Endangered Species: Importance, Threats, And Legal Measures Essay.

The popular debate on the endangered species is centered on the high costs of preserving and protecting both the species and their habitats and the value of the species to the environment and fellow inhabitants particularly the human beings. The extinction of the endangered species is often linked to human activities more specifically in natural resource extraction.

The High Costs of Preserving Endangered Species

The subject of endangered is not new in the public arena and has been gaining popularity in the past few decades following the extinction of various species in the environment. Following this, many countries have launched legal measures to deal with the contentious matter. However, these efforts prove futile in some cases.  The popular debate on the endangered species is centered on the high costs of preserving and protecting both the species and their habitats and the value of the species to the environment and fellow inhabitants particularly the human beings. The extinction of the endangered species is often linked to human activities more specifically in natural resource extraction. Human activities such as grazing, logging, mining, development of infrastructure and the increased use of land for recreational purposes are at the heart of the controversy. Despite the fact that human beings are a superior entity in the environment, this does not mean fellow living things are less important. Humans have the obligation to safeguard the environment and ensure that it retains its inherent beauty.

Endangered species are organisms (both animals and plants) that once had big populations but their numbers have diminished with time (Taylor and Suckling 365). The endangered species are on the verge of becoming extinct and thus appropriate measures should be put in place to preserve them. Some of the popular examples of endangered species include some families of rhinos, giant pandas, Komodo dragons, snow leopards, and tigers. Typically, endangered species exist in some continents and are purely extinct in other continents. Animal species become endangered mainly due to commercial poaching. These rare species are sold on the Black Markets since it is illegal to kill them. The loss of natural habitat is also a major reason for the rise of endangered species. Nearly every year, new structures encroach more and more in the wild territory. The destruction of forests and grasslands leaves the species with no habitat. As thus, these species hardly survive. The two reasons clearly imply that the human beings have the greatest role to play in the conservation of endangered species.

Among the most popular environmental legislations concerning the endangered species is the United States’ Endangered Species Act (ESA). This particular powerful act yet very controversial was established in 1973 in the bid to safeguard the surviving endangered species (Benson). The act's non-compromising stand against the loss of biodiversity has been a primary driving force towards the restoration of the ecology in the United States. However, the criticisms leveled against the act portray that the ESA has some weaknesses. As thus, there are some changes that have to be made in the act to accommodate resilience. Similarly, some changes have to be made to suit the ever-changing trends in the environmental systems. Firstly, the strategies in management should be changed to a system-based approach from the current species-centered approach. Chiefly, a more integrated approach has to be adopted to include the readiness and willingness to reassess the demands by the social systems on the ecological structures. A re-orientation in the management system is also required to shift from the objectives linked to optimization, preservation, and restoration towards the objectives associated with adaptive capacity and fostering complexity. The ESA is just an example of the many legal environmental acts set to preserve the endangered species globally Many countries have adopted these laws with similar examples. The laws are not only at the state level but also at the local levels. Different societies have devised varied means of preventing the possible extinction of some species. Regardless of the country and level, all these legislations tend to assume a similar course. Although they significantly contribute to the preservation of the endangered species, they are hardly efficient and enough under the prevailing circumstances.

Human Activities as the Primary Threat to Endangered Species Survival

Ideally, most of the legalizations on the endangered species are coercive. This could be blamed for poor planning and the perceived lack of awareness among the masses. Our environments are the habitats that all the species should coexist peacefully. Certain groups should not be given privileges over others. In order to ensure that these laws work effectively, all eligible parties have to be consulted on the most appropriate measures. Human beings should not be made to feel as if they are pushed to safeguard biodiversity yet it is their responsibility. On the contrary, they should be made to be aware of why it is necessary to restore biodiversity. Practically, people perform what they are convinced is right much better than what they are coerced is right. As thus, preservation could only be upheld simply because an authority is on the watch or to evade legal punishments.

Owing to the coercive nature of the environmental laws, the authorities tend to evict people from their settlements feigning preservation. People should not be forced to vacate their inhabitants without necessarily being compensated (Hing 226). The process of preserving the endangered species should be interactive and systematic to ensure that no one becomes a victim in the process of safeguarding biodiversity. The focus of the legalizations is far much too narrow although the consultation process is very important. If people do so more voluntarily, there is the preservation will be more successful.

