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Biodiversity and Management of Natural Resources: The Issues
Author(s) -
Cairns Michael A.,
Lackey Robert T.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1548-8446
pISSN - 0363-2415
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8446(1992)017<0006:bamonr>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - biodiversity , environmental resource management , natural resource , natural (archaeology) , business , environmental planning , ecosystem management , natural resource management , geography , ecology , environmental science , biology , ecosystem , archaeology
The earth's genetic, species, community, and landscape‐level diversity is declining at an unprecedented rate because of habitat alteration. The decline of biodiversity in the aquatic environment is now recognized as a serious concern by biologists. Development and use of natural resources commonly have been practiced in an unsustainable manner. Political institutions are challenged to reconcile both the competing private and public goals and the diverse set of expectations of our natural resources, including aquatic systems. This paper defines biodiversity, identifies many of its values, and reviews causes of its decline. The major ecological, ethical, economic, social, and political issues involved in natural resource management are summarized, as are some of the expected responses of scientists and natural resource managers to the issues.