In these regions, the marine biodiversity has taken a huge toll. Down in the Philippines, many fishermen use the method of "destruction fishing". Which is the method of throwing dynamite in the water, which destroys all of the species within a certain distance of the explosion. This method causes many species of fish to be at risk of extinction because of the constant uses and over fishing of the industry. On the other side of the world, in the Arctic, the disappearances of the many baleen whales and the heavy exploitation of fish, have a huge toll on the biodiversity in the Arctic waters aswell. Drainage of the Arctic wetlands also contribute to negative effects on the diversity, as water decreases slowly from these habitats, leaving some species without homes and plants without a source of water.
The marine biodiversity isn't the only diversity at risk. The amount of trees being cut down in the many forests of the Philippines, contributes to teh negativity of our interventions. All of the logging, mining and land conversion going on in the region, have led to less habitats of the land animals. Excessive hunting and oil pollution in the Arctic has also been a reason for the decline of species in our ecosystems. The oil pollution causes extinction and has toxic effects on the plants, birds and other animals - creating no positive affects.Lastly, land and water management for both regions have been poor. Our human intervention has led to many negative affects on our ecosystems. If we don't change our routines the biodiversity will continue to decline leaving not much left in the future years. Although humans can also affect the biodiversity in a positive way, I see our actions as negative. In the news, we hardly hear about positive affects and aside from that, we have social groups who are fighting to protect the environment (i.e Green Quest). Are we really stewards of the earth, if most of our actions lead to extinctions, and declines?
source(s)
- http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/philippines/Pages/impacts.aspx
- http://www.eoearth.org/article/Human_impacts_on_the_biodiversity_of_the_Arctic
I just wanted to start off by saying I found your post extremely enlightening. I never realized people fished using explosives like that. Sure, they're getting their fish, but chances are they're killing other aquatic life, and the plants underwater with the sudden pressure changes.
ReplyDeleteWhen you asked the question, "Are we really stewards of the earth if most of our actions lead to extinctions," I would have to agree with what you said about the human race trying but not succeeding. Maybe we're just ignorant because all we can think about is ourselves, or maybe we're blind to the truth surrounding us. Either way, I really liked your post and found the connections you used around the world to be refreshing.
It's amazing what lengths humans will go to get what they want. I can't believe people on this planet still use explosives to harvest fish rather than fishing as their ancestors did. It is a horrible disgrace to the planet we live on and destroys biodiversity in a shocking and frankly disturbing way. Who are we to such a thing to any ecosystem? Are, we that much of a menace to life on earth as we know it to damage ecosystems in such a way?
ReplyDeleteI also completely agree with your statement that although we as humans, with our intellect and resources, have the power to change biodiversity in a positive way, we choose to destroy it though methods such as this which is frankly pitiful. We most certainly cannot continue on this path if we want to sustain the ecosystems of our planet and protect the vast amounts of knowledge and resources they may contain.
I never new about dynamite fishing. Although it is pretty cool, I agree with you that is not the right way of getting their fish. It is a dangerous process that can eliminate an entire species if practiced regularly. If humans have the power to destroy the world, then we have the power to save it. So why don't we?
ReplyDeleteHearing about 'destruction fishing' is something new to me. I never knew, & much less could imagine, that some fishermen used dynamites to get fish. As you said, it causes many species of fish to be at risk of extinction because of the constant use of this method. To imagine, we are supposed to be stewards, but it seems like we're taking more out of our Earth than putting back/ nourishing everything we have. As you said, if we don't change what we're doing to the biodiversity, then there will be nothing left for future years. Overall, i enjoyed your entry. It was very insightful & well put.
ReplyDeleteHello Ana! :)
ReplyDeleteI think that the social groups who are fighting to protect the environment may do as much as they can, but probably don't have enough time to dedicate all their lives to do so. The amount of people actually trying to be stewards to our world is sadly a very small amount compared to the amount of destruction being caused.
If only the entire world cared enough, maybe they wouldn't destroy what would eventually cause a lot of problems in the environment. But that's not going to happen because there's like 8 billion people in the world, but at least raising awareness and things like that could help. Destroying entire species doesn't just happen- it's the result of destruction happening over and over again. Like you mentioned, dynamite fishing destroys not only a lot of fish, but can destroy entire species too! :( Poor fish.
Kbye Ana, I like your post :D
Dynamite fishing... it makes me think about not eating fish anymore. I know a lot of people probably don't about dynamite fishing, but the first time I heard about it, I always thought that the dynamite would only kill the fish. Now i know that it actually affects everything around it. The thought of eating bombed fish really scares me.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about how we need to change our bad habits, and actually do something to protect biodiversity. Next thing you know the only animals that will be left are the pets we keep.
I knew about dynamite dishing since the time i lived in Philippines, but for some reason I still eat fish. It makes me sad that we humans result to such destructive means just to get a little fish on our tables. Maybe its the main reason to why I stopped eating fish in the Philippines in the first place. Such a disgusting way of taking from mother nature turned me off.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. We need to change what we have been doing, but my question is, will it be enough? After the decades of ruin we have caused, is there really still time to change? Such a thought scares me, but I can't help but think it. It took millions of years for this world to form life, and only a few centuries for us to really endanger it. It just makes me wonder...is it too late?
