LAND RESOURCE LIMITATIONS

ALTHOUGH LAND APPEARS TO BE A LIMITLESS RESOURCE, ITS INJUDICIOUS USE WOULD LIMIT THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS INDISPENSABLE LIFE-SUPPORTING SYSTEM . ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES HAVE GREAT APPLICABILITY ON LAND USE PLANNING CLASSIFICATION OF LAND USE SHOULD BE BASED ON NATURAL ECOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE LAND IN IN QUESTION, KEEPING IN MIND THE SOIL TYPE, SLOPE, BIOTIC COMMUNITIES , ETC.

TO THE FARMER SOIL IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF LIFE AND SURVIVAL AND HIS ECONOMIC WELL BEING IS FIRMLY LINKED WITH THE FERTILITY OF HIS LAND VEGETATION COVER IS IMPORTANT TO BIND THE TOP SOIL AND PREVENT IT FROM EROSION AND LOSS OF FERTILITY. VEGETATION COVER ALSO SLOWS DOWN RUN-OFF OF WATER AND ALLOWS IT TO PERCOLATE INTO THE GROUND WHICH FURTHER ENCOURAGES PLANT GROWTH. ENGINEERING AND AGRONOMIC PRACTICES SHOULD BE APPLIED CONJOINTLY TO COUNTERACT THE EROSIVE FORCE OF BOTH WATER AND WIND ON THE SOIL. THESE INCLUDE CONTOUR CULTIVATION, COVER CROPS, CROP ROTATION AND STRIP CROPPING , USED ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH TERRACING WHERE IT IS REQUIRED.

HEALTHY SOILS ARE KEY COMPONENTS TO SUSTAINABILITY AS IT WOULD PRODUCE HEALTHY CROPS THAT GIVE GOOD YIELDS AND ARE ALSO PEST RESISTANT . SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION CAN HELP TO REDUCE CROP DEFICIENCY AND NUTRIENT IMBALANCE. SOIL FERTILITY CAN BE MAINTAINED BY ALTERNATE CROPPING , JUDICIOUS  INPUTS OF WATER-TRICKLE DRIP IRRIGATION, USE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS, USE OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND BIOPESTICIDES, CONSERVATION TILLAGE AND AVOIDING PLOUGHING ON WET SOIL, MAINTAINING SOIL COVER WITH COVER CROPS OR MULCHES; FOREST CONSERVATION AND LAND REFORMS. RESTORATION OF SOIL FERTILITY CAN BE MADE BY RECOVERING MINERALS FROM DECOMPOSED LEAVES, TWIGS DEAD ROOTS, DEAD ANIMALS AND ANIMAL EXCRETA. ADDITION OF FARM YARD  MANURE OR GREEN MANURE ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL FERTILIZERS WILL STABILIZE THE SOIL'S FERTILITY.

THE 20 MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES OF THE WORLD TILL DATE

GIANT PANDA : - ONLY ABOUT 1600 OF GIANT PANDA (AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA) ARE REMAINING IN THE WILD. AGAIN THE PROBLEM IS HABITAT LOSS - IN THE PANDA'S CASE ITS HABITAT FRAGMENTATION THAT'S THE REAL ISSUE, CREATING ISOLATED POPULATIONS. THEY ARE LIVING OVER 20 GEOGRAPHICALLY SEPARATE AREAS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IS ON THE INCREASE, SO THERE'S STILL MUCH MORE TO BE DONE. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT OVER HALF OF THE REMAINING PANDA HABITAT IS PROTECTED AND CORRIDORS ARE BEING ESTABLISHED TO CONNECT THE FRAGMENT POPULATIONS.

TIGER : - THERE ARE ONLY 3200 TIGERS (PANTHERA TIGRIS) LEFT IN WILD. THERE ORIGINAL RANGE DECREASED FROM 40% TO 7%. CONTINUING DEFORESTATION AND RAMPAT POACHING COULD PUSH SOME TIGER POPULATIONS TO THE SAME FATE AS ITS NOW - EXTINCT JAVAN AND BALINESE RELATIVES IN OTHER PARTS OF ASIA. TIGERS ARE REGULARLY POACHED FOR THEIR BODY PARTS. THERE SKINS ARE ALSO HIGHLY PRIZED. WITH THIS, SEA LEVEL RISE, DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, THREATENS THE MANGROVE HABITAT OF A KEY TIGER POPULATION IN BANGLADESH'S AND INDIA'S SUNDERBANS.


