7 of 58

Yes

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

of the sea.

An example of how communities in less developed countries can be helped to protect their own marine resources is the Tanga Region in Tanzania. The Tanga region is the most northern coastal region of Tanzania and supports a number of ecologically important and diverse habitats. The population thrives on fish as one of the main staples in their diet. A 1987 study showed that this extremely fragile ecosystem had been substantially damaged as a result of dynamite fishing. A debate followed as to whether this area should fall under the World Conservation Union/ Great Barrier Reef Marine paradigm for its management and "very survival". The local people are being helped with conservation programmes on how to successfully maintain the vital balance between harvesting the fish whilst taking great care of their breeding grounds.

Another global "hot spot" in the developing world is the Wallacea region in Indonesia. This is an area of the highest diversity of species primates and other fauna and flora. Conservation International are helping with conservation programmes in the area and have expanded their scientific role to the community. They are also bringing in conservation expertise and help with funding.

Finally, one of the most emotive conservation issues in the world today, the world's treasured Rain Forest. The Raid Forest borders many undeveloped nations and we are losing them rapidly and before we can appreciate their true value. They once covered 14 % of the earth's land surface and now they cover a mere 6% and these could be decimated within the next four decades. It's a tragic fact that one and a half acres of rain forest are lost every second. Destroyed because the value of rain forest land is considered as only the value of its timber by short sighted governments, multi nationals and land owners. As the rain forests vanish, so do cures for life threatening diseases. 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rain forest ingredients.

The indigenous people in these fragile ecosystems have lived in harmony with nature for centuries. If their way of life is threatened, it is very likely that they could turn on the environment. The Amazonian Indians who numbered in their millions 500 years ago, now amount to a mere 200,000. With their destruction has also gone many years of accumulated knowledge of the medicinal value of rain forest species. When a medicine man dies in the rain forest a "library of knowledge" burns down. The tribe and the world looses thousands of years of irreplaceable knowledge about medicinal plants.

When one considers what the result would be if under developed nations chose not to go the "green route", one would very likely come to the conclusion that our time on this wonderful earth of ours is nearing its end.

Acknowledgement: Rainforest facts; The World Conservation Union; The International Union for Conservation.

Learn more about this author, Glenda Thompson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about Is it fair to ask underdeveloped countries to "go green" when many advanced industrial countries owe their success to destructive environmental practices??
We want to hear your view. Write now!