Sample Essay: Global Warming

Global Warming

Historically the main threat to biodiversity has been a set of threats generated from the overpopulation of humans: mass agriculture, deforestation, overgrazing, slash-and-burn, urban development, pesticide use. Worldwide, the effects of global warming add a potentially catastrophic threat to global biological diversity; a 2004 study by Chris Thomas, Lee Hannah, et al. estimated that 15 to 37 percent of all species would become extinct by 2050. Biodiversity provides many ecosystem services that are often not readily visible. It plays an essential part in regulating the chemistry of our atmosphere, pollinating crops and generating water supply. Biodiversity is directly involved in recycling nutrients and providing fertile soils. Experiments with controlled environments have shown that humans cannot easily build ecosystems to support human needs; for example insect pollination cannot be mimicked by man-made construction. The total value of ecosystem services may amount to trillions of dollars in ecosystem services per annum to mankind. For example, one segment of North American forests has been assigned an annual value of 250 billion dollars; as another example, honey-bee pollination, a small segment of ecosystem services, is estimated to provide between 10 and 18 billion dollars of value per annum. The value of ecosystem services on one New Zealand Island has been imputed to be as great as the GDP of that region.

With the above information as a frame of reference it seems that it would be behooving of nations as a collective to embrace the idea of the reality of global warming and to try and pull their collective resources to together to try and alter its course. Conservation biologists trace the ethics that guide their work back to early spiritual philosophies, including the Tao, Shinto, Hindu, Islamic and Buddhist traditions. In the West, origins of concern for the destruction of the natural environment by man can be traced to Plato; however, modern roots of conservation biology can be found in the late 18th century Enlightenment period particularly in England and Scotland. A number of thinkers, among them notably Lord Monboddo, described the importance of “preserving nature”; much of this early emphasis had its origins in Christian theology. By the early 1800s biogeography was ignited through efforts of Von Humboldt, DeCandolle, Lyell and Darwin; their efforts, while important in relating species to their environments, fell short of actual conservation. (Fraker) Thus, the efforts to try and curtail any permanent damage to the ozone and the environment have been occurring for two hundred plus years. Although such assignments of change have been in focus in the mindset of scientists, and naturalists, it is a reality that not enough has been done to stop the problem of global warming, or global climate change. The detriment to the environment is one in which the entire planet needs to be privy to, and needs to change.

Another major issue of global warming that comes up in most debates on the subject is the melting of the polar ice caps. This glacier melting is in reference to a fjord, Müller Ice Shelf, which is part of the Antarctic Peninsula. The concern over the melting of this ice cap and the relevance it has to global warming can be seen in the figures of its progressive melting, ‘1200 square mile section early in 2002’ (World View of Global Warming paragraph one).

The glaciers are not the only ‘proof’ of global warming, it can also be witnessed in Alaska with the tundra changing fifteen years ago to now in which the statistics show that the temperature has increased 0.5 to 1.5 degrees Celsius (World View of Global Warming paragraph three). Even mountain glaciers are beginning to show signs of melting as can be seen with the Broggi glacier in the Andes where the photographs comparable from 1932 to 1999 are drastic in the glaciers obvious shrinkage.

The term conservation came into use in the late 19th century and referred to the management, mainly for economic reasons, of such natural resources as timber, fish, game, topsoil, pastureland, and minerals, and also to the preservation of forests (see forestry), wildlife (see wildlife refuge), parkland, wilderness, and watersheds. Western Europe was the source of much 19th century progress for conservation biology, particularly the British Empire; however, the United States began making sizable contributions to this field starting with thinking of Thoreau and taking form in the United States Congress passing the Forest Act of 1891, John Muir’s work and the founding of the Sierra Club in 1895, founding of the New York Zoological Society in 1895 and establishment of a series of national forests and preserves by Theodore Roosevelt from 1901 to 1909.In the early 20th century the New York Zoological Society was instrumental in developing concepts of establishing preserves for particular species and conducting the necessary conservation studies to determine the suitability of specific locations that are most appropriate as conservation priorities; the work of Henry Fairfield Osborn Jr., Archie Carr and Archie Carr III is notable in this era. (Fraker) Again, a person can see that efforts have been around for a long time to try and preserve the planet, but with the onset of the Industrial Revolution and the continual harm to the environment since then, more pro-active approaches need to be instilled in the policy making and the politics of countries.