POLAR BEAR : - THE ARCTIC'S POLAR BEARS(URUS MARITIMUS) HAVE BECOME THE ICONIC SYMBOL OF EARLY VICTIMS OF CLIMATE - INCLUDE. HABITAT LOSS. MANY POLAR BEAR POPULATIONS WILL BE VULNEARABLE TO EXTINCTION WITHIN THE NEXT CENTURY IF THE WARMING TRENDS IN THE ARCTIC CONTINUE AT THE CURRENT PACE. W.W.F IS SUPPOTING FIELD RESEARCH TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW CLIMATE CHANGE WILL AFFECT POLAR BEARS AND TO DEVELOP ADAPTATION STRATEGIES. W.W.F ALSO WORKS TO PROTECT CRITICAL POLAR BEAR HABITAT  BY WORKING WITH GOVERNMENTS AND INDUSTRY TO REDUCE THREATS OF SHIPPING AND OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION  AND WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO REDUCE HUMAN - BEAR CONFLICT IN AREAS WHERE BEARS ARE ALREADY STANDED ON LAND FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME DUE TO LACK OF ICE.

MONARCH BUTTERFLY : - EVERY YEAR MILLIONS OF DELICATE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES (DANAUS PLEXIPPUS) MIGRATE FROM NORTH AMERICA TO THEIR WINTER HABITAT IN MEXICO. A WELL CONSERVED AND PROTECTED HIGH ALTITUDE PINE AND FIR FOREST IN MEXICO IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE OVERWINTERING OF MONARCHS, WHICH HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS AN ENDANGERED BIOLOGICAL PHENOMENON. THE PROTECTION OF ITS REPRODUCTIVE HABITATS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA IS ALSO CRUCIAL TO SAVING THIS SPECIES MIGRATION.

JAVAN RHINOCEROS : - LISTED AS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES ON THE IUCN RED LIST(2009), THE JAVAN RHINO(RHINOCEROS SONDAICUS) IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED LARGE MAMMALS IN THE WORLD WITH ONLY TWO POPULATIONS EXISTING IN THE WILD, FOR A TOTAL NUMBER OF LESS THAN 60 ANIMALS. HIGHLY PRIZED AS A COMMODITY  IN TRADITIONAL ASIAN MEDICINE ZAVAN RHINOS HAVE ALSO BEEN BROUGHT TO THE VERGE OF EXTINCTION BY THE CONVERSION OF FOREST HABITAT TO FARMLAND. WWF HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF THE JAVAN RHINO SINCE 1998, SUPPORTING FOREST RANGERS TO UNDERTAKE INCREASED PATROLLINGAND PROTECTION ACTIVITIES, CONDUCTING SURVEYS OF THE RHINO POPULATION, RAISING AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RHINOS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND SUPPORTING PARK MANAGEMENT. LAST MONTH, HIGHLY TRAINED SNIFFER DOGS WERE USED TO SEARCH FOR TRACES OF THE EXRTREMELY RARE AND ENDANGERED VIETNAMESE JAVAN RHINOCEROS, OF WHICH NO MORE THAN A DOZEN ARE THOUGHT TO EXIST. THESE SAMPLES WILL BE ANALYSED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE GENDER MIX AND WHETHER THIS SMALL POPULATION HAS A CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

EUROPEAN EEL : - THE EUROPEAN EEL COMES FROM COASTAL AND FRESH WATER ECOSYSTEMS THROUGHOUT EUROPE, INCLUDING MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES. STOCKS HAVE DECLINED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES DUE TO OVERFISHING AND POACHING. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL DEMAND FOR THIS SPECIES , BOTH FOR LIVE JUVENILE EELS (SHIPPED FROM EUROPE TO ASIA) FOR REARING IN AQUACULTURE AND FOR THE HIGHLY VALUED MEAT OF ADULTS. WWF CALLS ON GOVERNMENTS TO INCLUDE THIS SPECIES IN CITES APPENDIX II. 

