by derhundistlos » Wed 27 Mar 2019, 01:12:03
"To put a more gruesome outlook on it, every time you set aside 1-1/2 acre of areable land, take it out of production, you are killing someone."
I analyze this from an opposite perspective. To begin, these reserves serve a valuable purpose for the local community. For example, in creating the Yellow-eared parrot sanctuary of 14,000 acres, the purity of the communities fresh water is ensured, and we provide the town with free access forever. If this land had been deforested to make way for an African palm oil plantation, the community would have to pay for access and the water supply would have been contaminated with any number of toxic fungicides, insecticides, nitrogen, etc. Furthermore, the reserves ensure a balanced ecosystem thereby greatly reducing the need for pesticides by area farmers. Economically, eco-tourism generates welcome revenue, and we only hire locally. Consequently, these reserves receive the enthusiastic support of the entire community. We have zero problems with poaching thanks to community patrols. I can't tell you how often we receive thanks for conserving the natural history of Colombia.
On a global scale, I believe the day will arrive when landowners will be paid NOT to cut down trees. Under the present system, the only way to achieve economic value is by destroying the land through deforestation, modern agriculture, and mining. How long do you think this can continue before the global ecology collapses. I'm afraid we will soon know the answer if present conditions do not change.
In terms of feeding people, the problem is not supply. The problem is due to wealth inequality and transportation. Additionally, modern agriculture exacerbates the problem by making the land less fertile due to soil loss, desertification, and pollution.
If you feel like you are "killing someone" by preserving the natural environment, I'm truly sorry you feel this way. I have zero moral equivocations.
Alone among God’s primates, Man kills for sport and lust and greed. If he's permitted to breed in great numbers, he'll make a desert of his home & yours. For he hath becometh death, the great Destroyer of worlds. ~The Budha~
The good Earth- we could have saved it, but we were too damn cheap & lazy ~K. Vonnegut~