THE DEVELOPED AND THE DEVELOPING WORLD IN THE BIODIVERSITY REGIME

Abstract

Human societies have a major impact on their environment and with the tendency to exploit inexhaustible resources man has led to the degradation of these resources. Environmental issues became the focus of international concern due to a rising awareness of the risks and implications of international environmental problems. Due to concerns regarding species extinction, depletion of genetic varieties, destruction of natural habitats, deforestation and disruptions in atmosphere there was an increased interest in preserving biodiversity. Conservation and protection of biodiversity became important as biodiversity provides the human societies with a number of important services, which include enhancing the productivity of natural and agricultural ecosystems, providing insurance against attacks on agricultural crops by pathogens, and providing us with valuable knowledge of novel genetic and molecular forms. Biodiversity offers genetic resources for food and agriculture. Living organisms provide irreplaceable environmental services upon which humanity is critically dependent, such as keeping soil fertile, absorbing pollution, breaking down waste, and pollinating crops. One study estimates that the value of 17 such natural services is between US $16-54 trillion per year, with an average of US $33 trillion per year