RED AND PINK CORAL : - A JEWEL THAT COMES FROM REEFS AND ATOLLS, IT IS THE MOST VALUABLE OF ALL THE PRECIOUS CORALS. PINK CORAL HAS BEEN FISHED FOR OVER 5,000 YEARS AND USED FOR JEWELLERY AND DECORATION. OVER-HARVESTING AND THE DESTRUCTION OF ENTIRE COLONIES BY BOTTOM TRAWLS AND DREDGES HAVE LED TO DRAMATIC POPULATION DECLINES. WWWF CALLS ON GOVERNMENTS TO INCLUDE ALL SPECIES OF RED AND PINK CORAL CITES APPENDIX II.

PORBEAGLE SHARK : - PORBEAGLE SHARK IS A POWERFUL, MEDIUM-SIZED, HIGHLY MIGRATORY SHARK. THERE IS INTERNATIONAL DEMAND FOR ITS HIGH VALUE MEAT AND FINS. IT IS ALSO USED AS FERTILIZER. WWF CALLS UPON GOVERNMENTS OF DIFFERENT NATIONS TO INCLUDE THE SPECIES IN CITES APPENDIX II.

SPINY DOGFISH : - SPINY DOGFISH IS A SLENDER, SMALL SIZED WHITE-SPOTTED SHARK THAT GROWS TO ABOUT ONE METRE LONG AND TRAVELS IN SCHOOLS. IT IS FOUND IN COOL, COASTAL WATERS WORLDWIDE.KNOWN AS ROCK SALMON, IT IS USED IN FISH AND CHIPS IN THE UK AND AS A SMOKED MEAT DELICACY IN GERMANY, CALLED SCHILLERLOCKEN WWF CALLS UPON GOVERNMENTS TO INCLUDE THE SPECIES IN CITES APPENDIX II.

SAWFISH : - POPULATION OF THE SEVEN SPECIES OF SAWFISH HAVE DRASTICALLY DECLINED. THEY ARE TRADED AS LIVE ANIMALS FOR PUBLIC AQUARIUMS, AND ALSO FOR THEIR FINS AND MEAT. THEIR DISTINCTIVE SAW LIKE SNOUTS ARE SOLD AS SOUVENIRS AND CEREMONIAL WEAKENS, WHERE OTHER BODY PARTS WERE USED FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE.

BIG LEAF MAHOGANY : - DEMAND FOR THE RED COLORED WOOD GOES UNABATED BECAUSE OF WORLDWIDE  CONSUMER DEMAND FOR QUALITY MAHOGANY HARDWOOD FURNITURE. MAHOGANY TREES ARE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED IN TROPICAL FORESTS FROM MEXICO TO THE AMAZON BASIN. HOWEVER THE SPECIES GROWS NATURALLY ONLY AS INDIVIDUAL TREES RATHER THAN IN GROUPS OF LARGE  FOREST STANDS. WHOLE SALE STRIPPING OF AMAZON FORESTS HAVE RESULTED IN PERHAPS 10 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S SUPPLY BEING DEPLETED.

GREEN-CHEEKED PARROT : - THE GREEN-CHEEKED PARROT IS NATIVE TO MEXICO . IT HAS THE ABILITY TO MIMIC THE HUMAN VOICE. THE GREEN -CHEEKED PARROT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED IN NUMBERS DUE TO AHUGE DEMAND FOR THESE LOVELY PET BIRDS, ESPECIALLY FROM THE UNITED STATES. EVEN AFTER PROHIBITING THE SALE OF THESE GREEN-CHEEKED BIRDS, DROVES OF THE SPECIES ARE STILL BEING ILLEGALLY TRADED ACROSS THE MEXICO/US BORDER.

BELUGA STARGEON : - BELUGA STARGEONS ARE ANCIENT LIVING FISH FOSSILS ARE FOUND IN THE CASPIAN SEA. THEY ARE VALUED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD CONNOISSEURS FOR THEIR SUPERIOR QUALITY CAVIAR. POACHING IS OUT OF CONTROL DUE TO EXCESSIVE DEMAQND AND HIGH PRICES PAID FOR THE STURGEONS " PEAR-LIKE " CAVIAR.