Habitat fragmentation is one of the most latent reasons that lie at the bottom of endangered species. It poses the greatest threat to the environmental biodiversity on the planet. Habitat fragmentation leads to a destructive change to the environmental landscapes. This is either caused by human action or natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, floods, and hurricanes. Human practices such as construction, land reclamation, deforestation, the creation of artificial drainage systems and clearing forests for agricultural use. Following these processes, the natural habitats of the species diminish in terms of size. In other cases, the habitat is broken down into smaller patches or even fully destroyed. The reduced size of the land or creation of the smaller patches only tends to support reduced populations of the animal and plant species. This poses a heightened risk to biodiversity and directly influences the long-term existence of the species. The demolition of habitats forces inhabitants to vacate from the destroyed territory. In most cases, these species tend to have lived in the territory for over a hundred years and fleeing to other habitats risks their survival. Also, migrations cause intrusions to other species’ habitats causing conflicts between them and the local species (Gallardo and Aldridge 226). If one of the species fails to adapt to the new territories and changes it will obviously be pushed towards extinction.

Examples of Endangered Species and Causes of Their Decline

The ever-changing weather and climatic conditions directly or indirectly cause the disappearance of the endangered species. The depletion of the ozone layer, for instance, causes the penetration of more UV radiations affects the natural biodiversity. The UV radiations affect how plants and animals develop and biogeochemical cycles. The radiations affect the existing balance of greenhouse gases and other gases in the biosphere. Human activities such as the combustion of fuels contribute to global warming which directly affects the life cycles of different species (Gallardo and Aldridge 223). The extinction of the endangered species occurs along with the process of evolution. As the animals and plant species evolve, some of their inherent adaptations fail. The failure to adopt the most essential characteristics to cope with the environmental conditions makes it hard for them to survive. Although species usually change to fit their respective habitats, this does not always happen especially in the cases where they have been living in constant environments for quite some long.

In the prevailing circumstances, humans are usually pushed beyond their breaking points to survive.  The human population is rapidly increasing calling for alternative survival means. They have to clear the vast forests to establish their settlements. These forests are the habitats of many endangered species. Clearing the forests puts their survival at a risk. Similarly, the endangered species are costly and those who poach them could earn a life from the illegal practice. This is mostly prompted by the competitive economic environments with the diminishing of the available natural resources.

The advancement in biotechnology could also be blamed for the foreseen disappearance of the endangered species. The genetic modification species creates a competitive environment for the naturally occurring species. The human beings are increasingly adopting the genetically modified organisms at the expense of the natural ones. For instance, vast lands are cleared to plant genetically modified foods which tend to mature much faster than the others. Also, the genetically modified species are highly competitive compared to the natural once. Hence, when left in a similar environment, the modified ones will automatically outdo the naturally existing species.  

The enactment of various acts in different nations is an indication enough that there is a need to spare the lives of the endangered species. These acts create the implication that the subject of the endangered species is much serious just like other government concerns. The ESA in the United, for instance, is frequently termed as the "crown jewel" which emphasizes it worth in the environmental laws (Johnson, Balmford and Brook 273). The laws have proved to be viable in halting the increasing loss of the endangered species. They have been successful in saving the lives of the endangered species which were formerly at the verge of extinction. The environmental Lawson the endangered species are not only the strongest but also articulate the noblest visions.  The laws inherently express the importance of the endangered species.

The United States' Endangered Species Act and Its Controversies

First and foremost the endangered species are of a great ecological value (EFSA Scientific Committee 62). The foundations of a healthy ecosystem lay in the plants and animal species. When a certain species becomes endangered, it means that the ecosystem is gradually falling apart. Extinction is usually the last sign of an ecosystem having fallen apart. The loss of certain species in the ecosystem triggers the disappearance of other species within the ecosystem. The human beings also have a high dependence on the healthy ecosystems for the purification of the environment. For example, the destruction of the forests and grass covers will lead to a consequent loss of fresh and clean air and water. As thus killing the endangered species is similar to contamination the environment which may be similar to risking the human health.

Secondly, the endangered species are sources of medicinal products (McCorkell and Brown 228). More than half of the 150 most prescribed drugs were either derived from plants originally or other natural products. Unfortunately, researchers have only been able to test 5 percent of the medicinal plant species. There are millions of plant species which are yet to be identified perhaps due to extinction. Tens of thousands of the human population die annually due to lack of a known cure. Eventually, the cures of these illnesses would have come from plants. Therefore, the humans have an obligation to protect all the endangered species failure to which nature's medicine cabinet will be lost.