By the early 1970s national and international governmental agencies became more active in the conservation of biodiversity. Notably the United Nations acted to conserve sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of mankind. The programme was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972. As of 2006, a total of 830 sites are listed: 644 cultural, 162 natural. The first country to pursue aggressive biological conservation through national legislation was the USA, which passed back to back legislation in the Endangered Species Act(1966) and National Environmental Policy Act (1970), which together injected major funding and protection measures to large scale habitat protection and threatened species research.By 1992 most of the countries of the world had become committed to the principles of conservation of biological diversity with the Convention on Biological Diversity; subsequently many countries began programmes of Biodiversity Action Plans to identify and conserve threatened species within their borders, as well as protect associated habitats. The science of ecology has clarified the workings of the biosphere; i.e., the complex interrelationships among humans, other species, and the physical environment; moreover, the burgeoning human population, and associated agriculture, industry and its ensuing pollution have demonstrated how easily ecological relationships can be disrupted.

In my opinion global warming is a serious threat. There have been documented studies as to the future effects of air pollutants and how this will change the overall global temperature to such an unprecedented rate that many land masses will be consumed by the ocean. There are simple measures to take presently to counteract the potential of this disaster. As a global community we must reuse, reduce and recycle. Green cars a great way to enact this initiative. Living a more self-sufficient life is another way.

Global warming is a serious threat to humanity. Already there have been changes in global weather such as the hurricanes, tsunamis, and other drastic weather changes around the globe. Since this is global warming in my opinion it is necessary to deal with the problem not just locally but to involve the world, to create a breadth of awareness which spans beyond the borders of countries. Global warming began with the rise of the industrial age, it is up to a new age, one built with conservation in mind that will be the ultimate cure for any future devastations which will occur with global warming.

Work Cited

Beyerl, Tammie R., Davis J. Gibson, Mark A. Basinger and Jody P.Shimp. Habitat and life history characteristics of Dioscorea oppositifolia L., an invasive exotic plant species, in southern Illinois. Department of Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois., 2000, 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference.

Becker, Randall J. Future agency partenerin initiatives in naturalarea/ecosystem management. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Littlee rock District, 700 West Capital, Little Rock, Arkansas. 2000, 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference

Borneman, David G. “Its not that easy being green” and other lamentations of a city Natural Areas Program. City of Ann Arbor ,Parks and Recreation department, Natural Area Preservation Divisiom, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 2000, 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference

Borneman, David G. Teach me to restore and I will be safe for life lifetime. Natural Areas Program. City of Ann Arbor ,Parks and Recreation department, Natural Area Preservation Divisiom, Ann Arbor, Michigan2000, 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference

Frankland, Faye A. and Thomas A. Nelson. Monitoring the impacts of deer on wildflower communities. Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois. 2000, 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference

Fraker, Guy. Land Trusts and the role of The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Chapter, Illinoi. 2000, 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference

Glazer, Alexander N. University of California Natural Reserve System(UC NRS) University of California, Office of the President, Oakland, California. 2000, 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference2000, 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference

Mauger, David, Thomas P.Wilson and Donald M. Stillwaugh Jr. Translocation of spotted Turtles to Lockport and Romeoville prarie Nature preserves. Forest Preserve District of Will County. Illinos and Department of Biology, george Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. 2000, 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference

McFall, Don. 300 Illinois Nature Preserves, an overview of the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission and its system of protected areas. Illinois nature Preserve Commission, Springfield, Illinois. 2000, 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference

Ross.Laurel M. Chicago Wilderness:challenges for the future. The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Chapter, Chicago, Illinois. 2000, 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference.