Biodiversity and Endangered Species: Debatabase - Debate Topics and Debate Motions

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Summary: Should we be trying to prevent species becoming extinct? If so, Discuss topic
why?
Introduction
Author:Wu-Meng Tan ( Singapore ) Wu Meng graduated from Cambridge University with a medical
degree and a PhD in molecular biology. A former president of the Cambridge Union Society, he was
Best Speaker at the 2003 World University Debating Championships.

Created: Friday, June 30, 2000

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Context
'Biodiversity' means the variety of bacteria, plants, and animals that live on our planet. This includes the
unique behavioural patterns and activities of each species. Biodiversity is an ecological concept
discussed in many scientific circles. Many debates about biodiversity will ultimately boil down to how
important this diversity is, either for its own sake, or for some specific human benefits. International
agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES) aim to protect biodiversity. Issues linked to this debate about biodiversity will also arise in
debates on genetically modified food and on animal welfare.

Arguments

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Slovak Debate Association:
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Pros
The species Homo sapiens is unprecedented and
unique among all life on earth. Human sentience and
intelligence far surpass those of other creatures.
These gifts have allowed human beings to populate
the earth, construct industry, and affect the
environment in a way that no other species can. This
great power comes with great responsibility, and we
should avoid abusing the earth, lest we cause
irreparable damage - damage like the extinction of
species and the consequent reduction in biodiversity
cause by deforestation, over-fishing, hunting, the
illegal trade in ivory and other species etc.
Protecting endangered species is an extension of our
existing system of ethics. Just as modern civilisation
protects its weaker and less able members, so
humanity should safeguard the welfare of other less
privileged species. Animals are sentient creatures
whose welfare we should protect (even if they may not
have the same full 'rights' that we accord to human
beings).
Cons
The idea that extinctions will lead to ecological
disaster is an exaggeration. Fossil evidence shows
that mass extinctions have occurred many times
throughout the history of life on earth, one of the most
recent being the mass demise of the dinosaurs. After
every collapse of biodiversity, it subsequently
rebounded, with the earth coming to no lasting harm.
Extinctions are simply part of the natural evolutionary
process.
No species on earth would put the interest of another
species above its own, so why should human beings
be any different? Furthermore, since the very
beginnings of life, Nature has operated by the
Darwinian principle of "survival of the fittest". Life
forms that cannot keep up with the newest species on
the block will always risk extinction, unless they adapt
to the new challenge. Man has no obligation to save
the weaker species; if they cannot match our pace,
they deserve to die out and be supplanted by others.

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The most successful pharmaceuticals have often used
Nature as a starting point. Antibiotics were first
discovered through the study of fungi, and many
anticancer drugs are derived from the bark of exotic
Amazon trees. Every time a species becomes extinct,
scientists forever lose an opportunity to make a new
discovery.
As occupants of this planet, we must have respect for
other life forms, especially since life on Earth may be
the only life in the universe. We can show this respect
by taking every effort we can to prevent the extinction
of existing species, thereby preserving biodiversity.
Modern science has advanced to the point where
inspiration from Nature is no longer required. Today,
medicines derived from natural products are in the
minority. In any case, the upcoming era of genetic
engineering will allow mankind to rid himself of
disease without resorting to medicines.
Even if this respect was justified, its expression comes
at a significant cost. Biodiversity policies are financially
costly and spend taxpayers' money that could be
better used on healthcare and social services. It does
not make sense for us to concentrate on other species
when humanity has not yet sorted its own welfare out.

Biodiversity is a global problem and demands a global Environmental protection and the protection of
solution. The developed world should apply pressure biodiversity are very much a luxury of developed

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Biodiversity and Endangered Species: Debatabase - Debate Topics and Debate Motions

HWS / IDEA Round Robin
In the HWS / IDEA round
robin the International Debate
Education Association and
Hobart and William Smith
Colleges are bringing together
an elite and internationally
diverse group of debaters and
adjudicators for a weekend of
debate at the highest level.
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on the developing world to adopt more
environmentally friendly policies.
Motions
This House believes in biodiversity
This House fears the way of the dodo
nations. Many of these policies are beyond the
financial means of developing nations, and
implementing them would stunt their economic growth
and disenfranchise the population. It is hypocritical for
the West to criticise the lack of environmental
protection in the developing, considering that the West
got to its current position through an industrial
revolution that paid no heed to biodiversity and other
such concerns.

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and IDEA join forces to
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Estonian Open 2011 will be
held in British Parliamentary
Style: 5 preliminary rounds
with 5-minute speeches,
followed by semi-finals and
Grand Final with 7-minute
speeches. Team cap for the
tournament is 36 and N-1
judging rule applies for the
teams. Chi
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Useful Sites
Tom Lovejoy's Reith Lecture on Biodiversity
Society for Conservation Biology
The Natural History Museum, London: Biodiversity and World Map
United Nations Environment Programme: 'Pachamama': Biodiversity
World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Bagheera (A website for Our Endangered Species): Vanishing
EELink.Net: Endangered Species
The Born Free Foundation
San Diego Zoo: Endangered Species Report
Woodland Zoo, Seattle: Conservation
Useful Books
Biodiversity and Conservation (Routledge Introductions to Environment.)
By: Mike Jeffries
Conservation and Biodiversity
By: Andrew Dobson
The Biodiversity Crisis: Losing What Counts
By: Michael J. Novacek (Editor)
Life in the Balance: Humanity and the Biodiversity Crisis
By: Niles Eldredge
Biodiversity (Beginner's Guides)
By: John Spicer
Biodiversity (Global Issues)
By: Cheryl Jakab
Ark of the Broken Covenant: Protecting the World's Biodiversity Hotspots
By: John Kunich
Themes
Science and Technology
Discuss
View the full discussion

Author Post

rachel212 Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 08:04 pm

Member
we should stop species from becoming extinct. think about it, we have science class
in school AND history class. we have to learn about the wooly mammoth and we cant
even go to a zoo or something and see a live 1. if we keep species alive, then we get
a chance to learn upfront about it AND we might be able to mix certain things to make
new ones....i know that some things die off because of enviromental changes like,
e.g. polar bears and global warming. we should try to keep all species alive for as
long as possible. :D

Drewbuurt Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 05:36 pm

Member
Yes, we should be trying to prevent species from becoming extinct. Most species that
are in danger of becoming extinct today are because of humans and it is only right
that we try to save them. Besides that, you never know what organisms may become
important to us in the future and you do not know how an ecosystem will change
when a species dies out.

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Biodiversity and Endangered Species: Debatabase - Debate Topics and Debate Motions

clementina Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 05:26 pm

Member
I totally agree with you people, we cant go on damaging our planet. it seems that we
humans only know how to wreak havoc...

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