As the human population continues to grow througout the world, people are being faced with the dwindling population of animals. Beyond the loss of animals, there has also been a loss of habitat. Yet, people do need places to live and some animals present danger to farmers' livelihoods. It is a paradox that seems dificult to solve. Do we stop developing land, allowing the cities to become even more overcrowded? Do we reintroduce species that have been forced out of their habitats?
As humans, consumption is a natural thing that we do. Conservation, is more effortful. Should we really be trying to control biodiversity? Maybe we should live as we have lived for years? This evident paradox between consumption and conservation seems impossible to solve. However, we need to solve it because it is real. People everywhere are arguing and deciding whether to allow land to be developed and if animals should be reintroduced to certain areas.
In Arizona, as you read this, there is a debate about the reintroduction of the grey wolf. For some the wolf is something to be hunted, to be killed, so that their cattle and sheep are not. Jim Cook and other men from Catron County have been farming there for years and remember the destruction the wolf caused. Dutch Salmon, a local author, tries to explain that the differences in beliefs are due to all the people moving to Catron county. For others the reintroduction is something of environmental necessity. Pamela Brown, a local teacher is teaching her children in school why the wolf is needed. The Holders, two new ranchers, also want to see the wolf brought back to Arizona.
Yet, there are other cases that fall into this paradox. Along rivers and oceans there are people arguing over whether to develop beachfront properties. The man from Philadelphia wants a place where he can take his children to get away from the pollution of the city. The business men would like to see more tourists come to the area. Yet, Greenpeace is protesting further development. Environmentalists warn that it is a threat to biodiversity.
Both sides of consumption v. conservation, have strong arguments. But who will win and who should win? That is for you to decide.