GOLDENSEAL : - GOLDENSEAL IS A HERB . IT IS FAVOURED BY NATUROPATHISTS FOR ITS PERCEIVED ABILITY TO HEAD NUMEROUS  AILMENTS FROM HEMORRHOIDS TO ALLERGIES. GOLDENSEAL IS NATIVE TO THE HARDWOOD FORESTS OF NORTH AMERICA. THE DEMAND FOR GOLDEN SEAL HAS RECENTLY LEAPED MORE THAN 30%.

ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE : - THE ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE IS PRIZED BY TURTLE TRAPPERS AND DEALERS FOR ITS RARE MEAT. IT IS THE LARGEST FRESH WATER TURTLE IN NORTH AMERICA. ALLIGATORS SNAPPING TURTLES ARE QUICKLY BEING DEPLETED DUE TO INCREASED SHIPMENTS TO MANY INTERNATIONAL WORLD MARKETS INCLUDING ASIA.

PACIFIC WALRUS : - THE ARCTIC OCEAN'S CHUKCHI AND BERING SEAS ARE THE HABITATS OF PACIFIC WALRUS (ODOBENUS ROSMARUS DIVERGENS), ONE OF THE LATEST VICTIMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. IN SEPTEMBER OF THE PAST YEAR UPTO 200 DEAD WALRUSES WERE SPOTTED ON THE SHORE OF THE CHUKCHI SEA ON ALSKA'S NORTHWEST COAST. THESE ANIMALS USE FLOATING ICE FOR RESTING, NURSING CALVES AND BIRTHING, AND PROTECTION FROM PREDATORS WITH ARCTIC ICE MELTING, THE PACIFIC WALRUS IS EXPERIENCING HABITAT LOSS TO THE EXTENT THAT IN SEPTEMBER 2009, THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ANNOUNCED THAT ADDING THE WALRUS TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT MAY BE WARRANTED.

MAGELLANIC PENGUIN : - BEFORE HAND THE PENGUINS WERE AFFECTED DUE TO OIL SPILLAGE . BUT NOW MAGELLANIC PENGUINS (SPHENISCUS MAGELLANICUS), NOW FACE A LARGER THREAT A FISH ARE DISPLACED BY WARMING OCEAN CURRENTS,FORCING THE BIRDS TO SWIM FURTHER TO FIND FOOD. LAST YEAR HUNDREDS OF MAGELLANIC PENGUINS WASHED UP ON THE BEACHES AROUND RIO-DE JANERIO, DEAD SCIENTIST PREDICTED THAT CHANGES IN OCEAN CURRENTS OR TEMPERATURES, WHICH MAY BE RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE, COULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MOVEMENT MORE THAN A THOUSAND MILES NORTH OF THEIR TRADITIONAL NESTING AREA IN THE SOUTHERN TIP OF ARGENTINA TWELVE OUT OF THE 17 PENGUIN SPECIES ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING RAPID POPULATION DECLINE.

LEATHER BACK TURTLE : - THE LARGEST MARINE TURTLE AND ONE OF THE LARGEST LIVING REPTILES, THE LEATHER BACK TURTLE,(DERMOCHELYS CORIACEATHE) HAS SURVIVED FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILLION YEARS, BUT IS NOW FACING EXTINCTION. RECENT ESTIMATES OF NUMBERS SHOW THAT THIS SPECIES IS DECLINING, PARTICULARLY IN THE PACIFIC WHERE AS FEW AS 2300 ADULT FEMALES NOW REMAIN, MAKING THE PACIFIC LEATHERBACK THE WORLDS MOST ENDANGERED MARINE TURTLE POPULATION. ATLANTIC TURTLE POPULATIONS ARE MORE STABLE BUT SCIENTISTS PREDICT A DECLINE DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBERS OF ADULTS BEING CAUGHT AS BY CATCH AND KILLED ACCIDENTALLY BY FISHING FLEETS. ADDITIONALLY, RISING SEA LEVELS AND HIGHER TEMPERATURES ON ATLANTIC BEACHES POSE A NEW THREAT TO TURTULES AND THEIR OFFSPRING. NEST TEMPERATURE STRONGLY DETERMINES THE SEX OF OFFSPRING AND A NEST WARMING TREND IS REDUCING THE NUMBER OF MALE TURTLES. WWF AIMS TO CONSERVE LEATHER BACK TURTLE MIGRATORY PATHWAYS-BY WORKING WITH FISHERIES TO DECREASE BY CATCH BY PROTECTING CRITICAL NESTING BEACHES, AND BY RAISING AWARESNESS SO THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES WILL PROTECT TURTLES AND THEIR NESTS.

