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Lecture 4

American University - Washington D.C.
Uploaded: 7 years ago
Contributor: Eels
Category: Conservation Biology
Type: Lecture Notes
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Filename:   Lecture 4.pptx (1.02 MB)
Credit Cost: 2
Views: 272
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Transcript
1Conservation BiologyBIOL3620Lecture 4 Conservation Ethics and ValuesPrimack Chapters 4-6Assignment 1 will be posted by end of day today. New due date is Jan. 29 2The Value of BiodiversityEconomic Valuation:Why is it needed?Major problem in conservation biology is that natural resources have been undervaluedResults:Costs of environmental damage ignoredDepletion of natural resource stocks disregardedFuture value of resources discountedUnderlying causes of environmental damage also economic in natureEcological economics studies interaction between economic and ecological systems 3Assigning Economic Value to BiodiversityMost natural resources are common property or open access resources (such as clean air, water, soil quality)Not controlled by individualsCollectively owned by society or by no oneAvailable for everyone to useCommon property resources rarely assigned a monetary value and are not regulated“Tragedy of the commons” (WHEN YOU HAVE OPEN ACCESS RESOURCES, A SITUATION WHERE INDUSTRIES, GOVERNMENT, USE AND DAMAGE THE RESOURCES WITHOUT A PENALTY OR ANY REGARD OF THE RESOURCES; WHICH CAUSES MARKET FAILURE OF THAT RESOURCES, THEREFORE, ONLY A FEW INDUSTRIES ARE BENEFITING FROM IT WHILE OTHERS AREN’T; THEY’RE USING IT AT THE EXPENSIVE OF THE LARGER POPULATION. THIS IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO PUT A VALUE ON BIODIVERSITY).Market failure 4Assigning Economic Value to BiodiversityHow is economic value assigned?Many methods, but regardless of method, can be done on three levels:Marketplace (harvest) value of resourcesValue provided by unharvested resources (in natural state)Future value of resourcesCurrently no universally accepted template for assigning values 5Assigning Economic Value to BiodiversityOne method describes use valuesThese are divided between: Direct use values (commodity or private goods values)ASSIGNED TO PRODUCTS HARVESTED BY PEOPLE (TIMBER, SEAFOOD, MEDICINAL PLANTS)Indirect use values (public goods)Benefits provided by biodiversity that don’t involve harvesting or destruction of resourceWATER QUALITY, POLLUTION CONTROL, EDUCATION, RESEARCH. 6Assigning Economic Value to BiodiversityAlso have:Option value – prospect for future benefits to societyNEW MEDICINE, FUTURE FOOD RESOURCES, FUTURE GENETIC RESOURCES.Existence value – how much people are willing to pay to protect a species from extinctionBequest value – how much people are willing to pay to protect something for future generations 7Assigning Economic Value to BiodiversityFigure 4.3 Evaluating the success of a development project must incorporate the full range of its environmental effects 8Monetizing the Value of BiodiversityEnvironmental economists monetize the value of biodiversity.Instrumental value expressed in monetary terms.Some endangered species have a market price:ElephantsRhinocerosesBaleen whalesTigersMountain gorillas 9Monetizing the Value of BiodiversityMonetizing biodiversity may seem distasteful but according to modern economic theory, it may be the key to conserving species.How?Remove it from a “commons” condition“Tragedy of the commons”Place it in an “enclosed” condition 10The Value of BiodiversityAnother way of looking at ecosystem value (environmental philosophers):Instrumental or utilitarianTHE VALUE THAT SOMETHING HAS AS A MEANS TO ANOTHER’S ENDSANTHROPOCENTRICMAKES MORE SENSE TO PRESERVE BIODIVERSITY FOR THIS REASONIntrinsic or inherentTHE VALUE THATSOMETHING HAS AN AN END IT ITSELFBIOCENTRIC OR ECOCENTRIC 11The Value of BiodiversityInstrumental ValueFour categories: 12Instrumental ValueGoods:The attitude is that we should conserve nature because of it’s potential to provide us with food (new and different types) or fuel or medicine.Protecting nature protects our basic life support system.Very much fits the Resource Conservation Ethic. 13Instrumental ValueServicesOften overlooked by hard-core anthropocentrics and consumers.Focuses on the natural services provided by other members of the earth:Green plants give us O2, remove CO2Insects, birds, plants pollinate plants – agricultureFungi and microorganisms decomposed dead organics.Rhizobial bacteria – turn atmospheric nitrogen to usable nitrate fertilizer.Gaia Hypothesis 14Instrumental ValueInformationGenetic information is a potential economic good.Information for genetic engineering or applied biology. 15Instrumental ValuePsycho-spiritual resourcesBiophilia (E.O. wilson)Beauty of nature, quasi-religious view of nature.It can be viewed along the same lines as artistic value of a work of art or a great literary work.Sometimes difficult to classify this as an instrumental value – seems more intrinsic. 16Intrinsic ValueNot as clear cut as instrumental value and much harder to categorize.Focused on two issues:What types of things posses intrinsic valueIs intrinsic value OBJECTIVE or is it SUBJECTIVELY CONFERRED. 17Intrinsic ValueThe “objective intrinsic value” philosophers reason that, living organisms are self-organizing and self-directed.One problem with this is that is seems limited to individual organisms.Conservation doesn’t happen at the individual level but at the species level and higher. 