LIFE AT STAKELIFE AT STAKE

Endangered SpeciesEndangered SpeciesNatural ResourcesNatural Resources

Water ShortageWater Shortage

Would you tell me, please, which Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to walk from here?way I ought to walk from here?

““That depends a good deal on where That depends a good deal on where you want to get to”, said the cat.you want to get to”, said the cat.

Three Important QuestionsThree Important Questions

What should I do?What should I do? What you choose to do, the way you choose to What you choose to do, the way you choose to

live matterslive matters. . (Individual dimension)(Individual dimension) What should we do?What should we do? In order for us to flourish as individuals we must In order for us to flourish as individuals we must

flourish together.flourish together. (Colective dimension)(Colective dimension)

What sort of person should I be?What sort of person should I be? It is a question of personal development and It is a question of personal development and

education.education.

BIODIVERSITY IN CRISISBIODIVERSITY IN CRISIS

The most obvious manifestation of The most obvious manifestation of biodiversity lossbiodiversity loss is the extinction of is the extinction of species. species.

This is a natural phenomenon: species This is a natural phenomenon: species have been going extinct since life began. have been going extinct since life began.

It is estimated that many more species It is estimated that many more species have gone extinct than exist at present. have gone extinct than exist at present.

What's worrying?What's worrying? the the raterate at which species are currently at which species are currently

dying out: not since the demise of the dying out: not since the demise of the dinosaurs (some 65 million years ago) has dinosaurs (some 65 million years ago) has earth witnessed an earth witnessed an 'extinction event''extinction event' of of such catastrophic scale.such catastrophic scale.

Current Species LossCurrent Species Loss

●● The total number of species on earth can The total number of species on earth can only be estimated only be estimated ►►the exact rate of loss is the exact rate of loss is difficult to gauge (between 50 and 150 difficult to gauge (between 50 and 150 extinctions per day). extinctions per day).

●●The estimate is that the earth is home to 10 The estimate is that the earth is home to 10

million species in all million species in all ►► between 0.2 and 0.6 between 0.2 and 0.6 percent of species are being lost every year. percent of species are being lost every year.

It is estimated that over 5,500 species of It is estimated that over 5,500 species of animals – including birds, mammals, reptiles, animals – including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates – are amphibians, fish and invertebrates – are currently threatened with extinction, together currently threatened with extinction, together with 6,700 species of higher plants.with 6,700 species of higher plants.

►► Those considered vulnerable, threatened, or critically endangered include:Those considered vulnerable, threatened, or critically endangered include:

♥♥ Close to 1,100 species of mammals (about 24 per cent of the total number).Close to 1,100 species of mammals (about 24 per cent of the total number).

♥♥ Over 1,100 birds (around 12 per cent of known species).Over 1,100 birds (around 12 per cent of known species).

♥♥ Over 750 species of fish (49% per cent of total surveyed).Over 750 species of fish (49% per cent of total surveyed). ♥♥Around 290 species of reptiles (62 per cent of total number surveyed).Around 290 species of reptiles (62 per cent of total number surveyed). An estimated 157 species of amphibians (39 per cent of the total number An estimated 157 species of amphibians (39 per cent of the total number

surveyed).surveyed).

Main causes of biodiversity loss

• ● Habitat destruction• ● Invasive species• ● Pollution • ● Over-harvesting• ● Climate change• ● Market and economic

policy failures • ● Social, political and

institutional weaknesses • ● Lack of knowledge of

biodiversity’s importance

“Conditions that ensure that all living things have the best opportunity to reach and maintain their full genetic potential.”

S. Gilbert (1999)

Environmental & Human HealthEnvironmental & Human Health

"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." -

Aldo Leopold, 1949, A Sand County Almanac

The First BioethicistThe First Bioethicist

---------- 1887 - 1948 ----------

Aldo Leopold

"Biology combined with diverse humanistic knowledge forging a

science that sets a system of medical and environmental

priorities for acceptable survival.“Global Bioethics (1988)

BioethicsBioethics

-------- 1911 - 2001 --------

Van Rensselaer Potter

1) Respect - for the needs and rights of this and future generations as well as others who cannot speak for themselves

2) Humility - towards the natural world and our ability to understand it through science

3) Democracy - giving people a voice in matters that affect their lives

4) Responsibility - government’s public trust responsibility to manage the commonwealth for this and future generations.

- Individuals’ including industry, obligation to take responsibility for their actions in the world.

Some ValuesSome Values

The challenge

To develop an individual and societal ethical framework for

decision making that supports the long term maintenance of a globally

sustainable ecology

Ecological BioethicsEcological Bioethics

“the knowledge of how to use knowledge for the social

good”

Knowledgeable Bioethics

Socially Responsible