Protecting Endangered Species More Effort Needed
As the saying goes, no man is an island. No one can live in a hollow area where nothing but himself exists. Living in a vacuum is not possible. In this world, plants and animals coexist with each other. It is because of this coexistence how every organism thrives. The biosphere is a network governed by the balance of nature. Various ecosystems can be found in the biosphere, which houses different interrelationships between animals, plants, and their surroundings. Everything is connected to everything else. The biosphere is composed of different connections formed between organisms. There is a chain. There is a complex. Once a species is taken away from the chain, it can cause the death or extinction of 30 other species. The government has already addressed this problem. In the Endangered Species Act of 1973, it was officially recognized that plants and animals are slowly going extinct. It is because of these types of policies why we are urged to take action and prevent the extinction of endangered species (United States Congress Office of Technology Assessment 10).
According to this Act, these endangered species are very significant in the peoples lives. They have scientific, medical, recreational, aesthetic, educational, ecological and historical value. They help breathe life into the tourism industry. Also, they contribute revenue and improve the economic condition of a country. In this Act, the government was able to effectively explain the points of ecologists and conservationists on why we should do more to save these endangered species (United States Congress Office of Technology Assessment 10).
The sad part is that we cannot blame natural processes anymore for the disappearance of certain creatures. Biologists can tell that pollution, environmental degradation and extinction of species can all be attributed to the activities of humans. We are doing so much to harm our environment. Conservation efforts are there. People participate in making sure that extinction of endangered species is prevented. The problem, however, is that there are still millions of people who do not care about this. Mankind still exploits the environment.
People cut trees, use dynamite for fishing, burn forests and disturb marine life. They fill the air with smoke, dump garbage into the waters, and litter on the streets. Because of these human activities, it is then imperative that we should do more to save endangered species.
Why Save Endangered Species
Medical Benefits
We should first take a look at the medical benefits endangered species offer to humans. Endangered species, be they plants or animals, contribute to various important medications. We can go to a drugstore and buy any prescribed drug and we will find out, upon seeing what the drug is made of, that it contains natural compounds which can be found only in specific species.
Each organism has a reservoir of useful material which we cannot recreate or reproduce. These materials evolve, and when lost, can never be duplicated. Some materials are unique only to a specific species. We should never underestimate the power of every living organism because they contribute to human life. For example, the biggest breakthrough in medicine, which is the invention of penicillin, was made possible because of a fungus. Penicillin came from fungus penicillin which is treating a lot of many sick people these days (Liebesan, Petersan and the Environmental Law Institute 68).
The purple foxglove is endangered today. It is an ingredient to digitalis, a medicine for those who are suffering from heart disease. In the United States, more than 3 million people suffer from it. They can die immediately from cardiac arrest if they are not given this medicine (Liebesan, Petersan and the Environmental Law Institute 68).
Another endangered plant is the Pacific yew, a tree that grows very slowly in the Pacific Northwest. In history, the Pacific yew was considered a tree with no value. In fact, people burned all remaining trees after cutting the forests. Recently, medicine experts have found out that a treatment for breast and ovarian cancer can be extracted from it and is called taxol (Liebesan, Petersan and the Environmental Law Institute 68).
Therefore, endangered species serve two major purposes for humans. One, endangered species contribute a lot in saving the lives of the people. They are being used as components of the most important medicines that we can take. They help in the healing of our diseases. They treat our pains and alleviate our discomforts. Second, endangered species contribute to the economy. Without the medicines made from these species, there would be no medicines to be sold. The pharmaceutical industry will fold down. Species contribute to more than 40 billion every year to the industry. Because of this, it is safe to say that these species, endangered or not, are the lifeline of one of the most important industries in the world the pharmaceutical industry that saves the sick (Liebesan, Petersan and the Environmental Law Institute 68).
Agricultural Benefits
Endangered species also help in agriculture. Ninety percent of our food is from plants. We eat corn, wheat, fruits and vegetables. Among all the 80,000 plant species known to man, all of which we can safely eat, we are only using 20 species. Little do people know that there are relatives of these species that grow in the wild which provide ingredients that help us resist diseases (Mangun 98).
Aside from that, species also give humans a new means of developing new crops which can thrive in lands suffering from drought and unhealthy soil. Because of this, endangered species are contributors to the solution of hunger. If all species of plants are used up, then world hunger may be solved. If we stop the loss and save the endangered species, then hunger problem will be alleviated.