BLUEFIN TUNA : - THE ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA (THUNNUS THYNNUS) IS A LARGE MIGRATORY FISH FOUND IN THE WESTERN AND EASTERN ATLANTIC AND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA BLUEFIN TUNA IS THE SOURCE OF HIGHEST GRADE SUSHI. BLUEFIN TUNA FISHERIS ARE NEAR COLLAPSE AND THE SPECIES AT SERIOUS RISK OF EXTINCTION IF UNSUSTAINABLE FISHING PRACTICES IN THE EASTERN ATLANTIC AND MEDITTERANEAN ARE NOT STOPPED. WWF IS ENCOURAGING RESTURANTS, CHEFS, RETAILERS, AND CONSUMERS TO STOP SERVING BUYING, SELLING, AND EATING ENDANGERED BLUEFIN TUNA UNTIL THIS AMAZING SPECIES SHOWS SIGNS OF RECOVERY.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA : - SCIENTISTS CONSIDER MOUNTAIN GORILLAS (GORILLA BERTINGEI BERINGEI) TO BE A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED GORILLA SUBSPECIES, WITH ABOUT 720 SURVIVING IN THE WILD. MORE THAN 200 LIVE IN THE VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, LOCATED IN THE EASTERN PART OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, BORDERING RWANDA AND UGANDA. WAR HAS BEEN WAGED IN AREAS AROUND THE PARK; WITH GORILLAS SUBJECT TO THREATS LIKE POACHING AND LOSS OF HABITAT VIRUNGA POPULATION HAS BEEN RAISED BY 14 PERCENT IN THE LAST 12 YEARS WITH GREAT EFFORT. IN THE OTHER HAND THE BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST IN UGANDA, HAS EXPERIENCED POPULATION INCREASES OF 12 PERCENT OVER THE PAST DECADE. DESPITE THIS SUCCESS, THE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS STATUS REMAINS ENDANGERED.

RESOURCE LIMITATIONS

IN BROAD TERMS, A RESOURCE , OR NATURAL RESOURCE, IS ANYTHING NEEDED FROM THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT BY AN ORGANISM OR A GROUP OR ORGANISMS. IN OTHER WORDS, A RESOURCE IS SOMETHING USEFUL FOR HUMANITY AT A PARTICULAR PLACE AND DURING A PARTICULAR TIME PERIOD. ITS USE CAN CHANGE BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY ECONOMICS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS.

TECHNOLOGY CANNOT BRING BACK AN EXTINCT ANIMAL OR PLANT RESOURCE BY IMPROVING THEM, USING THEM MORE EFFICIENTLY OR RECYCLING THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY WE GET SEVEN TIMES MORE ELECTRIC POWER FROM ONE TONNE OF COAL THAN WE DID IN 1990. IN UNITED STATES,  IN 1990, ONLY 10 PERCENT OF THE COPPER WAS RECYCLED. TODAY ABOUT 40 PERCENT IS RECYCLED. HOWEVER, WHILE MANY NATURAL RESOURCES, SUCH AS COPPER LEAD OR SILVER CAN BE RECYCLED, WE CAN NEVER RECYCLE ENERGY RESOURCES.ONCE A FOSSIL FUEL RESOURCE, SUCH AS COAL, OIL OR NATURAL GAS IS BURNED, IT IS GONE FOREVER AS A USEFUL SOURCE OF ENERGY.

IN ADDITION OF TECHNOLOGY, RESOURCE USE IS CONNECTED TO ECONOMICS. SOMETHING IS USEFUL AS A RESOURCE ONLY IF IT IS MADE AVAILABLE AT A REASONABLE COST. FOR EXAMPLE, ONCE WE DEPLETE THE EASILY AVAILABLE SUPPLIES  OF A RESOURCE, WE HAVE TO LOOK HARDER AND DIG DEEPER TO FIND THE REMAINING SUPPLIES. IN THE COSTS OF FINDING AND MAKING A SCARCE RESOURCE AVAILABLE,THE RESOURCE WILL BECOME EVENTUALLY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MOST PEOPLE. HIGHER COSTS MAY STIMULATE  MORE RESEARCH FOR NEW SUPPLIES OR MAKE PROCESSING OF LOWER GRADE DEPOSITS ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE. BUT REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO PAY,WE CANNOT GET A RESOURCE OUT OF THE EARTH IF IT IS NOT THERE.

