CRYING WOLF AGAIN

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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060417/asp/knowhow/story_6094719.asp

Crying wolf again

Alarmists forecast the extinction of animals like the reindeer.

 

Several species of mammals may soon disappear if proper protection measures

are not taken. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? It is. New research by

scientists from Imperial College, the Zoological Society of London and the

University Of Virginia attempts to map the top 20 hotspots for mammalian

extinction today. The study speaks about the " latent risk " to species like

the reindeer, the musk ox and the Madagascar brown lemur.

 

This is a classic example of presenting old wine in a new bottle. The

findings merely supplement the gloomy predictions made by conservationists

regarding species extinction since the 1960s.

 

The latest project also illustrates a cardinal problem with environmental

research. Almost all the research is by Western scientists writing about

" developing countries " . These studies also tend to accuse people in

developing countries of not doing enough to save their indigenous flora and

fauna. How many times do we hear about the destruction of grassland in

American prairies or the extinction of wolves and bears in Britain?

 

There are, however, others who accuse these researchers of " crying wolf " .

Stephen Budiansky, the science writer, mentions that those who shudder at

the sight of a mathematical equation rush to ecology to do spurious research

and raise false alarms. He accuses Western researchers of promoting a

political rather than a scientific agenda and says that the predictions on

species extinction and habitat destruction represent a " biological

absurdity " .

 

Most of biodiversity research helps celebrities appear in the media to

exhort the protection of some " cute endangered species " . What is

conveniently forgotten is that no matter how important environment

protection may be, the need for human development in the developing world

should not be overlooked.

 

Sonia Boehmer-Christiansen, a reader of geography at the University of Hull,

too condemns these " green alarmists " . Similarly, David Bellamy, a leading

botanist, expresses anger over the alarms sounded over global warming.

Whilst there is no reason to condone cruelty to animals or the destruction

of the natural habitat, it is prudent to keep things in perspective. The

crass consumption indulged in by wealthy countries gives rise to most of

these problems. The West would do well to practise what it preaches. For

many people in poor countries burdened by poverty owing to the policies of

the West, any " new " research on biodiversity has little value. According to

an ancient Chinese proverb, " When there is food on the table, there are many

problems. But when there is no food on the table, there is only one

problem. "

SHUBHOBROTO GHOSH