Endangered species
Posted: Sun May 01, 2016 11:07 pm
Without any doubt, one of the main problems facing our planet today has to do with the extinction of many vegetal and animal species. This highly concerning issue extends throughout the whole planet, without distinction of country, region or continent.
Considering the complex nature of ecosystems, and the perfect balance with which ecosystems function, the massive extinction of vegetal and animal species leads to many disastrous consequences, including the overgrowth of both animal and plant invasive species, poverty and food starvation, climate change, the emergence of new diseases, amongst others.
It is well known the relationship between a healthy and balanced ecosystem and noxious fauna. The extinction of natural predators brings about the massive reproduction of noxious species at the expense of the rest of the ecosystem. When noxious species become the dominant population within the ecosystem, useful plants, including those that are grown for human consumption, become affected, reducing their population with the obvious negative implications for human agriculture and economy, jeopardizing food security, affecting in particular less developed countries, with poor technical skills to cope with the emergent challenges.
On the other hand, it is important to consider the role of plants as natural climate regulators and buffers, since their extinction gives rise to an increase in local and global temperature, playing a key role in climate change. Besides climate change contributes to the development of new conditions, capable of being the basis of climate-related diseases, including Dengue virus infections, Zika virus infections and a great variety of tropical diseases, that in the past used to affect specific regions.
One way to cope with this issue is to increase legal actions against the trade of endangered species and their products by the establishment of an international endangered species surveillance agency, with the cooperation of local authorities, so that both companies and individuals, involved in endangered species trafficking, stop their illegal activities and face the legal consequences of their actions.
Besides, open fishing and hunting ought to be limited, by the setting of strict laws at an international level, focused on seasons during which it is possible to safely perform these activities, ways of working with the minimum disruption to the environment and sustainable fishing and hunting techniques.
Finally, there should be programs fostering sustainable fish breeding, and the establishment of renewable forests, so that most of the resources that once came from open forests and oceans are replaced by resources coming from sustainable farms and artificially grown renewable forests, warrantying the minimum impact to the local and global ecosystem.
In conclusion, there is no simple solution to this overwhelmingly complex issue, nevertheless the implementation of strict legal regulations and the fostering of fish sustainable breeding will contribute to decrease the amount of endangered species within a relatively short time period.
Considering the complex nature of ecosystems, and the perfect balance with which ecosystems function, the massive extinction of vegetal and animal species leads to many disastrous consequences, including the overgrowth of both animal and plant invasive species, poverty and food starvation, climate change, the emergence of new diseases, amongst others.
It is well known the relationship between a healthy and balanced ecosystem and noxious fauna. The extinction of natural predators brings about the massive reproduction of noxious species at the expense of the rest of the ecosystem. When noxious species become the dominant population within the ecosystem, useful plants, including those that are grown for human consumption, become affected, reducing their population with the obvious negative implications for human agriculture and economy, jeopardizing food security, affecting in particular less developed countries, with poor technical skills to cope with the emergent challenges.
On the other hand, it is important to consider the role of plants as natural climate regulators and buffers, since their extinction gives rise to an increase in local and global temperature, playing a key role in climate change. Besides climate change contributes to the development of new conditions, capable of being the basis of climate-related diseases, including Dengue virus infections, Zika virus infections and a great variety of tropical diseases, that in the past used to affect specific regions.
One way to cope with this issue is to increase legal actions against the trade of endangered species and their products by the establishment of an international endangered species surveillance agency, with the cooperation of local authorities, so that both companies and individuals, involved in endangered species trafficking, stop their illegal activities and face the legal consequences of their actions.
Besides, open fishing and hunting ought to be limited, by the setting of strict laws at an international level, focused on seasons during which it is possible to safely perform these activities, ways of working with the minimum disruption to the environment and sustainable fishing and hunting techniques.
Finally, there should be programs fostering sustainable fish breeding, and the establishment of renewable forests, so that most of the resources that once came from open forests and oceans are replaced by resources coming from sustainable farms and artificially grown renewable forests, warrantying the minimum impact to the local and global ecosystem.
In conclusion, there is no simple solution to this overwhelmingly complex issue, nevertheless the implementation of strict legal regulations and the fostering of fish sustainable breeding will contribute to decrease the amount of endangered species within a relatively short time period.