Which do you think is more important, human rights or protecting biodiversity?

Question

Often, there seems to be a conflict between the two. Like when groups are displaced to make nature preserves or national parks, for just one example. Many people think that they are both very important, and many don't think either one is important. I hope that you will think about your answer a little bit and be able to explain why you feel the way that you do.

Also, if there seems to be a conflict between the two in a given situation, how do you think that one might go about resolving that conflict?

Answer 1

I think that you can actually have it both ways. When u have a tribe or race of people like the Inuit who have lived in an area for several generations then they usually have a better understanding of that area than outsiders. I think the problem is that instead of true biodiversity we try to promote certain species over others. For instance around where I live in Illinois they have made several forest preserves and declared no hunting. Now that would be a good idea except that instead of just letting the animals alone they removed all the predators in an attempt to protect the deer they said. Problem now is the deer population has exploded to the point that there is no grass for them to eat in the forest preserves and in some places they have literally stripped the trees of any branches below 6 feet. Also because humans were not allowed to hunt them they have become unafraid of humans and often wander into suburban neighborhoods and demolish peoples gardens. Also because there are so many of them and they are so unafraid of humans they are often crossing the busy roads and highways without caution and there have been several incidents of people hitting deer and totaling their cars. I think personally its good to want to protect the enviroment but every time you close down a factory or convince a whaling or seal hunting company to go out of business people lose jobs. And since in todays economy where its so difficult to find new jobs that pay well that's a lot of people on welfare paid for by less and less people. I think a balance would be to allow new businesses and developers into rural and suburban communities on the condition that instead of clearing out say a 5,000 sq.foot area for a 1,000 sq. foot mall or shopping center and then trying to plant new forest areas someplace else and having to evict people to do it. Reduce the areas they clear originally and u reduce the people hurt by the enviromental protections. Also if ur going to build a corperate office or medical building simply build it up not out. Rather than having a 1,000 sq.foot wide building have a 100 sq. foot wide building thats five or six stories.

Answer 2

I think that you can't protect biodiversity without infringing on human rights. They're taking someone's land for a "good cause"... so there isn't really any right answer as to which is more important.