THERE CAN ALSO BE AN ECONOMIC LIMIT TO RECYCLING. TYPICALLY RECYCLING IS CHEAPER THAN MINING VIRGIN MATERIAL, BUT ONLY IF THE MATERIAL TO BE RECYCLED IS NOT TOO  WIDELY DISPERSED. FOR EXAMPLE, IF PRODUCTS MADE FROM IRON AND STEEL, SUCH AS CARS AND TOYS AND THROWN AWAY, BURIED AND WIDELY SCATTERED THE USE OF LABOUR  AND ENERGY  COSTS INVOLVED IN SEARCHING AND COLLECTING THE OBJECTS MAY BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO MAKE RECYCLING FEASIBLE.

THE CONTINUITY IMPACT OF ITS MINING, PROCESSING AND THE USE IT HAS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. EVEN IF AFFORDABLE SUPPLIES OF A RESOURCE ARE AVAILABLE , ITS USE, AT LEAST IN CERTAIN PURPOSES, MAY HAVE TO BE ABANDONED IF IT THREATENS HUMAN AND OTHER FORMS OF LIFE SOMETIMES THE ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS OF A RESOURCE CAN BE MINIMIZED AND CLEANED UP , BUT THIS COSTS MONEY AND IN SOME CASES THE COST MAY BE SO HIGH THAT THE RESOURCE MAY NOT BE AFFORDABLE.

CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY FOR HUMAN SUSTENANCE

CONSERVING BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT FOR REASONS OF BOTH PRINCIPLE AND HUMAN SELF INTEREST. BIODIVERSITY MUST BE CONSERVED TO HELP HUMANS ADAPT TO A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT. THE IMPORTANCE ASSIGNED TO CONSERVATION WILL DEPEND ON THE VALUES ASCRIBED TO SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEMS. IN THE PAST TWO DECADES THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE GROWTH IN UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEMPORARY PROCESS THAT HAS CREATED THE BIODIVERSITY ON EARTH AND THE CONTEMPORARY FACTORS THAT ARE LEADING TO ITS REDUCTION. THE VALUATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THE OVERALL EFFECTS OF MORE CHANGES IN HUMAN LIFE . THE GROWING TREND IS TOWARDS RATIONAL USE AND CONSERVATION OF THE BIOSPHERE AND ITS RESOURCES FOR THE  SUSTENANCE OF MANKIND.


THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO COORDINATE WORLDWIDE EFFORTS IN THE RESEARCH OF THE EARTH'S BIODIVERSITY AND ITS GENETIC VALUES. SINCE WE KNOW SO LITTLE AND THE RATE OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS IS SO FAST THAT WE ARE AT A POINT OF LOSING MANY OF THE GENE POOLS MUCH BEFORE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN WELFARE IS ESTABLISHED. IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF ALL NATIONS TO CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY FOR A BETTER FOOD SUPPLY AND FOR FUTURE SUSTENANCE. NO OTHER  DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAN BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION. ALL OVER THE WORLD, HUMAN CULTURE STRESSES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING AND CONSERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WITH ALL THE LIVING ORGANISMS INHABITIING IT NO MATTER HOW INSIGNIFICANT THEY MAY SEEM.

THE CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE PROTECTION OF GENES, SPECIES AND THEIR NUMBERS IN POPULATION  ALONG WITH ECOSYSTEMS OR HABITATS. THE CONSERVATION  STEPS MUST HAVE A COMPONENT OF USE, WITHOUT WHICH THE CONCERNED HUMAN SOCIETY TENDS TO IGNORE THE GOVERNMENTAL AND SCIENTISTS EFFORTS. THERE MUST BE AN ACTIVE CONCERN OF PARTICIPATION BY THE COMMON MAN TOO. WHEN THE ELEMENT  OF USE COMES, THE NEED OF REGENERATION OF RESOURCE IS NECESSARY OTHERWISE THE RESOURCE WILL SOON EXHAUST. THE LEVEL OF UTILIZATION AND REGENERATION HAS TO BE BALANCED TO A SUITABLE LEVEL. THERE IS ALWAYS A LIMIT TO GROWTH.CONSERVATION STEPS MUST KEEP ON EYE ON THIS LIMIT IS CONCERNED USE AND CONSERVATION BALANCE.

