Lecture 22: Required reading (Sachs)

Here is a summary of the Sachs reading on biodiversity:

  • One of the Millennium Development Goals was to dramatically decrease the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.
  • Surprise, surprise - we're not doing a very good job
  • We need to do a better job of linking biodiversity and poverty alleviation initiatives, because these goals can be intertwined
  • As an example, lower birth rates will put less pressure of the natural world to meet basic human needs, which means less pressure from humans on endangered species
  • It's also important, because as my GSI in undergrad used to remind us - "We'll have conservation after breakfast" - meaning, it's unreasonable (and unethical as well) to ask people not to consume in the name of biodiversity protection when those people are struggling to survive
  • Although we won't hit the 2010 biodiversity goals, we need to set another benchmark in the future that is attainable, measurable, and clear
  • Poverty alleviation projects need to detail how they impact biodiversity conservation, and vice versa
  • Policy makers need to be presented with options going forward that benefit biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation
Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License