The Hope Project

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) whose sole task is making sure the animals and plants in the list of endangered species are fully protected is now feeling the pinch. Republicans are hot on their trail to limit their budget and even curtail their rights. The list of endangered species could be under attack as there are moves to completely cease any new additions to the list and even take some of the species off the list.

The reasons why this is happening now is because of the economic situation that elected officials have to face and solve. In their minds, protecting the environment comes almost last place (if not dead last) to job creation and the stimulating economic growth. Environmentalists are crying foul because what they are fighting for is not the survival of plants and animals, but also maintaining the right balance for the environment – where biodiversity within the ecosystem has to be preserved.

What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity is keeping life on earth varied yet inter-dependent. This means animals depending on each other, depending on plants and the earth, and vice versa. This does not mean animals and plants should not become extinct. It happens but should only happen as a natural response to life without pollution, climate change and other man-made hazards.

Add to this is the alarming rate of species becoming extinct and dying – because of how we live. Never before in the history of this world we live in have animals and plants become extinct at this rapid pace. Just look at their natural habitats. We are overdeveloping land and slowly creeping our way into rain forests and virgin jungles. There are figures being thrown about a fourth of our animal and plants species will become extinct in 30 years.

While solving the problems of the country’s economy is a grand gesture, we need biodiversity to survive in this planet. We need both groups to work together instead of thinking they are on opposite sides of a fence.

In the first place, there would be less disasters like floods, fires, and hurricanes if the biodiversity is maintained. This would mean less spending in relief and rescue operations and clean-up. Human misery would be lessened and food sources would not be threatened. It isn’t a simple case of just cutting the federal budget for the EPA.

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