Environmental Conservation: Protecting Nature for Our Future - Essay Sample

Introduction

Environmental conservation describes the act of people in saving the environment from degradation or collapse through the loss of species. The stated degradation is contributed by the pollution of ecosystems by human activities. Today, environmental conservation is imperative to both flora and fauna since both forms of organisms depend on each other for survival. There is a great need for adopting effective environmental conservation strategies focused on promoting the safe use of natural resources and the creation of a balance between different animals in an ecosystem. However, despite the emphasis that has been placed by governments in environmental conservation today, there is a great disparity in the conservation efforts placed in the developed nations as opposed to those used in developing countries.

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Threats That Exist For Biodiversity

Biodiversity characterizes the variety as well as the viability of all forms of life of the earth's surface [1], [2]. Also, biodiversity references the measure of variation existing between genetic species, as well as ecosystem levels impacting organisms [3]. In a different perspective, biodiversity is a phrase that can be utilized to refer to all types of living things including plants, humans, bacteria as well as animals [4]. Today, the key role of biodiversity is to boost an ecosystem's productivity where every species no matter how small they have a crucial role to play in an ecosystem. In this perspective, a larger number of plant species can be employed to mean that there is a greater variety of crops. Greater species diversity would subsequently mean that there is a guarantee for sustainability for large groupings of life.

Today, there is a range of advantages that are associated with biodiversity. Such advantages include the protection of water resources, soil conservation and formation, pollution breakdown, and absorption, as well as nutrient storage and their recycling [5], [6]. Additionally, the preservation of biodiversity ensures that the global ecosystem can recover from any unprecedented events that may negatively impact ecosystems. Today there are numerous ways that are employed by people to preserve or protect biodiversity in various global societies. Nevertheless, it is evident that there is a variation of the threats that affect biodiversity in developed nations with risks facing biodiversity in developing countries.

Threats of Biodiversity in Developed Nations

Habitat loss, as well as degradation in developed nations like the United States and the United Kingdom, are the primary threats to biodiversity [7]. The stated loss and degradation are contributed by the destruction of wetlands, damming of water zones as well as disruption of waterways to pave way for commercialization and industrialization [8], [9], [10]. Such wetlands and water zones are natural ecosystems for animal and plant species. The animals that thrive in such habitats have otherwise become endangered due to the reduction of zones that they can optimally thrive and sustain a healthy ecosystem. For instance, in the United States, more than a third of bird species from the North American region like the Eastern Meadowlark has become endangered [11], [12], [13].

The stated birds require urgent conservation actions so that they can thrive again. Additionally, the American amphibian populations such as the spotted salamander have also been declining by 4% annually over the past decade [14], [15], [16], [17]. In a different example, since 1950 and in the United States, at least five butterfly species have become extinct due to man's interference with the natural ecosystem [18], [19], [20]. The second threat of biodiversity in the developed nations is the creation of weak conservation policies, lackluster enforcement as well as inadequate funding of biodiversity initiatives.

In this case, it is projected that in the United States, it takes an average of at least 12 years to almost 40 years for a proposed animal or plant species to be listed as endangered in the provisions of the US Endangered Species Act (ESA) [21], [22], [23], [24]. Subsequently, this means that urgent intervention measures cannot be taken on time particularly, in supporting animals that may be considered endangered. Also, in a different example, only 5% of animals and plants in the United States receive adequate funding for their conservation in their respective ecosystems [25]. Subsequently, this means that the majority of endangered plant and animal species lack essential financial and government structures to promote their increase in population after being declared as endangered.

Threats of Diversity in Developing Nations

International trade is the primary threat to biodiversity in developing nations. In this case, international trade that is in most cases conducted through complex routes globally has made consumers of various products in third world country to threaten the animal and plant species used to create such products in developing countries. For instance, large scale export of bushmeat from West Africa to developed nations like the United Kingdom has made some animal species become endangered [26], [27], [28]. For instance, over 1.3 million plants and animals, 1.5 million skins as well as 2,000 tones of meat obtained from species listed as endangered by CITES have been exported from Africa to European nations since 2006 [25].

In a different example, Nile crocodiles, Cape fur seals, as well as European Eels have today become endangered due to their massive exportation from West Africa to developed nations such as United States [29], [30], [31]. The second threat of biodiversity is the loss of natural habitat or its degradation. In this case, the loss of natural habitat is contributed by the conversion of the natural ecosystem to agricultural farms. The use of unsustainable farming methodologies today, not only impacts other natural ecosystems but they may also ultimately make farming activities impossible. Subsequently, this affects food production through agriculture or fishing, which is also a fundamental source of food for all animal species.

Massive deforestation so as to pave way for modernization has also contributed to the decline in the natural ecosystems, which subsequently has affected the nation's biodiversity. The third threat to biodiversity in developing nations is the direct over-exploitation of nations' wildlife as well as fisheries species through illegal hunting and trade [32], [33], [34]. In this case, poaching in West Africa has led to the decline in animal species such as the African elephant where animals are illegally killed and their animal parts such as tusks and skin exported to developed nations for economic gain.

The last threat to biodiversity in developing nations is the spread of various non-native invasive species in third world ecosystems. For instance, popular varieties of wheat, rice as well tomatoes among others that are today grown in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa are non-native to those regions. To a large extent, such species are imported from other parts of the world, especially developed nations. Also, the existence of the non-native species in the developing nations negatively impacts such a nation's native plants and other organisms in the local ecosystems that rely on natural native vegetation for their existence.

Necessary Approach to Biodiversity Conservation

Adopting the right strategy of biodiversity conservation is an imperative undertaking. Additionally, that is because the practice of preserving as well as protecting the variety of species, ecosystems, habitats as well as genetic diversity in a planet safeguards the availability of health, food, fuel, and wealth. Biodiversity conservation approach plays an integral role in supporting a range of sectors in national development. Furthermore, under ecological life support, biodiversity protection creates functioning ecosystems capable of supplying clean air (oxygen), water, pollination elements, which are all essential elements in supporting the quality of life. Despite the range of biodiversity conservation measures that are utilized in today's contemporary society, it is evident that there is a great variation in the strategies that are employed in conserving the environment in developed nations as opposed to methodologies of biodiversity conservation enacted in developing nations.

Approaches That Should Be Used In Developing Nations

Captive breeding/propagation is among the most effective strategies that should be utilized in conserving biodiversity in developed nations. It is a process that entails the rearing as well as maintenance of plants and animals in controlled environments such as zoos, botanic gardens, wildlife reserves centers, and other conservation facilities. The second approach to protecting diversity that is normally used in developed nations is the enactment of laws and treaties that are focused on promoting diversity of endangered organisms in different global ecosystems. Such treaties are enacted as part of the international government collaboration effort aimed at protecting various plants and animals from an extension. Examples of such treaties include the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) [35], [36], [37], [38]. The last approach that can be effective in developed nations is habitat preservation that entails activities like the use of biodegradable/eco-friendly products, cultivation of own crops, and reduction of waste materials discharged in the environment.

Approaches That Should Be Used In Developing Nations

As opposed to the strategies of biodiversity conservation used in developing nations, the strategies employed in the third world countries should be those that are financially and legally feasible. Additionally, that is because of the poor economic situations of young nations in developing countries to sustain large methodologies of biodiversity conservation which would be possible for the developed nations. Among such approaches to biodiversity conservation in developing countries includes the use of public education in enlightening the public members on biodiversity conservation [39], [40]. The second approach should be the enactment of strict policies that prohibit poaching or any illegal form of destruction to both animals and species.

The third strategy should be the creation of more government-protected animal reserves and the fourth strategy should be a reduction of invasive species that have been acquired from other developed nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom. The fifth strategy should be the encouragement of the public members in developing nations to consume environmental sustainable products as well as to reduce waste especially the non-biodegradable materials. The last approaches to biodiversity conservation should be the introduction of seed banks and captive breeding as well as habitat restoration in ecosystems that are at risk of extinction.

Conclusion

In conclusion, despite the emphasis that has been placed by governments in environmental conservation today, there is a great disparity in the conservation efforts used in the developed nations as opposed to those used in developing countries. The stated disparity is large because of the differences that exist in the economic and legal systems of the developed and developing nations. Also, some of the threats to biodiversity in developed nations include the destruction of wetlands, damming of water zones as well as disruption of waterways to pave way for commercialization and industrializati...