The Importance of Diversity

We are at a point in history of unprecedented destruction of both the environment and culture that threatens our survival as a species. To solve these problems, we must first understand their roots, and then figure out how to solve them. This post explains the causes of the problem, the next deals with possible solutions.

Living within Nature
I became a devout believer in environmental conservation when I saw E. O. Wilson's presentation on biodiversity. Click on the link, watch the presentation, and you will understand why conservation is important, because he explains it much better than I can. I'm serious, go watch it now. If you're reading this, you've got spare time to watch possibly the most important presentation I've seen. As he explains, our knowledge of Earth and its inhabitants is dwarfed by what we don't yet understand. We only know 1% of the bacteria species that are estimated to exist, and our knowledge of fungi is scarcely better. Only recently have we discovered that our efforts are having any negative impact whatsoever, and now we see mass-extinctions, extensive pollution, degradation of land, and global warming.

Diversity is important because it makes for a robust system. Life has existed for 3.7 billion years with continued expansion because it regulates itself. Every species occupies a niche, and if that species expands beyond its niche, the other species will respond and push it back in. That niche can grow and intrude on other species, but only if environmental conditions are favourable. Diversity ensures that if environmental conditions turn unfavourable for the majority of species, they will be favourable for a minority of species, who will then expand and diversify, ensuring the ecosystem survives indefinitely.

In the Agricultural Revolution, we learned how to alter our environmental conditions, so that our niche was no longer relevant. Since then, our culture has been pursuing a path of absolute mastery, but since we do not understand the complex system we are trying to alter, we have caused considerable damage to diversity in the process. Becoming absolute masters means filling the role that diversity plays in keeping ecosystems healthy, which requires a complete understanding of every aspect of the system. Those who believe that we do not need to change our ways do not realize how complex the system they think we should master really is. Our continued survival depends on realizing that we have to life within nature.

The Need for Cultural Diversity
Ethnological conservation first appeared as a serious issue when I saw this presentation several months ago. His argument, supported by stunning photos and stories, is that each indigenous culture, with its unique language and mythology, is an invaluable expression of the human spirit, that our culture needs their knowledge and perspectives. I only fully understood this argument when I read Ishmael, and I now understand that cultural diversity is just as necessary as biodiversity. Indigenous cultures have survived in their ecosystems for thousands of years, and would continue to survive if we weren't destroying their habitat. History is littered with young and stupid cultures that have brought own their own downfall, and the old cultures are the smart ones that have survived. If we assume that ours is the only relevant culture, then we'd better hope that we're a lot smarter than we appear, because we appear to be heading towards disaster.

Fortunately, if I understand the issue correctly, cultural and environmental degradation are caused by similar factors: marginalization of the culture leads to apathy, which allows habitat to be destroyed. Once we realize the true value of every species and culture, we will have to care, and we will have to act. My next post suggests some of the actions we will have to take.