18Intrinsic ValueThe “subjective intrinsic value” philosophers argue that, all value (including intrinsic value) is subjectively conferred.Humans have the intentional conscious ability to value – tend to value themselves intrinsically.It follows then that since we are part of a greater natural whole we should intrinsically value nature.Problem: many humans see themselves as superior to the animals around them instead of seeing themselves at the same level. 19Instrumental vs. Intrinsic ValueIntrinsic and instrumental value are not mutually exclusive.Many things can be valued for both.Valuing something for it’s utility doesn’t preclude valuing the same thing for it’s inherent beauty or vice-versa.SUSTAINABILITY 20Economic arguments useful to justify the protection of biodiversity.Ethical arguments have unique power that is equally compelling and useful in justifying the protection of biodiversity.Foundations in value systems of most religions/philosophiesUnderstood by general publicAppeal to general respect for life, nature, beauty, natural history.Ethical Values of Biodiversity 21Ethical Values of BiodiversityHuman societies have often made decisions based more on ethical values than economic ones:Outlawing slaveryLimiting child labourPreventing cruelty to animalsESA and Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk 22Ethical Values of BiodiversityWhat do you think would happen if modern societies adopted values that strongly supported preserving the natural environment and maintaining biological diversity?What might we expect to see in general?What might we expect to see more specifically?What is the reality in Western Culture? 23Ethical Arguments for Preserving BiodiversityEach species has a right to existAll have their unique beauty and fitnessRepresent historical lineagesDoesn’t matter if species is large or small, simple or complex, beautiful or ugly.Each species has value for it’s own sakeThis is an intrinsic value.Suggests we have no right to destroy and that we have a moral responsibility to protect. 24Ethical Arguments for Preserving BiodiversityBox 6.1 Shark fishing in Florida 25Ethical Arguments for Preserving BiodiversityAll species are interdependentSpecies interact in complex ways in natural communities.The loss of one species will effect many others and may even cause the extinction of others.So can we value some parts of nature more than others?Even if we only value humans, our self-preservation instinct should impel us to preserve biodiversity not destroy it. 26Ethical Arguments for Preserving BiodiversityPeople have a duty to their neighboursHumans must minimize damage to the environment because the damage not only harms other species but other humans to.Much of the pollution and environmental degradation that occurs today could be minimized with better planning.Our duty to others requires us to live in a more sustainable manner. 27Ethical Arguments for Preserving BiodiversityPeople have a responsibility to future generationsIf we continue to use resources at the rate we are now, future generations will have a lower standard of living.Perhaps we should think of it in terms of borrowing the earth from future generations who expect it back in good condition. 28Ethical Arguments for Preserving BiodiversityRespect for human life and human diversity is compatible with a respect for biological diversity.Recognizing an intrinsic value in nature does not mean taking resources or opportunities away from other human beings.Opposite is true:Often successes in conservation have been linked to economic development of disadvantaged people in ways that are linked to protecting biodiversity.Some people think it doesn’t make sense to recognize intrinsic value of nature yet go on using it. 29Ethical Arguments for Preserving Biodiversity6.2 Environmental ethics holds that an individual has an expanding set of moral obligations 30Ethical Arguments for Preserving BiodiversityPeople have a responsibility to act as stewards of the earth.Many people who avidly follow a religion find it wrong to allow destruction of species because it goes against their religious teachings.BuddhistChristianHinduMuslimJewishBox 6.2 is a very interesting read. 31Enlightened Self-InterestEconomic arguments stress that preserving biodiversity is in our material self-interestEthical arguments (intrinsic value) stress that we should act altruistically toward nature regardless of our material self-interestPreserving and learning about biodiversity will make us better happier people 32Enlightened Self-InterestProtecting our life support system and economyRelated to Gaia HypothesisHealthier, happier if we can protect water supply, oxygen supply etc. 33Enlightened Self-InterestAesthetic and Recreational EnjoymentAlmost everyone enjoys nature in some contextNature-based activies often important in childhood developmentThis means more than reading about nature or experiencing it in zoos or museums 34Enlightened Self-InterestArtistic and Literary ExpressionNature is often asource of inspirationfor artists, poets,writers, musicians 35Enlightened Self-InterestScientific KnowledgeOur knowledge of and applied technology to nature is a huge achievementKnowledge is facilitated by preservation of wild aspect of natureMany young people inspired to become scientists via early interest/contact with natureE.O. Wilson, R. Carson 36Enlightened Self-InterestHistorical UnderstandingExperiencing nature scientifically and personally gives greater understanding of human historyPioneersAncestors 37Enlightened Self-InterestReligious InspirationMany religions have traditions of “wandering in the wilderness” to commune with God or spiritsVision seekers in native aboriginal societiesWalkabouts – Australian Aboriginals

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