In fact, in the 1970s, species of corn unique to Mexico was discovered to be an ingredient to prevent fungi growth in leaves. Fifteen percent of the corn crop in the United States died because of pest leaf fungi. The continuous use of this ingredient will then help in more corn crops that feed millions of people worldwide (Mangun 98).
Ecological Benefits
Ecosystems become healthy because of plants and animals. To ensure a healthy environment, air needs to be clean and bodies of water need to be pollution-free. Plants and animals contribute to the purification of humans environment. They also feed humans.
An implication of the worsening condition of endangered species is that there is a failure in the ecosystem. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, if one plant species is lost, 30 other species are most likely going to suffer extinction, too. These species are not limited to plant species, but animal and insect species as well (Chiras 72).
An owl in the Pacific Northwest is endangered, which is a clear sign of the declining condition of the ecosystem. It was in 1990 when it was officially announced that the owl in this part the world is endangered. It is a sign that the environment in the Pacific Northwest has low quality and the living conditions was not favorable to the said species. The forests in the Pacific Northwest shelter a hundred other species that rely solely on old growth. Today, because companies could not sustain what they are taking away from the forest, all the other hundred species in danger, too. Unsustainable development is clearly not practiced in the Pacific Northwest (Chiras 72).
The Florida Keys in Florida is home to the richest corals in the world. However, the corals are dying because of water pollution. Because of the death of these corals, various species of fish are losing their home. The tourism industry in Florida is being threatened at this moment because of this. The tourism of Florida depends on their beaches and the activities people can do in the waters. Dying corals and the absences of fish is not attractive to tourists. The tourism industry of Florida is giving the state millions of dollars a year. It is helping the lives of millions of Americans (Chiras 72).
Everyone should also be reminded that endangered species are environmental monitors. They tell us how our environment is doing. Species of falcons and eagles are at the brink of extinction. If these species are gone, then it is a sure sign that we are being warned of the negative effects of a pesticide called DDT which harm the aforementioned species. Air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and excess ozone also damage the health of endangered species. When the eastern white pine was said to be endangered, it was a sign that there was too much air pollution in the area. It is because of these species how we have become aware of the effects of our own doing (Chiras 78).
Commercial Benefits
Several species are raised commercially. It means that these wild species contribute directly to economic progress of countries, be it regional or local. In the Pacific Northwest, tourists usually flock the area because of activities like salmon fishing. Tourism is made possible because of the sea and the schools of fish, specifically salmon. Because o this, 60,000 people are given jobs. This area is also the center of the culture of Native America (Diamantis 317).
The problem the Pacific Northwest is confronted today is the loss of salmons. Overgrazing. Clearcutting and degradation of habitat is basically the reason why the salmons in this area are being endangered. Dams also contribute to the increasing risk the salmons and the industry in general are facing (Diamantis 317).
In the United States, 10,000 jobs are given to people because of freshwater mussels. These creatures, when harvested, are used to trigger the formation of pearls in oysters. The economy of the United States gets 700 million from these freshwater mussels every year. However, freshwater mussels are at present endangered in North America (Diamantis 317).
Many industries these days benefit from wild plants. The guayule, for example, is rich in useful substances like natural rubber, among many others. The guayule is among the shrubs that are going extinct today. The jojoba is another plant species that is endangered. It is very helpful in the production of oil that industries use. It has the same quality of oil that we get from the sperm whale, which is also at the risk of extinction at the present (Diamantis 317).
The guayule and jojoba are both unique to the southwestern part of America. Both plants are big contributors to the economy of the country. Also, they provide value to the soil that is no longer fit for agriculture. These two plants, among many other endangered plant species, are available locally, which makes it easier for the people to make use of the product. If not, they have to purchase imported products, which are usually more expensive (Diamantis 317).
AestheticRecreational Benefits
Tourism is very highly dependent on the ecosystem, and everything that can be found in it, specifically plants and animals. Plant and animal species improve the quality of life of the people. They provide recreation for humans to have fun. Plant and animal species have a spiritual value as well.
Recreation is best enjoyed when views are lovely, the machines are properly working, and basically when there is something nice to see. Wildlife-related recreation is very popular these days. Photographers take time out of their busy schedule to take photos of unique plants and beautiful animals. Kids enjoy feeding the animals they see for the first time. Adults feel refreshed by just observing different life forms enjoy their habitats.