Thirdly, most of the world’s tourism industries are dependent on the plant and animal species in their environment to sustain the multi-billion dollar industry (Gibbs and Currie 4). Tens of millions of people in every year visit various destinations mostly natural locations. Many tourists find the wildlife activities the most interesting and captivating in America. Other attractive involvements include beach going, hiking in the woodlands among other outdoor activities. The United States Park Service records more than 200 million visitors to the national parks annually. Both the federal and local governments benefit hugely from the activities linked to these visits. The economic importance of the endangered species presents a reason why any nation would want to preserve its biological diversity. These species are immensely important to the survival and flourishing of the tourism and travel industries.

Finally, although a greater population sees some species as a hindrance to agricultural expansion, they are very important in maintaining high yields (Lindenmayer and Blair 4). Farmers should be central conservationists of the endangered species. They should set aside some portions of land to be utilized as wildlife habitats. Interestingly, the world relatives of some commonly grown crops contain vital genetic compositions needed to maintain the crops. The world relatives of crops can be used to increase resistance to diseases in the crops. All forest ought not to be cleared for farming as the crops grown will develop to be less resistant to pests and diseases

Challenges with Current Environmental Laws

While many people believe that they stand to lose nothing with the extinction of the endangered species, these species are more than just essential to their lives. Research says that a balanced biodiversity is key to human health (Hoffmann 88). Particularly, the disappearance of the endangered species will lead to the rise of infectious diseases among the humans and the entire animal kingdom. As thus, the endangered species directly affect our health and our lives at large. The disappearance of these species is directly linked to the survival rates of the human beings. The loss of biological diversity will lead to an increased transmission of pathogens in a wide scope of infectious systems (Hoffmann 98). Pathogens such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria are likely to move more freely causing a crisis not only among the human beings but also the other animals and plant species.

As earlier mentioned, the earth's ecosystem needs to be well-balanced as every species plays an important role in maintaining all the lives. It is therefore important to keep everything in check to ensure that all species coexist peacefully (Godley 86). Sadly, the extinction of some specific species could pose serious problems to the humans. Such animal species are critically endangered. The deaths of such species will undoubtedly leave behind permanent holes that cannot be repaired in the human cycle of life. The structure left behind would be similar to a pulley lifting immeasurable weights to an unimaginable height. In such a case, the world would just rise up on a certain day without oxygen and food. The effect of the endangered species on the lives of human beings ranges from the depletion of the earth’s resources to the loss of lives (Ruhl 16). Below are some real examples illustrating how the loss of the endangered species could be devastating.

 Honey bees are among the insects that have been labeled an endangered species. Basically, if the bees become extinct, the human population could be forced to survive on very little food. Practically, there is much that has been done to preserve the dwindling bee population. The preservation of the honey bee species is worth the effort. Honey bees help in the sustenance of the food chain by pollinating the flowers (Echeverri, Callahan and Satterfield 13). As thus the bees breathe life into the ecosystem. Approximately, around seven species of the honey bees stand a risk of extinction. The honey bees have been an essential aspect of the food chain since time in history.  

The Role of Humans in Protecting Biodiversity

The extinction of some endangered species will rob the humans the ability to make further medical advancements (US Geological Survey 3). Different endangered species possess unique body processes that provide insights in the bid to cure human diseases. For example, the dart poison frogs found in the rainforests offer a priceless information about the behavior of alkaloid compounds in living organisms. Bears are also studied by scientists to provide invaluable insights about kidney disorders and their treatment. Each endangered species that punishes dictates the number of viable medical breakthroughs. The extinction of the endangered species poses a great blow to the human population.

A significant number of the entire human population have been blinded and hardly see the interconnectedness of the endangered species with life. We at times fail to understand how the ecosystem is made up of interdependent species.  Humans ought to understand that they preserve the endangered species for their own good and not for the species’ good. The ordinary citizens have the greatest role to play in the preservation of the endangered species. The little things that we do really matter. There are many ways in which an ordinary citizen can save the ecosystem from falling apart. This does not mean that the greater organizations have no role to play. They should focus on greater policies to supplement the efforts of the ordinary citizens.

At the family level, people should educate their relatives about the endangered species within their environment (Almaneih). Essentially, the practice is all about the ecosystem in every family's environment. One should focus on teaching the family and friends about the wildlife in their backyard. Creating awareness on the threatened species is such a critical step. There are many habits in our daily operations that affect the surrounding species. Also, at the family level, people should buy sustainable and recyclable products (Almaneih). The endangered species are mostly threatened by foreign products. Individual people could also volunteer to safeguard the wildlife within their localities.

