One of the oldest questions people have asked is how the amazing diversity of life on Earth came to be.  This diversity has developed through biological evolution; it is affected by interactions among species and by the environment.  This section should enhance your understanding of the concepts covered in the book regarding scientific reasons for preserving biodiversity, as well as the types of values and arguments used as a rationale for conserving diversity.  

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE - Why Preserve Biodiversity? 

   Preserving a diversity of life on Earth has come to be an accepted goal for many people.  But when that goal comes into conflict with other goals, such as economic development, the question becomes, "How much diversity and at what cost?"  To find the answer it is important to think carefully about the values of biological diversity and to separate those based on science from those based on other present or potential values, such as aesthetic, ethical, religious, or economic values.