The functions of wildlife and their possible use for deriving site selection components

Abstract

The beneficial uses or functions of wildlife are numerous. In agriculture these include not only the cropping of species growing in the wild but also their potential for future cultivation and role in such processes as crop pollination and biological control of pests. Wild animals are used in medicine for essential research; wild plants provide a source of drugs, and wild places can help to relieve the tension and stress associated with modern living. Wildlife is also a sensitive indicator of environmental change. Furthermore, research and education in the environmental sciences rely on the conservation of natural and semi-natural areas. These areas and the species which inhabit them have considerable aesthetic value and have inspired many great works of art. Finally, there is a moral argument that all species have the right to exist, and that the options made possible by the presence of wildlife should be left for future generations to use. Each of these functions is discussed in detail. Sixteen components should be taken into consideration when evaluating an area for wildlife conservation. A possible approach to weighting these components is outlined.