From Alistair Murray
Norman Myers has claimed
(26 February, p 12) that conserving a mere 25
“hotspots” covering just 2.1 million square kilometres—less than 2 per
cent of the Earth’s land surface—will do much to slow the current massive
rate of extinctions caused by human activity. I agree that conserving areas with
great numbers of endemic species is essential. But I see problems with such a
museum mentality.
In my mind’s eye is a vivid image shot from Apollo 8 of a tiny blue planet
rising above the surface of the moon—a view of the only
biodiversity hotspot known to us, certainly within a distance of many light
years. On our own heads be it if we accept anything less than biodiversity
conservation on a planet-wide scale.
awm@pcmail.nerc-bas.ac.uk