In the United States alone, people spend a big chunk of their money just to travel. In fact, around 59 billion is spent on tourism-related activities like dining, gadgets, accommodations, plane tickets and travel in general. Such amount is spent just to engage in wildlife-related recreation (Diamantis 317).
Endangered species are usually the type of species that are capable of attracting tourists. If they completely get lost, then one of the main reasons why people travel is lost, too. If this happens, the economic and specially the tourism industry will definitely suffer.
What Other People Say
Some people may argue that because endangered species are environmental monitors, then it cannot be helped that we have to sacrifice a species or two to know what is going on around the environment. Obviously, this is a wrong mentality. It is inconsiderate, bordering on ridiculous.
Endangered species are here to indicate the quality of our surroundings. It is not an intelligent idea for mankind to wait until something bad happens, before we do something. It is not enough for us to wait until animals and plants tell us that something is wrong. It is not good to wait until some species go extinct.
It is best to maintain a healthy environment by doing our part to save the endangered, clean the polluted, prevent usage of the dangerous and stop people of more wrong doings. It is best do to our own part to maintain a healthy environment for the future generations to come, until no sign at all is shown to indicate that something is wrong.
Also, it may also be argued that extinction cannot be helped because it is a work of nature. The changing world and the evolution of the environment are constantly calling for the survival of the fittest. With this, it is natural for other species to go extinct as this is nothing but a natural process.
Humans destroy habitats due to pollution or urbanization. We poison animals, harvest them in great numbers, and kill them. Because of these types of activities, endangered species like the West Indian manatee, loggerhead sea turtle, American crocodile are now almost complete gone.
The problem here, then, is that we can no longer blame the work of nature for the extinction of hundreds of species. Today, the idea that extinction is natural, no longer applies. At present, we can only blame mankind for the extinction of plants and animals. We are fast-forwarding the extinction which may possibly happen in a billion years.
Over and above all these, it can now be concluded that we should indeed do more to save our endangered species because we benefit from them from the value they contribute to ecotourism, agriculture, industries, recreation, medicine and to our environment in general.
Since we can no longer attribute these events to nature, we should take every step to save the endangered species. If not, there might not be an environment our future generations will enjoy. We all want our children and our childrens children to fully enjoy the benefits of a healthy environment. We want them to breathe fresh air, swim in clean bodies of water, and play with many types of animals. We want them to enjoy life to the fullest. Because of this, here are some of the things we can do to help save our endangered species.
First, we should conserve habitats. Where do plants and animals thrive and live peacefully Not in our human homes, but in their natural habitats. They live in the wild, in nature reserves and in natural parks. They live most peacefully without humans around. Let us give them their space and not take them away from their homes
(Catudo and Bruchac 243).
We can also inquire about how to protect the species habitats. In every country, there is always a nature reserve or a national park to check out. We can bring kids with us for guided tours and then ask the rangers about endangered animals and plants. These rangers know most about species. They can tell us what species are being threatened right now. Also, it is possible to ask these rangers to allow us to take part in their conservation work. They will surely be glad to have us in (Catudo and Bruchac 243).
We should also be more aware of the different codes inside a national park. Usually these codes tell you to throw your trash in the garbage bin, to not touch the animals or plants, not pick the flowers, not bring our dogs and other domesticated pets in the park and obey fire regulations. Sometimes, these codes just remind us to use our common sense and encourage us to be nice. It is never difficult to follow wildlife codes. (Catudo and Bruchac 243).
For those who know someone who live on farms, tell them to stop cutting trees, especially the old ones. Old trees are very useful in such a way that they can house animals, let alone the birds nest. Patches of bush are also very useful as these can be used as habitats of species. We need not go too far to protect the habitats of species. We can do something even when we just stay at home (Catudo and Bruchac 243).
Join groups that focus on nature reserves and land. Basically, what these groups do is replace pests like weeds with native plants. Also, these groups clean the environment by removing weeds and rubbish from the soil. The native plant species are then given leeway to regenerate. This way, even the animals that left because of fear may come back because they will find out that the environment is slowly being once again an ideal place for them. If we cannot find a group like this in our area, we can always start our own group with our family, our neighbors, and our friends. For more information, we can always ask the authority to guide us in what we do (Miller, Brewer and Spoolman 207).
