Environmental Issues

Summary of the Book
The story of the book stands a significant crossroad on different life species on Earth. What is at stake in the 21st century according to Edward O. Wilson is nothing less the veracity of the planet and the brilliance of life itself. Today, half of the Earths animals and plants that exist will be going to decrease the end of the century. Although, this century will bring great advances in technology, it is also the time of terrible destruction and conflict between different nations. Human is so busy to become aware of declining natural environment, eradicating the entire ecosystem as well as extinction of millions of species, and uncontrollably drawing down the nonrenewable natural resources. Moreover, the author goes beyond reporting the solutions to the problem, but rather sets out both convincing method for preservation of species and the plan to attain the solutions he mentioned.  Thus, the story of this book brings home a powerful tool of merging both communication of his love and encyclopedic knowledge of life in a way that it could reach at the readers heart.
 
The opening of the book starts at the fictional letter to late naturalist Henry David Thoreau and briefly discussed the changes that happened to the world since 1845. Then it follows by Chapter one that further expands the background, with a marvelous description of plenty and liveliness life on earth. Thus he says, You do not have to visit distant places, or even rise from your seat, to experience the luxuriance of biodiversity. You yourself are a rainforest of a kindThe vast majority of the cells in your body are not your own they belong to bacterial and other microscopic species. More than four hundred such microbial species make their home in your mouth, (Wilson, 2002).

Chapter Two and Three elaborates the current issue of overpopulation and consumption that further destroys the balance in nature. With the population of about six billion as of today, Wilson estimates that it will going to balloon between nine to ten million at the end of the century. The chapter also details how China is struggling with the pressure between the environment and population that deserves close attention to many researchers. Moreover, he describes how humans have already destroyed the resources and on other life without their further knowledge like what happened in biodiversity in Hawaii.

In Chapter Four, the author explains the existence of Homo sapiens as a serial killer of the biosphere with the corroboration of their goal to explore the environment that is chilling and fascinating. History shows that wherever people occupied a new environment, they immediately set about destroying and wiping out species. He gives an example in what happened in New Zealand and Australia. These two great lands are vast biological wonderland before invaders came ashore and explore their natural resources. He gives a detail example of the flightless birds call moas, before invaders came, these birds evolved and radiated into places that would have been filled by deer, woodchucks, rabbits and even rhinos. However, with the arrival of these people, they systematically slaughtered these species.

The next chapter of the book develops the reasons for halting the slaughter. He notes that in 1997, international teams calculated that about 33 trillion per year were provided by natural environment to humanity. More over, the worlds food supply suspends by a slender thread to biodiversity. Rice, corn and wheat (domestic plants) currently stand between starvation and humanity, while at least ten thousand wild plants could be adopted to replace these domestic crops. Also, he further summarizes and acknowledges the legitimate concerns of genetic engineering, but reiterates that most economists and scientist agree that the benefits of these people for new species outweigh the risk it brings to biodiversity.

In Chapter Six, Wilson still believes that there is deeper reason to save diversity. Although some argue that destruction of species does not matter since emerging technology will allow engineers to better suite for human needs, he  recalls that this is a terrible gamble and he explains, With that distant potential in mind, should we go ahead, and for short-term gain, allow the original species and eco-systems to slip away Yes Erase Earths living history Then also burn the libraries and art galleries, make cordwood of the musical instruments, pulp the musical scores, erase Shakespeare, Beethoven, and Goethe, and the Beatles too, because all these-or at least fairly good substitutes- can be re-created, (Wilson, 2002)

The final chapter of the book explains the solutions to the existing problem of biodiversity. The problem now is well understood and strategies can now take effect. An important first step is to disarm the stereotypes that the people-firsters and environmentalist pin on each other. Socialism has proven that it is not the answer to the existing problem as well as the juggernaut of technology-based capitalism. However, its direction can be modified through the improvement of long-term environmental ethics. Science can help in lots of ways, like reduction on the consumption of energy and materials, increasing in per-capita food production and better information about the existing condition of the planet.

At the end, Wilson repeats that the major problem of the new century is to raise the standards of the poor while preserving the biodiversity in a more ethical manner. He expresses hope and positive effect of this book as conviction to the existing problem in a very large context. Thus he says In the end, however, success or failure will come down to an ethical decision. I believe we will choose wisely. A civilization able to envision God and to embark on the colonization of space will surely find the way to save the integrity of this planet and the magnificent life it harbors, (Wilson, 2002)
Insights Gained of the Reader

The book came from one of the most influential and two-times Pulitzer Prize winning author, Edward O Wilson, that call for quick and decisive action to save biodiversity and the plan to rescue and preserve the biodiversity. Years of field work are applied to in this book to tour the readers of the worlds natural resources. How are they utilized What have been misplaced What remains in the natural resources Is it sustainable with the present rate of use With extensive vision, he stresses the need to fully understand the biodiversity of the planet. He also proposes numerous varieties of realistic scenarios that may save our world including our species.

His writing skills readily match his talents as a researcher. Giving comprehensive ideas with an economy of words, he avoids vague assertions or the need for the reader to fill up information that could help save the environment. Moreover, he gives a clear and detail information of human erasure of the ecosystems. He also informed the reader that the planet soon requires four more planets to sustain humanitys intended growth. He also introduces the concept for maintained economic growth and the debate on environmental issues of overpopulation.

There are lots of practical reasons to protect and preserve the natural world. This book offers a compelling and additional argument that fully evolved in nature. It is a grippingly detailed account of how much of the worlds biodiversity is threatened with extinctions and ways of saving it. It gives great pleasure to the readers   of a wonderful range of detailed and diverse knowledge of the natural world. This is a masterpiece book that further details the future of our biosphere and a guide for the protection of its entire species.