At the society, level poaching should be discouraged. People can join into some groups with the sole aim of restoring the ecosystems. This can be achieved by collecting hazardous products in the environment constantly. Such groups can also be ideal avenues for spreading wildlife awareness. Constant campaigns should be held to push the agenda even further. The society, in general, has a role to play in kicking out the black market (Endangered Species Coalition). The public should abstain from buying questionable souvenirs such as coral, ivory and tortoise shells.

Habitat Fragmentation: A Major Threat to Endangered Species

Principally, the governments have been doing a lot to preserve the endangered species. Although the efforts have proved much success, there is still a lot that needs to be done. The successes are not just enough as the last thing the government should gamble with is the future of the ecosystem. Legal measures should be pronounced against the illegal poachers. The government also needs to work more closely with the locals to ensure the consistency in the war to protect the endangered species from extinction. The government is also responsible for exerting more force on the concerned wildlife departments to carry on their duties more effectively and accurately with accountability.

Conclusion:

Succinctly, the debate on the endangered species is very broad since it involves more than just saving the lives of the threatened species. The preservation of the species actually determines the future of the entire ecosystem. Due to its diverse nature, the subject requires more elaborate solutions. This makes it a social issue which requires socially construed responses. Basically, there is no single individual or entity who could be blamed on the matter. Every single person has a central role to play in restoring and maintaining our ecosystem. This is the only approach that will see the planet grow a more healthy and balanced ecosystem.

Almaneih, Susie. 12 Things We Should All Do To Protect Endangered Species. March 14, 2017. 8 August 2018. <https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/12-things-we-should-all-do-to-protect-endangered-species_us_58bd9c87e4b0abcb02ce2067>.

Benson, M. H. "Intelligent Tinkering: the Endangered Species Act and Resilience. Ecology and Society." 2012.

Echeverri, Alejandra, Megan M Callahan and Terre Satterfield. "Explicit Not Implicit Preferences Predict Conservation Intentions for Endangered Species and Biomes." PLOS ONE 12.1 (2017): 1-18.

EFSA Scientific Committee. "Coverage of endangered species in environmental risk assessments at EFSA." EFSA Journal 14.2 (2016): 22-87.

Endangered Species Coalition. 10 Easy Things You Can Do to Save Endangered Species. n.d. 8 August 2018. <https://www.endangered.org/10-easy-things-you-can-do-to-save-endangered-species/>.

Gallardo, Belinda and David C Aldridge. "Evaluating the combined threat of climate change and biological invasions on endangered species." Biological Conservation 160 (2013): 225–233.

Gibbs, Katherine E., and David J Currie. "Protecting Endangered Species: Do the Main Legislative Tools Work?" PLoS ONE 7.5 (2012): 1-7.

Godley, Brendan J. "Incorporating climate change into endangered species conservation: Introduction." Endangered Species Research 7 (2013): 85-86.

Hing, Stephanie. "First parasitological survey of Endangered Bornean elephants Elephas maximus borneensis." Journal of Endangered Species Research 21 (2013): 223–230.

Hoffmann, John P. "Social and Environmental Influences on Endangered Species: A Cross-National Study." Sociological Perspectives 47.1 (2014): 79-107.

Johnson, Christopher N., Andrew Balmford and Barry W Brook. "Biodiversity losses and conservation." Science Journals 356 (2017): 270–275.

Lindenmayer, David, and David Blair. "Preventing the Extinction of an Iconic Globally Endangered Species – Leadbeater's Possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)." Journal of Biodiversity and Endangered Species 2.4 (2014): 1-7.

McCorkell, Gillian, and Geraldine Brown. "Protecting an endangered species: the contribution and constraints of nurses working in a specialist role." Journal of Nursing Management 23.2 (2013): 221-230.

Ruhl, J.B. "Climate Change as an Agent of Ecological Reshuffling." Boston University Law Review 88.1 (2013): 14-17.

Taylor, Martin F. J., and Kieran F Suckling. "The Effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act: A Quantitative Analysis." BioScience 55.4 (2014): 360-367.

US Geological Survey. "Climate Change and Wildlife Health: Direct and Indirect Effects." Science of Changing World (2013): 1-4.