Importance of biodiversity

I was at work the other day, and I asked this lady, "Is there anything else I can help you with?", her response went something along the lines of how she needs her contractor work and that because of the "damn environmentalist wanting to save a snail" she could not get any work. Being an Environmental Science and Policy major with a minor in Biology, this is quite offensive and shocking. I was offended by the fact that she had such little understanding of sustainable development of animals and as well as her lack of knowledge. Now, when she said snail, coming from my field of studies, I am thinking that she is referring to the snail darter case. The interesting thing about this is that the snail darter is a fish, not a snail. If that was in fact what she was talking about, she should really do some research before coming out and saying such negative comments about protecting biodiversity. This incident encouraged me to write this blog entry, I realized that just because the environment is my field of study and not most people's, there is a lot of information that I have learned that could spread a better understanding as to why our society currently is so focused on maintaining the environment. Let's start with some basic ideas. There are many plants and animals that provide medicines to sicknesses, in fact penicillin was first discovered by experimenting with bacteria, and with that said, the point I am trying to get to is that we never know what types of plants and animals in nature can provide us with medicines to cure diseases. If we don't try to keep all these different types of organisms we will never know what they can do for us. If we wait until something to become extinct and then discover that it can provided a cure for a disease, it will be too late and the damage would not be able to be reversed. Yeah, some people might say that the Snail Darter case was silly because the fish is small and we don't really have any significant use for it, but the unknown factor plays a big role. If we don't know what it can do, then we must protect just in case. Protecting organisms for the sake of medical uses is a anthro-centric way to do about it. So what I am saying is that, even if you don't care about nature and you don't care about biodiversity, there is still a reason for you to care because these organisms may potentially save your life later on. Biodiversity and evolution go together hand in hand. Without evolution, there wouldn't be any biodiversity. How long does it take for an organism to evolve?...pewh...many, many years. If we allow an organism to become extinct, that same specie will NEVER come back, it is irreversible. Some people may not care but to me, that is a big deal. I am a strong believer in sustainable development (for those who don't know what that means, it means that future generations should have to right to have clean air, and animals, just as we have it today). It would unfair for future generation if they only way they can see what a panda bear looks like is in a text book and not in reality. Looking at the real thing and looking at a picture does not provide the same level of satisfaction. In just this past month, the black and white abalone just became listed on the endangered species list. The main reason for this is hunting by humans. As their population declines it becomes more and more difficult for them to reproduce. Female eggs and male sperms are released into the water column and they need to be within 5 feet of each other in order for them to fertilize. Next time if you see a black or white abalone, move them at least 5 feet of each other so they can reproduce.