We can also help save endangered species not just by giving, but also by making space to plants and animals. Aside from conserving their habitat, we can create new ones for them. What we can do is to create a birdbath and a birdfeeder for birds. We can create a birdhouse in our front yard as long we have a tree. If not, we can plant a new tree. We can also ask adults around, and we can start within our family, to stop using chemicals in the garden (Miller, Brewer and Spoolman 207).
Also, composting is a very easy task. We can do this in our own homes. We can comport on the balcony. We can do this in the backyard. With this, we can throw away fertilizers, especially those with too much chemicals, as they are bad for the environment, especially to plants and animals. Recycling is also a very important part of protecting the environment. We can also recycle our trash and reuse the things that we do not really need to throw away. We can save the environment in our own little ways. We can start taking public transportation. By commuting from home to school or office, we are saving gas and contributing to a cleaner air. It is best to use a bicycle if our destination is not that far. The car emits too many pollutants to the air (Miller, Brewer and Spoolman 207).
Sometimes, we forget to turn off our appliances when we leave for school or office. We should always make sure that television sets or computers are turned off before we live the house. All lights should be switched off. This way, we are saving energy. On the other hand, we can save water by turning off the faucet when brushing our teeth. It is best to use a glass of water while doing this so that we can make sure that the tap is not opened (Singer 139).
Our parents can help protect the environment and save endangered species by not using packaging. If they can carry the items from the grocery, then there is no need to ask for a paper bag or a plastic bag. We can use our own bag to the shop which we can use everytime we shop to avoid using too much plastic and paper which contribute to excessive garbage. Also, as we grow old, we start finding our old books and clothes useless. Our clothes are too small and books and toys are no longer entertaining. We should not throw them away as they contribute to excessive garbage. After all, our trash is other peoples treasure. We can donate them to charity or to hospitals because a lot of less fortunate children need them. Aside from helping endangered species get their lives back, we are helping our fellow human beings, too.
In the United States, there are several programs that are focused on the protection of plants and animals, particularly the rare ones. It will help to contact the state department because they know what species are endangered in our area. We can also ask the authorities to guide us and teach us about what we can do to help conserve the environment, and what measures we can take to save rare plants and animal from extinction (Singer 139).
Also, Americans are lucky for the almost 400 national wildlife refuges all over the United States. Here we can find environmental science specialists who can help us with our inquiries about the environment. They also tell us what rare species are near our area. They tell us what they need to help them survive. They tell us the ways to which we can help them. They teach us management. There are programs these days that are open to volunteers in cleaning the environment, among many other activities (Singer 139).
For those who are fond of buying plants or pets, we should make sure that what we are buying is not the rare type. Exotic plants or animals are not just in danger of extinction, they are also not easy to maintain and keep. These species are the type of species that easily die. We should just return them to their natural habitats so that they can naturally thrive with other organisms (MacKay 27).
If we continue protecting our environment, we are also continuously protecting the ability of our environment to operate as expected. If ecosystems no longer work as logically as it normally does, then we humans are going to pay for it, in forms of floods, extinction of species, drought, food shortages and billions of dollars. If we want to replace what is lost, we are going to pay for it in amounts we could never imagine we would have to spend (MacKay 27).
As mentioned in the early part of this study, once a species is lost, other species are put in danger, too. Because everything is connected to everything else, taking away a part of it will cause a chain reaction that will endanger the lives of many others. Because of this, the message is very clear. We should do everything in our power to conserve the diversity of our ecosystems to keep everyone living and existing in this world. In this paper, we kept on saying that we should conserve the environment to ensure biological diversity. Why is biological diversity even very important The earliest humans have relied on food from plants and animals. The clothes we wear come from plants and animals. Our houses, our schools, our office buildings and our shopping malls they are all there because of trees. We have medicines for the sick because plants and animals are giving them to us. Everything that we human beings are using today comes from plants and animals (National Research Council, Committee on Scientific Issues in the Endangered Species Act 72).
It is safe to say that we should save our endangered species to make sure that our lifestyle is maintained. We should protect plants, especially trees, so that we can erect more buildings and build more houses. We should protect plants so that we can sew more clothes and reinvent fashion as many times as we want it.
We should save plants and animals so that we can keep cooking our favorite dishes, and so that we can experiment some more. We should save plants and animals so that we can keep producing medicines for the sick.
Then again, there is a more important point of protecting endangered species. We can never be sure if we have named all species on Earth. Some of them are yet to be discovered. Some of them might bring breakthroughs in medicine our tourism. It would be a shame to lose them before we find out about them.
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