at the public, and while these animals are certainly worthy of
being saved, the issue goes much deeper than that. Biodiversity is an issue all over the world,
and is an essential part of environmental health. It relates directly to many aspects of society,
such as medical research, agriculture, and economics. It is also important indirectly, making the
ecosystems that we depend on for resources and planet health stable and dependable. However,
biodiversity has been greatly threatened by humans, and while steps are being taken to ensure the
protection of diversity, more action is needed. My research has shown several plans of action for
companies, researchers and governments; information on what the average citizen can do might
be needed. I had guessed that there must be more to biodiversity than endangered species, but I
had no idea that it was so closely entwined with the functioning of society, especially economics.
It is clear that biodiversity is a very worthy cause, with much action needed from all people of
the world in order to protect our precious (and essential) environment.