Earth's ecosystems in peril

[nebula]

Are we not to be good stewards of the Earth?

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Report: Earth's Ecosystem at Risk <<--LINK

Wednesday, March 30, 2005 Posted: 10:21 AM EST (1521 GMT)

OSLO, Norway (Reuters) -- Humans are damaging the planet at an unprecedented rate and raising risks of abrupt collapses in nature that could spur disease, deforestation or "dead zones" in the seas, an international report said on Wednesday.

The study, by 1,360 experts in 95 nations, said a rising human population had polluted or over-exploited two thirds of the ecological systems on which life depends, ranging from clean air to fresh water, in the past 50 years.

"At the heart of this assessment is a stark warning," said the 45-member board of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

"Human activity is putting such strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted," it said.

Ten to 30 percent of mammal, bird and amphibian species were already threatened with extinction, according to the assessment, the biggest review of the planet's life support systems.

"Over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable time in human history, largely to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fibre and fuel," the report said.

"This has resulted in a substantial and largely irreversible loss in the diversity of life on earth," it added. More land was changed to cropland since 1945, for instance, than in the 18th and 19th centuries combined.

Getting worse

"The harmful consequences of this degradation could grow significantly worse in the next 50 years," it said. The report was compiled by experts, including from U.N. agencies and international scientific and development organizations.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the study "shows how human activities are causing environmental damage on a massive scale throughout the world, and how biodiversity -- the very basis for life on earth -- is declining at an alarming rate."

The report said there was evidence that strains on nature could trigger abrupt changes like the collapse of cod fisheries off Newfoundland in Canada in 1992 after years of over-fishing.

Future changes could bring sudden outbreaks of disease. Warming of the Great Lakes in Africa due to climate change, for instance, could create conditions for a spread of cholera.

And a build-up of nitrogen from fertilizers washed off farmland into seas could spur abrupt blooms of algae that choke fish or create oxygen-depleted "dead zones" along coasts.

It said deforestation often led to less rainfall. And at some point, lack of rain could suddenly undermine growing conditions for remaining forests in a region.

The report said that in 100 years, global warming widely blamed on burning of fossil fuels in cars, factories and power plants, might take over as the main source of damage. The report mainly looks at other, shorter-term risks.

And it estimated that many ecosystems were worth more if used in a way that maintains them for future generations.

A wetland in Canada was worth $6,000 a hectare (2.47 acres), as a habitat for animals and plants, a filter for pollution, a store for water and a site for human recreation, against $2,000 if converted to farmland, it said. A Thai mangrove was worth $1,000 a hectare against $200 as a shrimp farm.

"Ecosystems and the services they provide are financially significant and...to degrade and damage them is tantamount to economic suicide," said Klaus Toepfer, head of the U.N. Environment Program.

The study urged changes in consumption, better education, new technology and higher prices for exploiting ecosystems.

"Governments should recognize that natural services have costs," A.H. Zakri of the U.N. University and a co-chair of the report told Reuters. "Protection of natural services is unlikely to be a priority for those who see them as free and limitless."

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Copyright 2005 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[RGR]

What makes it worse are farmers who just don't give a rip what they're doing. Around us, they decided to plant rice 5 years ago. Of those 5 years, they've only harvested it one time and that was the first year! Every other year, they've came through with a tractor and disked it under. This is not good sense! If the crop is no good, don't plant it anymore. Until they started planting rice, it was always beans or cotton and there was never a problem.

The chemicals they spray are also a danger IMO. Every year when they start defoliating, we get sick around here. There chemicals killed off our quince tree and it does other damage as well. I'm all for organic farming personally!

[nebula]

Here's another article echoing the seriousness of this (from Discovery News):

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Study Warns World's Resources Shrinking <<--LINK

March 30, 2005

[M45510G1C]

I think you raise a good point here. Otfen it seems that the Christian community, due by and large (IMO) to its differences with the majority of the environmental movement, forgets all about being stewards of the earth.

Yes, God gave man dominion over the earth. This does not mean that He wants us to use it up and toss it aside, but to use it for our benefit while cultivating it and preserving it. It really is of paramount importance that we start seeking out ways to stop pollution and preserve our natural resources. The world is simply too populated to be wasteful and careless, if we don't do it now our children and grandchildren will pay dearly. Not to sound like an environmentalist or anything

Maybe its too late, maybe this is all a part of God's plan, however, I do not think either of these are good excuses for not trying.

[Sojc]

I think you raise a good point here.

Edited March 31, 2005 by Sojc

[Leonard]

I've heard this same sort of nonsense for 50 years, and each hyped alarm is shown to be false. After 50 years I've come to the conclusion that THE SKY IS NOT FALLING!

[RGR]

I've heard this same sort of nonsense for 50 years, and each hyped alarm is shown to be false.  After 50 years I've come to the conclusion that THE SKY IS NOT FALLING!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Leonard,

I think there is a difference between the fear-mongering of the far left (Norman Lear, et. al.) and responsible eco-concerns. There is nothing wrong with being concerned about our environment. For instance when I drain the lawnmower oil, I have no business draining it where it could get back in the water supply.

I also have concern when farmers simply plant crops only to thrash them under with a disk at the end of season simply to get money. That doesn't make good ecological sense either. It's also a commonly known fact that you don't plant rice in the same location for more than 3 years without crop rotation but yet it looks like we'll be dealing with a 5th season of rice planted and we'll probably see it cut under at the end of this crop season.

[Leonard]

Agreed Ron, Chemicalization of our food supply is a bad thing, but human beings could no more 'destroy the ecosystem of the earth' than we could fly by flapping our ears! WE ARE PUNY. "Species are dying out!" Big deal! The fossil record indicates species die out all the time! "The polar ice caps are melting!" (Which I don't believe anyway...) So? The coasts will move a few hundred yards inland. That's happened before too. We may get a little more rain, which would make for more usable farmland. Now that's something I can get behind!

[nebula]

I can appreciate you feelings, Leonard.

Yet, I have studied ecology and such. Do you know the status of the wetlands in your area? Here in Maryland, the situation is not so good. Watermen are having a harder time making ends meet due to a severe decline in oyster and crab populations due to the pollution of the Chesapeake Bay.

Keep in mind that wetlands are the "lifeblood" if you will of the environment.

My aunt and uncle recently took a trip to China. They reported back about just how severely bad the air pollution there was. Also how badly polluted the rivers were.

Yes, mass extinctions happened before. Keep in mind that mass extinctions went hand-in-hand with global destruction!

Maybe it's just a sign of the End Times. But still, how can we be callous about the sufferings caused by poverty due to our own environmental mismanagement?

[Leonard]

America is the eco-champ of the whole world, and China and India the worst polluters. Why do the enviro-geeks always want to rake America over the coals? Because the Environmentalist Movement is the new home of Comintern; that's why. I'm not apt to believe ANYTHING I hear from the environmentalists these days.......