BIODIVERSITY AND POLLUTION CONTROL

PLANTS AS NATURAL PURIFIERS AS THEY ACT AS CARBON SINKS AND OXYGEN SUPPLIERS. THEY HELP NOT ONLY MAINTAINING THE BALANCE OF GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE BUT ALSO IN REDUCING THE EFFECT OF HARMFUL GASES THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE AND REDUCE GREEN HOUSE EFFECT WHICH RESULTS INTO GLOBAL WARMING. 

FORESTS OF ALL KIND EXCHANGE MOISTURE AND ENERGY WITH THE ATMOSPHERE MORE INTENSIVELY THAN OTHER LAND SURFACE COVER. AS VEGETATION COVER DIMINISHES THERE IS LESS SCOPE FOR EVAPO-TRANSPIRATION AND LESS MOISTURE IS DISPATCHED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE FOR RECYCLING AS RAINFALL. IN ADDITION FORESTS INCREASE CLOUD COVER AND CLOUDS ALTER THE CLIMATE OF FOREST REGIONS IN TERMS OF TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL.

GREEN BELT PLANTATIONS ACT AS BUFFERS AND SHOCK ABSORBERS AGAINST DUST A NOISE IN URBAN, INDUSTRIAL AND MINING AREAS. A GREAT VARIETY OF TREES HELP IN THE REDUCTION OF AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION.

CERTAIN PLANTS ARE ABLE TO EXTRACT HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES SUCH AS ARSENIC, LEAD AND URANIUM FROM SOIL AND WATER. THE ALPINE PENNYCRESS (BRASSICACEAL) IS A PLANT THAT BIOACCUMULATES HIGH LEVELS OF CADMIUM AND ZINC FROM THE ENVIRONMENT. THE BRACKEN FERN EXTRACTS ARSENIC FROM THE SOIL AND STORES IT IN ITS FERN LEAVES AS MUCH AS 200 TIMES THAT PRESENT IN THE SOIL, ENABLING EFFECTIVE CLEAN UP PROGRAMMES. SUNFLOWERS WERE USED TO CLEAN UP URANIUM AFTER THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT.

COMPLEX MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES DEGRADE CERTAIN TOXIC CHEMICALS THROUGH A PROCESS CALLED BIODEGRADATION. SOME MICRO ORGANISMS THAT ARE ABLE TO DEGRADE TOXIC CHEMICALS ARE

• PSEUUDOMONAS DEGRADES TOXIC CHEMICALS LIKE HYDROCARBONS, BENZENE, NAPTHALENE AND ORGANOPHOSPHATES.
• ARTHROBACTER DEGRADES HYDROCARBONS, BENZENE, POLYCYCLIC AROMATICS.
• MYCROBACTERIUM DEGRADES CYCLOPARAFFINS AND AROMATICS MICROBIOLOGICAL DEGRADATION OF OIL SPILLS IS PRACTICAL USING A MIXTURE OF BACTERIAL STRAINS. IT IS ALSO USED FOR REMOVING GREASE DEPOSITED ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TANKS IN OIL-CARRYING SHIPS.

MICROBIOLOGICAL DEGRADATION OF OIL SPILLS IS PRACTICAL USING A MIXTURE OF BACTERIAL STRAINS. IT IS ALSO USED FOR REMOVING GREASE DEPOSITED ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TANKS IN OIL-CARRYING SHIPS.

MICRO ORGANISMS OR THEIR ENZYMES ARE USED IN POLLUTION ABATEMENT, BUT NOT ALL CONTAMINANTS ARE EASILY TREATED FOR EXAMPLE HEAVY METALS LIKE CADMIUM AND LEAD ARE NOT READILY ABSORBED OR CAPTURED BY THESE ORGANISMS. THE INTEGRATION ON OF METALS SUCH AS MERCURY IN THE FOOD CHAIN MAY MAKE THINGS WORSE AS ORGANISMS BIO-ACCUMULATE THESE METAL.