Hello everyone, I would like to reach out to this wonderful list of contacts and resources with the following question: why should we protect biodiversity?
I know that for most everyone on this listserv, the answer to this goes without saying. However, there are very important ethical reasons underlying this seemingly simple question. In conjunction with philosophy professor Bert Baumgaertner at the University of Idaho, I am exploring this question as well as what exactly biodiversity indices tell us about an ecosystem or how we- scientists, policy makers, researchers, etc.- interpret these findings. We sometimes see claims that ecosystems with a greater species richness are somehow more healthy, robust, or resilient. What is the purpose of these biodiversity measures? How much can we "read" into these findings? But most of all, why should we protect biodiversity? If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these questions, we would be grateful if you could email [email protected]. In addition, if you would like to share suggestions of any seminal or important pieces written about biodiversity and reasons for which we ought to protect it, please feel free to send any citations to this email address. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas about this topic! Thank you, fellow Ecologgers! Wieteke Holthuijzen Director. UI Sustainability Center. www.uidaho.edu/sustainability University of Idaho. Shoup Hall 105. PO Box 442007. Moscow Idaho 83844-2007. 208.885.0125 "Some call it sustainability. We call it common sense."
