Research Paper

Rori Flanagan
Doc Zerwin
Senior Lit
November 17 2010

Imagine a world with no animals or plants.  Even try imagining a world with less animals or plants then we have now.  This is the kind of world we are heading to.  Animals are a huge part of our planet and are often taken for granted.  They’re a bigger part of our world then many people know.  There is estimated “that as many as 40 percent of all organisms are under some degree of threat due to habitat destruction, disease, pollution, over hunting and overfishing, or other reasons” (Sexton).  Endangered species should be protected and it is necessary for them to be protected so that are ecosystem doesn't crash.  The cost, effort, and time spent on protecting these species, in the long run, well be worth while.  

The definition of endangered is  “Facing an extremely high risk of extinction” (Sexton).  With some of the laws that have been enforced toward protecting these species, many have come back from the brink of extinction, but there are still species out there that need help.  One of these laws is the Endangered Species Act (ESA), this act was put in place to replace other acts because instead of just protecting the plants and animals that are in danger it also protects their ecosystem (Sexton).  Its strives to do this in four ways: It prohibits the FWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) and other association like that “from taking or approving actions on the part of any organization that could continue to injure an identified species” (Whittaker), second they put boundary's around the habitats, third it protects the endangered animals for being hunted or taken out of its natural environment, and lastly it makes it illegal to do trade of any of the species (Whittaker).    

Oddly enough, the species on remote islands are the ones that are in the most danger (Burton 8).  Some Americans think; then why is it are problem?  Because it is are fault.  These species are in danger because of the climate change that is being caused by humans.  So it is are job to protect them.  It isn't just morally right for us to try to protect these species that we are in threatening but it is necessary.    Our world as we know it well crash if the extinction rate continues raising as it has been.  Whittaker says that “The loss of endangered species threatens entire ecosystems; plant and animal extinction affects the natural food chain and the delicate balance that the flora and fauna of each natural ecosystem is otherwise able to maintain”  (Whittaker).  We need to continue spending the time and money on protecting the habits that these amazing creatures live in so that we can keep in balance what we are doing to the environment.  But right now the only strong animal protection is the ESA (Whittaker).  If we were to add more protection acts we could save many more species.  

Money is such a big part of the American society and people are selfish with their money.  The U.S is in a economical crisis and we do need to budget our money but there are other ways to do this then to not give some money to protect endangered species.  A debt with this subject happened in Arizona when money was spent on fixing boarder fences and environmentalist shoot back at these decisions  by saying “The feds have spent billions on border fences real and virtual, and it's about time to spend tens of millions protecting animals and plants” (Davis).  The decision was made to give 7M to help and protect the animals effect by the wall.  People get mad when money is used to protect animals but in some cases it is actually saving money.  A huge amount of money is in risk because of the pollution causing damage in the reefs off of Florida which is causing “Commercial fish species have begun to decline, causing a threat to the multi-million dollar tourism industry, which depends on the quality of the environment” (Kurpis).    

There are many subsets of species and people argue that we shouldn't have to try to protect all of them (Lee).  Compare this to humans, we are all our own subspecies of the human race but we all contribute to the world in our own way.   This is the same for animals and plants;  All of them contribute to our ecosystem and world.  If one is lose it can effect many of others “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that losing one plant species can trigger the loss of up to 30 other insect, plant and higher animal species” (Kurpis) These species also can contribute to help humans in critical ways.  Such as some endangered plants are used to make medicine.

“The Pacific yew, a slow-growing tree found in the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest, was historically considered a "trash" tree (it was burned after clearcutting). However, a substance in its bark taxol was recently identified as one of the most promising treatments for ovarian and breast cancer” (Kurpis).

Protecting species doesn't only effect that certain species but could even effect possibly you or someone you know.      

People try to point out that extinction is just a part of life (Lee).  There is proof that the extinction rate has gone up with the humans population, so yes, it is just a natural phenomena  but we are making it speed up at an alarming rate, which is not natural.  To many species are being endangered  “As of its current 2008 Red List of Threatened Species, 44,838 species. Of the total species included, 16,928 are listed as threatened, an increase of 620 species since 2007”  (Sexton).  We have already caused extinction of many species such as the Passenger Pigeon.  There population was up to five billion and then “Extensive lumbering destroyed their habitat in many areas, and they were shot by local residents for food, but it was the rail road and the telegraph that wiped them out” (Alden 67).   This, though, happened in the mid-1800.  Today humans are causing this in many ways, the big ones are: pollution, over hunting, and expanding are societies into habitats.  Hunting needs to happen to keep the populations of some animals under control but it does need to be regulated. There are many hunting laws in order but they are different for each state.  We just need this laws enforced.  Animals have been extinct or put endangered by over hunting (Burton).  Commercial hunting is what really puts animals in danger; compared to sport hunting.  People need to be less selfish and not think that all the land is theirs.  The animals were there first and we cant expect to just keep taking away there homes.  The Save the Elephant Organization uses research and natural was to help people and humans live peacefully together.  If we give more funding or add to the people working for organizations such as the Save the Elephants Organization or organizations in America that do the same thing for endangered species here; we could contribute to saving and conserving many more species.  

We can help protect these species.  It takes money, time and effort but it well be worth it.  We cant predict what well happen if the extinction rate continues to raise, but it wont be good.  Help protect our ecosystem.  Following the laws and supporting new ones that are trying to be passed.  Help these animals whose time for them to disappear has not yet come.  Keep this world going the right way.     

      

Works Cited

Alden, Peter. “The Atlas of Endangered Species” Wildlife. New York: Quarto, 1991. Print.

Burton, John. “The Atlas of Endangered Species” Introduction. New York: Quarto, 1991. Print.

Davis, Tony. "$7M set for border habitat work." Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ) 31 Oct. 2010: Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov. 2010.

Johnson, Reed. "Wildlife Benefits and Economic Values." Restoring America's Wildlife. D.C: U.S Government Printing Office, 1987. Print.

Kurpis, Lauren.  “Why Save Endangered Species.” Endangered Species.com. 2002. Web. 19 Nov. 2010.   

Lee, M., and Marcus Griswold. "Counterpoint: Saving Every Endangered Species is Not     Worth The Cost." Points of View: Endangered Species (2009): 3. Points of View             Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov. 2010.

Sexton, Jennifer, and Tom Warhol. "Endangered Species: An Overview." Points of View: Endangered Species (2009): 1. Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 19 Nov. 2010.

Whittaker, Anne, and David C. Morley. "Point: Endangered Species Should be         Protected."     Points of View: Endangered Species (2009): 2. Points of View Reference     Center.  EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov. 2010.