The thing about "destruction fishing" was really interesting to me because I only heard of that now. It makes me wonder, would humans have thrown a dynamite into a forest filled with cute koala bears? I think that humans, don't care and think as much when they are doing this to blank-faced, personality less looking fish, as opposed to furry marsupials.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely, humans have a negative effect on biodiversity. I did know about dynamite fish in the Philippines, it also occurs in Jamaica and all over the Caribbean, and because of this selfish act we are destroying the coral reefs in the oceans which help keep the oceans clean and also help to protect many species.
ReplyDeleteUs humans have already destroyed the earth by acts of pollution ( i.e. air, water, etc. ) , deforestation and the killing of animals for reasons such as fashion purposes. Can we recover? or have we done too much already ? I hate to think that in the years to come we would have destroyed the earth to the point where we can no longer survive here. We need to change the our ways or our generations to come will suffer.
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ReplyDeleteExcellent write up anaabad. ;)Im surprised to know that human intervention has affected many ecosystems in a negative way. This is defiantly disappointment and we should protect our mammals, rather than destroying them. Protect Biodiversity! I don't think that there is anyway we can fix what we have destroyed, rather we must improve our ways now. Fish alone are at risk of extinction, why should we look for ways to destroy the world rather than saving it?
ReplyDeleteAna, I definitely agree with you that humans positively and negatively affect our environment. Most of our actions are negative, unfortunately! I was unaware of destruction fishing, which is disastrous and dreadful to hear about. Your blog was really insightful and I appreciate your detailed examples. I learned a lot from your post, especially about extinction. How could people use dynamite for fishing? We rely on the ocean for water and it's marine animals. Our lives depend on water and it's organisms. Humanity is becoming more and more selfish and self centred. I think it's time for a change in our world. Hopefully destruction fishing will stop soon.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, I really enjoyed reading it Ana!
-Priscilla
Hey Ana!
ReplyDeleteI thought your blog was pretty cool. I never knew that so much damage was happening in the Philippines! =O I never knew how much we were doing the environment. It's really disturbing how our actions are contributing to the decline in nature. By reading your blog, I actually found out about dynamite fishing for the first time. It's pretty cruel at just the thought of it. I totally agree: we are definitely NOT stewards of the Earth. Quite disappointing really.
Really enjoyed reading this!
Tim :)
first off, I love your layout :)
ReplyDeleteand I agree on your input on Marine Biodiversity, great research. Without the diversity in our ecosystems, it puts more at risk to diseases and closer to extinction. Action needs to be taken asap and find other supplements to dynamite fishing.
Ana Abad, your entry was gooood. I honestly never knew that people were actually using dynamites as "destruction fishing". It's seriously the first time i've ever heard of it.. and by doing so, it can cause so many problems! like, what's going to happen to the other species' habitats? We should seriously do something about this problem, because if we want to be stewards of the earth, it's definitely not like this.
ReplyDeleteHey ana, this is a great post you have here. I too also know about dynamite fishing. It is pretty sad how they retrieve their fishes..like I mean, there are other alternatives to do it. And the simplest of these is to just cast a net instead of ruining a whole entire marine ecosystem by bombing the whole place.
ReplyDeleteHey Ana,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, very interesting topic to blog about. Your were able to research on a topic and raise awareness about the damages of the marine biodiversity in the Philippines. Prior to reading your blog, I never knew that these human activities are taking place.
I agree with your opinion that humans affect the environment negatively. In this scenario they not only put fish at risk for extinction but they also affect the ocean water by polluting it. We should definitely find a new innovative way to fish instead of using dynamites.
Humans can also affect the earth positively, however, if we were to weigh it out on a scale we would see that our negatives is more than our postives.
In conclusion, great blog and good research.
-Francis T.
It's unfortunate that we are the smartest mammals on this earth, yet we do not use out intelligence properly. After what you have written about in your blog, it's clear that humans have destroyed alot. The method they use for fishing is, I find,very greedy and selfish. Humans are not being respectful of other speices' habitats and homes. We would obviously not like it if someone threw dynamite in our home, so why do it to defenseless innocent animals.
ReplyDeleteWhat you said is true. That although humans hear about extinction and the destruction of habitats, we still do not do anything to help prevent it. Helping out the enviornment is not one of our main priorites, when really, it should be.
In your blog you mentioned about how many trees are being cut down in forests in the Philippines. I definitley find that sad because trees give us the oxygen we need to survive- and if they being cutting TOO many trees, every living organism will be left in danger. What's even worse is that, other organisms are suffering because of negative, human activity.
I agree with the point of your blog; how humans are aware of what is happening to our Earth, yet we do many things to still destroy it. Not only that, but we take for granted all the resources that surround us -which is definitly bad. Our greed has caused us to harm the Earth severly and I think only after something VERY terrible happens, will we learn to treat the Earth better.
Your blog was great. It gave me information about the terrible things we do to the earth, while also giving examples. Good job! I really liked your blog.