June 5 is the World Environment Day, which this year celebrates
"The World Wide Web of Life." As part of the celebrations,
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment will be launched, with the
help of The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, at
the U.N Headquarters in New York. Activities are also planned
for June 4 in Torino, Italy; for June 6 in Tokyo, Japan; and
for June 15, in Beijing, China.
What is the "Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment?"
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is a four-year project
to assess the current condition of the world's ecosystems, future
changes to ecosystems, and options for societies to respond to
these changes. It will provide important information for governments
and non-governmental organizations to manage natural, farmed
and urban ecosystems.
This assessment is needed because increasing human populations,
consumption of resources, new technologies and a growing global
economy are altering the Earth. Yet we still depend on the word's
terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems for our survival
. Ecosystems meet humans' needs for food, water, fiber and fuel,
provide services such as water purification and pollination of
crops and they affect human health. We need to develop a way
to assess and predict the ability of ecosystems to continue to
supply these many needed goods and services.
Listen as biologist Dr.
Walter Reid, the Acting Director of the Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment explains more about biodiversity in ecosystems and
why it is important for human life on Earth.
1. Why is learning about
biodiversity important? (click
the microphone to download complete audio answer (1 MB))
 |
Dr. Reid: Biodiversity is incredibly interesting.
There is nothing else in the scientific field that is both as
unknown and beautiful, and is as important to human life on earth. |
2. What does the future
hold for biodiversity? (click
the microphone to download complete audio answer (1 MB))
| |
Dr. Reid: The future of biodiversity is in the
hands of the younger generation. The problems we have created
have the potential to create what may be the 6th mass extinction
of species on the planet. If the right actions are taken both
by today's generation and future generations the possibility
exists to save much of the biodiversity of the planet. |
3. What aspect of biodiversity
do you study and why? (click
the microphone to download complete audio answer (1.7 MB))
| |
Dr. Reid: I'm interested in two areas. 1) Technical:
Species extinction (rates of species lost around the world),
which is important to get a better idea of what pressures we
are placing on biodiversity are.
2) Policy: Studying different policies that can be put in place
to protect biodiversity. In particular, policies relating to
ecosystem services, which are goods and services that are produced
by ecosystems that are important for human economies and our
own survival. |
4. How did you become a
scientist interested in biodiversity? (click
the microphone to download complete audio answer (1.2 MB))
| |
Dr. Reid: I became interested through my love
of the outdoors. Even if you live in an urban area you'll find
interesting aspects of biodiversity, whether it's the birds around
you or a park near you. |
5. What is your favorite
animal, plant or ecosystem and why? (click
the microphone to download complete audio answer (1.6 MB))
| |
Dr. Reid: My personal favorite is a pupfish that
lives in tiny ponds, puddles, and springs in the deserts of the
southwestern US. It's so unlikely to think of small fish living
in the desert. |
6. How can kids find out
more about the pupfish?
| |
Dr. Reid: To me, the most important thing is for kids to learn
about the biodiversity they see on a day-to-day basis. Some of
the most interesting things are right outside our own doors.
Contact your zoos, aquarium for programs, local audobon society
chapters, etc. for field trips and other programs. Go on field
trips with naturalists that know a lot about biodiversity. When
you go on field trips with a naturalist you'll be amazed at what
is out there that you may not have noticed before.
|
7. Why should kids get
involved in exploring and conserving biodiversity and how? (click the microphone to download complete audio
answer (1.4 MB))
| |
Dr. Reid: The biggest reason is that it is a
whole lot of fun. The more you learn about it the more fun it
is. You can make a big difference in conserving biodiversity
through class projects and becoming involved. |
8. What should kids do
if they want to work for biodiversity when they grow up? (click the microphone to download complete audio
answer (1.8 MB))
| |
Dr. Reid: The biggest thing to do is to go out
and expose yourself to biodiversity right now. You can make a
career through any interest you have. You can become a scientist
doing research in the field, but you shouldn't feel that if you
don't like science that you can't make a difference. Some of
the people making the biggest difference have a background in
communications, art, etc. If this is the focus that you really
want to make a difference in this area, follow your heart into
whatever aspect you want to pursue, if you want to apply it back
onto biodiversity there is probably an enormous opportunity for
you to do that. |
Further Reading:
